lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandLiverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has been described as a ‘Spice Boy’ by former Sky presenter Richard Keys, who believes the current Reds team lack resilience
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has been described as a ‘Spice Boy’ by former Sky presenter Richard Keys, who believes the current Reds team lack resilience
Liverpool have been accused of being like the ‘Spice Boys’ team of the 1990s by former Sky Sports football presenter Richard Keys.
The Reds showed character to come from behind and beat Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener at Anfield on Wednesday night, but Keys – who fronted Sky’s Premier League coverage between 1992 and 2011 – says the team lack resilience.
Keys said he had heard suggestions this Liverpool team was ‘Spice Boys 2’ and added on the ‘Keys and Gray Unleashed’ show on YouTube: “I think the (Spice Boys) allegation has got legs. I think there’s some ‘nice’ guys there.”
Gray replied: “They need a bit of grit. I’m a bit surprised by (Dominik) Szoboszlai because he gives the impression that he can handle himself a bit.”
Keys added: “No, I think he’s one of them. I would have him down as a Spice Boy, yeah.”
The ‘Spice Boys’ tag was initially applied to the Reds team of the mid-1990s when they had stars like Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp but failed to challenge Manchester United and Arsenal for the Premier League title.
Critics pointed to the white suits Liverpool players wore to the 1996 FA Cup final against Manchester United – a match they lost – as evidence of the team’s ‘style over substance’.
Speaking about the current team, who conceded four goals in opening draws before keeping a clean sheet at Ipswich, Gray said: “What I do see is a team that can go forward, and they’re quite creative, they’re quite artistic in the way they play at times, good technical players. But I see a team that’s easy to get at, right? I see a team that can be got at.”