Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: Liverpool will struggle to better last season’s finish

Steve Bruce – Sunderland, (Getty Images)

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce believes Liverpool will struggle to better last season’s finish of seventh, despite his side losing to the Reds 2-0 on Sunday.

Goals from Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez secured the three points for Kenny Dalglish’s side, and Bruce believes the former Liverpool striker – now back in the Anfield hotseat – will be keen to take his side back to the top of the league.

“Liverpool finished seventh last year – will they finish any better this year? It’s a tall order,” he said according to the Express.

“Let’s be fair, they haven’t won the Premier League. For Liverpool, in over 20 years, it’s unheard of not to have that sort of success.

“I’m sure he’ll want to achieve that. The first thing he will ask is whether he can take Liverpool back to the glory days of when he was playing and managing.

“It will take time because you have your Man Citys and Tottenhams.”

The Red’s reign over England’s top division came to an end 22 years ago when Sir Alex Ferguson managed to finally topple the Merseysiders from the summit.

Dalglish led Liverpool to a double in 1986 and was the last manager to win the the old Division 1 with the Reds in the 1989-90 campaign.

And after Ferguson has won 12 titles since taking over the Red Devils the same year Dalglish wrapped up that double, Bruce believes the new Anfield boss will be driven by his side’s barren spell.

“When I first went to United, Sir Alex was obsessed with overtaking Liverpool,” he added.

“A similar sort of thing will happen with Kenny. If he takes over permanently he will want the assurances that he can make Liverpool great again.

“I think Kenny knows the pressure at Liverpool. But they have such a history and tradition, there’s always pressure.

“I think the big thing is whether he still has the same enthusiasm he had and it looks like he’s enjoying every minute again.”