Liverpool receive public apology from Premier League star after ‘very wild’ comment

Liverpool players and fans have received a public apology from a Premier League star

West Ham United’s Michail Antonio has said sorry to Liverpool players and fans after his bold prediction about the club didn’t come true.

Back in September, when West Ham visited Anfield, Antonio was sure that his team would beat Liverpool and end the season higher than them. “I am backing myself over Liverpool,” he declared on the Footballer’s Football Podcast. “You know what, I think we are going to finish higher than Liverpool this season. I’m putting it out there.

“I watched the game [Wolves vs Liverpool] because it was before our game and Wolves could have run away with it! They had quite a few opportunities. We’ve got them this weekend and it’s a six-pointer. We’ve got them!” However, Antonio didn’t make much of an impact in the match, which Liverpool won 3-1. Fans haven’t let him forget his misguided forecast.

Last month, he confessed that he was still getting stick from fans, and as a result, he didn’t want Jurgen Klopp’s team to win the Premier League. “I don’t want Liverpool to win the league because you Liverpool fans are still in my inbox,” he said on the Footballers’ Football podcast. “Get lost! I’m saying it with [my] chest. I don’t want Liverpool to win the league! Come for me! Arsenal get it. Man City, get it. That’s all I have to say about that!”

But now, Antonio has changed his tune and is saying sorry to Liverpool fans. On the latest Footballer’s Football podcast, he said he was sorry for what he said before. “Before we move forwards I have got something to say,” he began. “At the beginning of the season I said a comment.

“It was a bit wild. It was very wild. I said that there was a possibility that West Ham could finish above Liverpool this year. I’m not going to lie, I said it was my chest.

“They weren’t gelling at all together, I thought we might be sixth or seventh. There were lots of stats about Klopp having seven or eight years and then having a bad time, it was just one of those things.

“I was obviously deluded at the time. So I am going to have to hand out a public apology to the Liverpool fans and the Liverpool players. I take it back.” Liverpool are ahead in the Premier League with 60 points after playing 26 games, while West Ham is ninth with 36 points. West Ham hasn’t won any of their eight matches in all competitions in 2024.

Antonio also said Liverpool’s player buying is amazing, especially when they got Diogo Jota from Wolves for £45m in September 2020. “He’s an absolute joke,” he said. “And the craziest thing I like about Liverpool is they buy these players and people at the time are like what are they thinking? Why are they doing that?

“When they signed Mane they were like £30 million for Mane what are you doing? And then Van Dijk. And then Jota, everyone was like what? They all turn out to be absolute class. It’s a masterclass of buying players.”