Premier League Predictions & News
Dean Saunders EXCLUSIVE Interview: Aston Villa, Liverpool & More
Former Aston Villa & Liverpool striker Dean Saunders talks to us about both teams seasons so far in the Premier League for 25/26 and the issues surrounding both of them.
With the Mo Salah post match comments taking centre stage, Saunders addresses these whilst also looks back on the start of his career and how each step helped him move forward to the next move.
Aston Villa, what a season they’re having. Can they win the Premier League title?
Dean: I don’t think so as Arsenal and Man City’s squad is too strong and Villa won’t be able to continue playing in all competitions with the squad they have.
But, they can go close and look at Cups for silverware this season for sure. It’s been a great few months for Villa who are playing with huge confidence and a great style. Rogers has really impressed of late and is a top player.
Ollie Watkins continues to falter a bit. Is his form an alarm? Do you think Villa need a new striker in January?
Dean: No, I don’t think so. Watkins is a big player for Villa and should only be backed with confidence to keep looking to find the net. I like his approach to the game and needs to play as much as possible as seems a confidence player so once the goals are coming then he can go on a good streak.
Yes, Villa do need reinforcements in January if they can look to get loan player in or look to buy depending on their PSR. The more cover up front the better as they fight on many fronts this season for silverware.
Unai Emery has worked wonders. He has been nothing short of utterly sensational. Do you think he gets the credit he deserves for everything he’s achieved?
Dean: No I don’t. he is an excellent coach, underrated and Villa are lucky to have him as Head Coach. He has done a brilliant job since arriving and they way they are playing now, if they can keep this form up, they can look at one of the Cups for silverware this season and Europa League is definitely one which Unai has won a few times and Villa can target as they have started that competition well.
With limited budget over the summer, Villa are sitting in third and on a very good run of form. Beating City and Arsenal at home is excellent.
You played alongside Jamie Carragher for club and country. Do you feel he’s overstepped the mark with how he’s treated Mohamed Salah?
Dean: Everyone can have an opinion as this is an open matter now Mo made his comments to the media. But Carragher was very outspoken of Mo. Maybe he did overstep the mark with his views. It’s always good to know the full picture before coming up with certain opinions. I think it wasn’t right Mo came out with what he said.
It should always be dealt with quietly inside the training ground. Mo is now on international leave for AFCON, so it all quietens down now on this matter. But it seems Mo and Arne Slot did have the conversation they should have had in the first place, so this is positive indeed.
Arne Slot is under immense pressure. Do you feel he deserves time? What do you make of his handling of Mohamed Salah?
Dean: I like Arne Slot. I like his approach and how he comes across in the media and also with his players. To win the Premier League in your first season is no mean feat at all. So massive credit for coming in and then taking this side to the title. You can only play what is in front of you so full credit to him and he shouldn’t be under immense pressure at all. So he will get time.
Liverpool have spent a massive amount on new players and Arne now needs to focus on the defensive side of the game to ensure Liverpool defend well and then offensively the goals will come. They were too open during their period of losing so many games, and now it seems they have gone back to basics and are beginning to get more confidence.
I have no issue with Slot leaving Salah out. He is the boss and saw a problem that he needed a more defensive approach to stop the goals going in and Mo was more offensive, he needed players who were going to work hard defensively.
Where do Liverpool need to strengthen in January? Is Virgil van Dijk now past his best?
Dean: With a massive amount spent over the summer , I am not sure what budgets Liverpool can have in January unless they sell before they buy. The main issue is stopping the goals going in and then with the talent Liverpool have up front, they will score goals.
When you have Ekitike who is playing well now and Wirtz, who is showing sign of getting more goal contributions, plus Isak, who I think once he finds his form, will go onto score as well. So I don’t see any panic buying needed at all.
Van Dijk is still one of the best centre backs in the League and just needs to gain his confidence back as well which you can see went a big when Liverpool were conceding so many. You don’t lose your quality overnight so he still has a lot to offer Liverpool.
Taking it back to the start of your career. Your dad, Roy, played for Liverpool. What was it like being the son of a professional footballer? Was it as big of a thing back then as it would he now?
Dean: Let me start, Liverpool were on a bad run of form in 1954, my dad played then, and I read all articles. It was a big thing as it is now for sure. It tell you why. My Dad treated us like an athlete, told us to eat properly, put more into your game. Can you do more?
Was always pushing us to do more. This gave us an edge, gave us a better attitude. Train well, eat well, he said all the time. This constant pushing was exactly what I needed and it was perfect for me, so I thank him for this.
You came through the ranks at Swansea City, a place you were born. You made your first team debut in the 1983/84 season. Explain that experience of making your first professional appearance after working your way through the ranks.
Dean: Firstly, I had an ACL 17 and didn’t play for 18 months. I signed as 15 and wasn’t fit until I was 18 to play in the first team. But full credit to the manage John Toshack, he always checked in on my recovery This was so important.
Toshack gave us 6 months to prove my fitness at the end of my contract, or I would be let go. To the day made my debut against Charlton and from there it went well. He was bringing in lots of youngsters so this was good for me to get game time.
You actually played for both Cardiff City and Swansea City, signing for Cardiff on loan a season later. How did that move go down? Was it met with much animosity. You would eventually be sold by Swansea for financial reasons and make the move to Brighton and Hove Albion. How hard was it to leave South Wales?
Dean: It was hard for sure, but it all worked out well as when I turned up at Brighton, I hit the ground running. I had all the mindset and drive from my Dad and scored 7 in 7 for Brighton.
This then propelled me to be called up for the National team and then I was in the limelight for my country and scored goals. So this was super positive for me and my career was taking off.
After spells with Brighton, Oxford United and Derby County, you signed for Liverpool. But if I am right, Everton also wanted you. How close were you to making the move to the blue half of Merseyside instead?
Dean: I met with Howard Kendell and let me share I would have loved to play for Kendell & Clough. They were so clever and so far ahead in their management and you see what they achieved with their teams.
Everton were a good team in the mid 80’s and competing in all competitions. But Reading all my Dad’s articles for Liverpool, if they were interested, it was always going to be Liverpool. Souness said I’ll sign you and then it was literally 5 minutes later and we got the deal complete. Rush, Barnes, Molby, what a top class side they had.
You scored ten league goals in your first season at Liverpool, but also scored nine goals in five UEFA Cup appearances. You became the first Liverpool player to score four goals in a European fixture, as Liverpool won 6-1 against Finnish side Kuusysi Laht.Considering the calibre of player that has played for the club both before and after your reign, how much pride does that bring you?
Dean: It’s a massive honour and gives me huge pride for sure. With the quality on show that we had, being a striker in that side was an easy job as long as you put in as much effort as you could as they would always create chances for you, which is what happened. I worked so hard every day.
You then became Aston Villa’s record signing in 1992, joining for a fee of £2.5 million. Was it a tough decision to leave Anfield?
Dean: For sure it was, but it was about game time and I wasn’t guaranteed game time so decided to leave. Very tough, but I wanted to play football and Aston Villa were able to give me that opportunity. I liked the set up at villa and they were a team improving so I could add to their quality.
For Villa, you got off to a great start with six goals in your first four games and would later score the winning goal at Anfield against Liverpool. You would score 13 goals in 35 Premier League appearances as the club finished second behind Manchester United. Does that season leave you wondering what if in terms of potentially winning the league that season? Or was the ten point gap too hard to catch?
Dean: We had an excellent side. Quality all over the pitch. So many creative players and the Coaching set up was so good for the players we had. They motivated us and gave us what we needed to have a top season.
Man Utd just had that more quality and experience than us to get over the line but we really gave it a real good shot. And yes it was a gap too much in the end. But it was a very good season for me to score goals.
You scored two goals for Villa in the 1994 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium against Manchester United in a 3-1 win. This ended a 12-year wait for a trophy at the club. Where does this rank amongst your best career moments?
Dean: It’s right up there for sure. Making your debut, signing for and playing for Liverpool, playing for your country as well. But winning at Wembley is one of those special moments you can’t take away and to score as well was the icing on the cake.
It was a special day for the club, you can’t take away from winning at Wembley and we all really enjoyed that day and the celebrations. Man Utd were a top side and we managed to get the better of them.
