Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit rates Liverpool higher than ‘Invincibles’ as they have ‘something special’

Former Arsenal midfielder reveals he never looked at the famous 2003/04 side like he does the current Liverpool team

Former ‘Invincible’ Emmanuel Petit risked the wrath of Arsenal fans by admitting the 2003/04 Premier League-winning side do not match up against the current Liverpool team because Jurgen Klopp’s side “have something special”.

Liverpool looked certain to win the title this season to end their 30-year wait since their last top-flight triumph, only for all football to be postponed until at least 30 April due to the coronavirus crisis. Football authorities are intent on completing the 2019/20 season following meetings between Uefa, the Premier League, English Football League and others involved in the decision-making process over when the season will resume, with Liverpool hopeful that the campaign will be completed rather than voided - which would see them miss out on the Premier League title.

But even if Klopp’s side are not crowned champions of England, 49-year-old Petit believes that Liverpool have proven themselves to be among the very best sides the world has seen - more so than the ‘Invincible’ Arsenal side that went 49 games unbeaten and won the title in 2003/04 without losing a single game.

The reigning European champions saw their Champions League defence ended by Atletico Madrid earlier this month, but even taking into account their 2018/19 triumph, Petit believes there is something else that reveals just how good the current team is.

"I have huge respect for my old teammates, but when I look at Liverpool, and what they have been doing for the past two years ... people are looking at them now because last year they won a European trophy, but really they have been like this for the past two or three years,” Petit told The Mirror.

"It's amazing what they are doing - it is rare to see a team winning so many games and being so dominant against their opponents all the time.

"They were both great teams in history, but for me this (Liverpool) team have something special. It is hard to explain what I feel when I look at Liverpool, but I don't remember thinking the same way when I was looking at the ‘Invincibles’.

"They have impressed me more than Arsenal's ‘Invincibles’.

"I am pretty sure fans won't be happy with that. But I have to be honest. When I look at this team, the motivation, the intensity, so many talented players. Something is different with them."

Liverpool are unable to emulate Arsenal’s feat of going the season without defeat after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Watford at the end of last month, which was quickly followed by their FA Cup and Champions League exits to Chelsea and Atletico respectively. However, should the season be restarted as planned, they are on course to set a new record for the highest number of points and wins in a single Premier League campaign.