The former Gunners goalkeeper says the runaway Premier League leaders have what it takes to join his former team at the record books.
Jens Lehmann believes Liverpool will match the accomplishment of the renowned Arsenal’Invincibles’, but considers that Gunners facet of 2004 would beat Jurgen Klopp’s guys.
The prior Germany goalkeeper was a part of Arsene Wenger’s title-winning outfit which became the first English team to go an entire league season unbeaten since Preston North End in 1889.
Liverpool are on course to match that feat this effort after dropping two points from 26 matches so far to build a whopping 25-point guide near the peak of the Premier League.
They’re also closing in on the Gunners’ 49-game unbeaten top-flight run set during precisely the exact same period, with Saturday’s win at Norwich which makes it 43 matches without defeat since a 2-1 loss at Manchester City on January 3 last year.
Because of this, Lehmann believes Klopp’s side have what it takes to join the Gunners in the history books.
“Liverpool is a wonderful story. All of the ingredients are there for them to become the ‘Invincible’ champions,” Lehmann said in the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin
“They are a wonderful group, really well organised — and sometimes a little bit lucky.
“But that is not a criticism. Occasionally, we were blessed too and I am a believer that you need to work hard to make your good luck.
“Now they have the opportunity to become Invincibles — and I think the only team that could stop that happening now is Manchester City.”
Though he’s been impressed with what he’s seen in the Merseysiders, Lehmann believes they’ve benefited from a weaker Premier League compared to the one his Arsenal team played in 16 years back.
He believes his old side, including the likes of Theirry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires, was a much better group.
“I’d say the Premier League isn’t quite as powerful as it once was and teams are defeated before they play Liverpool,” he said.
“I don’t need to take away something in their success because they clearly have a terrific team. The fact they’ve just drawn one game so much makes the accomplishment even more special.
“We brought 12 games but lots of those were after we’d clinched the title and we did not consider going unbeaten until after we’d clinched the title at White Hart Lane.
“I think that our Arsenal team would have beaten this Liverpool team. Not easily, but we’d have won because we had more human class than that which Liverpool have.
“It’s very tough to compare but when I look at the individual quality we had and the speed we had, I think we’d have had the advantage.”
Despite his assertion that his former team would be the better team, Lehmann believes his compatriot Klopp has hit on a winning formula at Anfield and the side is only going to get better over the coming seasons, possibly creating a trophy-laden dynasty like his former manager Wenger failed in north London.
“It’s hard to compare Wenger and Klopp. Arsene was always successful over 22 years,” he added. “But Klopp has reconstructed Liverpool so well and they could both establish a fantastic team.
“Of course there’s a whole lot of pride in Germany to find out what Klopp is performing in England.
“Once you win something and you discover the recipe for this, then it will become much easier. I think Jurgen has discovered the recipe. I think Liverpool will continue to improve.”
