Exclusive Interview with Chris Sutton: Insights on Liverpool, Manchester City, and Paul Pogba Joining Norwich City

Last updated: 15 April 2025 by Leon Marshal

Chris Sutton is a former Premier League striker who played for the likes of Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, and Celtic, winning the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995. Now a prominent pundit and columnist, the ex-England international joins the Best Betting Sites team for an exclusive interview to share his insights on Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and more from across the footballing world.

Premier League Observations

What’s happened to Phil Foden this season?

I think you make the point that a lot of the players have underperformed. I don’t think there’s any Manchester City player you could look at this season and say that they have been at the level we expect, and we take more of a forensic look at Phil Foden because he was player of the year last season and absolutely flying. Because of that, he’s been miles off this season, but it’s not just him. It’s De Bruyne, Silva, Gundogan. It’s every Manchester City player.

People talk about the loss of Rodri, but most of the players have been miles off this season. It will be a concern for him because I don’t think anybody saw this massive drop-off of form coming, but sometimes that happens.

Manchester City have been imperious in recent seasons and hit levels and standards which have been so high. This season, they’ve had a spectacular drop-off, and he’s part of that. I don’t necessarily think it’s one of those where Foden should be singled out because he certainly isn’t the only one.

Are Salah’s new contract and VVD’s rumoured one the best business Liverpool could do all summer?

It’s great business from Liverpool to get Salah’s and Van Dijk over the line. The signing of Salah is really timely. I don’t think they got the deal done to get them over the line in the Premier League, but I think what it brings is a real feel-good factor.

“There was a feel-good factor anyway, but you can’t get away from the fact that everybody on the outside is scratching their heads at how long these contract negotiations have gone on for Van Dijk, for Salah.”– Chris Sutton on Liverpool’s contract situation.

It looks like Trent will be off to Madrid, but with regards to Van Dijk and Salah, they’re in phenomenal physical condition, so it surprised me how long it has gone to get these contracts done, but it’s brilliant news for Liverpool fans.

You saw Van Dijk’s influence. He had a bit of a mix-up with Andy Robertson, but then going and powering that header in at the end, he’s been a phenomenal player.

When I watched him at Celtic, I always felt he had all the attributes. With respect to Southampton, I thought that a bigger club would have made their move for him when he was at Celtic, but Southampton were the stepping stone and he’s gone to Liverpool and been phenomenal.

Salah’s numbers, they’re just ridiculous, aren’t they? Once again this season, maybe in recent times, he’s had a little bit of a drop-off, but I mean, you look at his physicality and his body and his shape when he whipped his top off against Southampton earlier this season, it reminded me of myself. You know, he was in such great physical condition.

Who do you think will finish in the top five this season?

I think Liverpool will. I think Arsenal will. I’m slightly concerned about Nottingham Forest now. At the weekend it was a poor performance against Everton, and that was off the back of losing the previous week.

Newcastle are absolutely flying now, so I think Newcastle will get there, but I’m going to say Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and I’m going to say Manchester City.

I’m backing them blindly, but not based on anything other than I just think they may get over the line into that fifth spot. But if you watch them week in and week out, they are so inconsistent, but all season I’ve expected Manchester City to sort of flick a switch and turn that corner and expect the juggernaut which we’ve seen in previous seasons.

That hasn’t happened, but I’m going to say Manchester City to maybe just pip Aston Villa into that fifth spot.

Sutton’s Thoughts on Nottingham Forest

Is Morgan Gibbs-White the right man to replace Kevin De Bruyne, as rumours suggest?

Can he replace Kevin De Bruyne like for like? In fairness, I don’t think anybody could fill his boots to match his quality for Manchester City. But he’s a really talented player, Morgan Gibbs-White. This season, especially, I think he’s really come to the fore. He’s always had that talent, had it at Wolves and Nuno Espirito Santo knows him really well.

“It’s going to be an issue for Nottingham Forest, holding on to their best players. It really is..”– Chris Sutton on a possible exodus of Forest players.

But could he handle it at Manchester City and cope? Absolutely he could, and it’s one of those where I think a lot of those younger Nottingham Forest players who have performed so well this season, they may have their heads turned, unfortunately.

Sutton on Previous Club Blackburn’s Premier League Triumph

Do you think Blackburn’s title-winning team get enough credit?

We give ourselves credit all the time! We gave Manchester United a schooling in 94-95. So maybe in parts of Manchester we don’t. But certainly in Blackburn, I think we get a fair bit of credit. We had a little get-together, 30-year anniversary. A meet-up and a function at the club last week, the old back-slapping function. I’ve always enjoyed those.

It was really nice to see everybody. I sat next to the Manchester United director of football, Jason Wilcox, who was a big part of that team. I was going to give him a bit of advice. I thought better not to.

Sutton’s Thoughts on Another Former Club, Chelsea

If Chelsea do not finish in the top four this season, would it be a disaster?

I think from the Chelsea owner’s perspective, I think they’ll view it as a bit of a disaster (if they don’t qualify for the Champions League) because Maresca was brought in to take them to that next level, the Champions League level.

They finished sixth last season, and they finished strongly under Pochettino.

“While calling it a disaster may be strong, I think from the Chelsea owner’s perspective, that would be the way that they view it.”– Chris Sutton on Chelsea if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

They expected to make the next step this season and they’re in a real race. It’s really interesting that sort of race now for the Champions League spots, the top five, because then you can even look at the likes of Fulham and Brighton, and if they have an amazing run towards the end of the season, then they’re in with a sniff.

Is Reece James the right man to wear the captain’s armband?

His stamina will come. He’s had massive injury issues and that is an issue for him. I think for a while now he seems to pick up a lot of injuries. I don’t think that he should have the captaincy stripped off him because he’s injured. Maresca sees something in him where he feels he’s a good leader. You look at Chelsea and think, well, who are the viable alternatives to step up? I wouldn’t suggest he should have the captaincy stripped just yet.

Should Chelsea keep Jadon Sancho?

I don’t want to give Jadon Sancho a kicking. I think he’s been okay. I think Maresca clearly saw something in him and I think he’s performed pretty well, but it’s about reaching for the stars. Has he hit the level which Maresca would have wanted? I’m not so sure he has.

I think he would have wanted more, but he’s been neat and tidy. The situation at United, you know, would they really want him back? I’m not so sure they would, but I don’t think it would be a bad option for Chelsea to keep him.

What was Gianluca Vialli like as a manager?

I felt I let him down. When he signed me from Blackburn, a £10m signing, I really liked him. He spent a lot of time with me trying to help me. I mean, I didn’t have the best of times at Chelsea. I always held him as a player in the highest regard. He was such a brilliant finisher, such an intelligent player, his movement was excellent too. I know things didn’t work out well for me at Chelsea, but the time he sort of spent with me, we did these volleying techniques and shooting techniques and it helped me with my movement.

One of the best goals I ever scored was against Juventus for Celtic in the Champions League, and that was all down to his coaching and what he taught me about volleying helped me connect better with the ball and getting your hip up high and not trying to hit the ball too hard.

I practised a lot of sessions with him and then one came good for me in the Champions League game and I thought of him in that moment. It’s really sad that he’s no longer with us.

Looking back to that particular time, I felt I let him down because he made a play to go and get me, and was hoping at that particular time I’d maybe help take Chelsea to that next level. But that didn’t happen, but he was a real player.

He was a real gentleman and a good guy. A great reputation as a player and I really liked him as a manager and a person.

Have you seen enough from Liam Delap this season to convince you that he can lead the line for Chelsea? Or do you think they need to target a player with proven credentials – e.g Victor Osimhen? Or do they have enough already with Nicolas Jackson as the main goal threat?

I love Delap, I really do. I think he’s been brilliant this season. I think that everything which I’ve seen from him, temperament-wise, he scored goals in a struggling Ipswich team. Left foot, right foot, he’s got pace, he can play with his back to goal. He’s got that arrogance which you need to play at the top level.

I know Osimhen is a talented player. That’s only my worry on Osimhen, whether he has that sort of hunger anymore. With Delap, I see a young, hungry player who certainly, Ipswich are going down, but he’s been a shining light in that Ipswich team, so I’d take Delap over Osimhen.

Sutton on Celtic

Was Henrik Larsson a better strike partner than Alan Shearer?

I think there may be a slight difference in the way that they played. I think Alan was an out-and-out number nine. Henrik was at Celtic as well. Everybody at Celtic knew how good he was. For Sweden, he always got great accolades.

He was a phenomenal player, but I think it was maybe when he moved to Barcelona and turned the 2006 Champions League final on its head with a couple of really intelligent passes, something which he always had in his locker, he could play different positions and that would be the slight difference.

Henrik was more of an all-rounder in that respect, where Alan was a phenomenal finisher, and would be a centre-forward who would occupy the centre-backs. Remember, Henrik Larsson went to Manchester United when he was done, really, and you ask the Manchester United players at that time about him. They held him in the very highest regard, and that tells you everything you need to know.

I think Celtic had his best years when he was in his prime, but to go on and then play for Barcelona and then Manchester United, there’s some big clubs in there. He was phenomenal, but so was Alan.

With rumours that Brendan is unhappy at Celtic Park and continued rumours around a return to England, would Ange be welcomed back in a heartbeat if he is sacked by Spurs?

He’s in a job at the moment. I think he’s looking to stay at Tottenham longer term. I’ve not seen an unhappy Brendan Rodgers this season.

“I’ve not seen an unhappy Brendan Rodgers this season. The situation with Brendan Rodgers is this. He’s got another year on his contract, and after what happened last time, he’s not going to walk away from Celtic “– Chris Sutton on Ange Postecoglou returning to Celtic.

unless something extraordinary happens. We all know when he left for Leicester, there were a lot of unhappy Celtic fans. More to do with the timing of when he left, so I can’t see it happening. That’s not going to happen. If you ask me this question in a year, and Brendan’s contract is coming to the end, then maybe that’s one where I would have a different answer, but I would be really surprised if Brendan left Celtic this summer.

Talking last week in his press conference, he clearly wants to bring players in over the summer to try and hit the next level.

This season’s Champions League was successful in terms of getting out of the group stage into the playoff round. and then they put up a really good performance against Bayern Munich and I think most of the Celtic support at the start of the season were looking at progress in Europe. Once again they’ve dominated domestically. I mean people are saying the league isn’t won. I mean the league is won unless something really extraordinary happens, but I can’t see Rangers pulling back a 42-goal swing at this stage of the season.

Chris Sutton on Birmingham’s Chances of a Premier League Return

Could Birmingham ‘do an Ipswich’ and get successive promotions to the Premier League?

No, I don’t think Birmingham can secure back-to-back promotions. I think what Ipswich did is absolutely remarkable. I do. I think when you look at how competitive the Championship is in the playoff spots, the automatic places, it is fascinating. I think it would be a real long shot to expect Birmingham to go bang, bang.

I mean, Ipswich did it. I don’t know how many times it’s been done. I think it’s about Birmingham City getting a foothold in the Championship. Now, clearly the owners are extremely ambitious.

I’m hoping that Birmingham would have learned lessons from the past, and it’s about building that foundation again, which they have done under Chris Davies, and then just making that next step. And if they could maybe try and push in and around the playoffs next season, then you don’t know. You don’t want to run before you can walk. I think that’s one of those where it’s steady Eddie for Birmingham City next season. They just want stability. You don’t want it to be a roller coaster. One awful season, one terrific season.

It’s about building and getting the club back to the Premier League if they can, but we know how difficult it’s been in recent seasons anyway for clubs who have been promoted. They’ve struggled to stay in the Premier League. At this moment in time, if you look at the top end, Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United, I think they’re five points or so clear. They’ve lost the last three and they’re slipping up. But even if you saw Leeds and Burnley coming back to the Premier League, we all know it’s going to be a struggle for them.

So for Birmingham in League One to do what Ipswich did would be exceptional. I mean, I’m Norwich, but I’ve got to say, I do think Ipswich, out of the three promoted clubs this season, are the ones who have made the best fist of it. I think Kieran McKenna’s reputation as a coach, he’ll still be held in really high regard.

Tom Brady co-owns Birmingham, do you feel you could successfully guide an NFL team as an owner?

I think an NFL team would be a stretch for me.

Fair play to Birmingham City this season. If we’re looking at it reasonably, the fact that they can go and sign Jay Stansfield, I think it was at £14m, in League One. They’re a huge club. They have great ambition.

In recent times, they had the Wayne Rooney experiment, and the comment from the chief exec when he went in, ‘No fear football,’ it didn’t work out. But no, they’ve been really consistent this season. I know they lost the final against Peterborough yesterday, but all things being equal, to get promoted is an achievement.

Chris Davies going in there, a guy who worked with Brendan Rodgers who I know a fair bit about, who then went down to Tottenham for a season. Him actually making that step into management, going out on his own, I have a lot of admiration for him and he’s done a really excellent job. There’s great expectation at Birmingham. And of course, with the strength and depth which they have in their squad, they should be getting promoted, in truth. But there’s a lot of pressure on him, so for him to make that step and get them promoted, fair play to Chris Davies.

Chris Sutton on Villa’s Chances of Champions League Progression

Do you think they will overturn a 3-1 deficit?

No, I don’t. I think PSG will win the Champions League. They’ve got so many talented players. I hope my old club can and I think that Unai Emery, the job which he’s done is fantastic. The fact that if you’re an Aston Villa fan – I was at the game where they beat Bayern Munich and the roof nearly came off the stadium, and it was one of the loudest atmospheres I’ve ever been when the Jhon Duran goal went in – they will be delighted.

But I think PSG are at a different level and they’re young and they’re talented. They’ve gone down a different route, haven’t they? The superstar Mbappe has gone, but they still have players. Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue, Barcola was on the bench in the first game, Vitinha in the middle of the park. They are a tremendous team.

“Do I think Villa will score? I do, but I think trying to keep this talented PSG team out will be a stretch for Aston Villa. But all the same, I think they’ve had an excellent season.”– Chris Sutton on Villa’s chances of reducing the 1-3 deficit against PSG.

It’s about sort of finishing it off and there’s no reason why they can’t win the FA Cup and there’s no reason why they can’t get a Champions League spot. A Champions League spot I think is important for Villa, and I think Unai Emery’s talked about this because of their ability then to bring in players over the summer, that financial aspect and FFP and all that.

I think that the end of the season is big for Villa but for a Villa fan it’s been a phenomenal season.

Could Morgan Rogers be tempted to leave if Villa don’t get in the top five?

Look, at this moment in time, I do think that for Morgan Rodgers, he would be better off staying at Villa. He’s clearly developing well under Unai Emery. I think he’s arguably the best young player in the Premier League this season. And therefore, it’s one of those when he does leave, he needs to leave at the right time. But while Villa are challenging, and Liverpool have been the outright best team, where would Morgan Rodgers fit in at Arsenal?

That would be the question. He’s not an out-and-out centre-forward? In that respect, I don’t think a move to Arsenal would necessarily be ideal. Villa have progressed brilliantly under Emery, so if I was him I’d stay put at the moment and carry on developing.

Chris Sutton on Manchester United’s Struggles

Is Ruben Amorim’s position under threat if they are knocked out of the EL?

No. That would be ridiculous. I do think it’s a big end to the season for Ruben Amorim. Of course, the Europa League is massively important for him, but even if they don’t win the Europa League, he needs a strong end to the season. I do think he’ll be a Manchester United manager at the start of the season.

I know there’s an element of Manchester United fans who with every passing game, getting more and more worried about where the club are heading. If he does have a poor run for him, there’s not many games left, but if the wheels come off even more for him, I don’t think he’ll have a lot of credit in the bank going into next season, at the start of next season. Then the start will be crucial.

If Manchester United can somehow win the Europa League, can finish the Premier League season on a bit of a high, maybe try and get into the top half, things will feel a bit more optimistic. You can’t see Manchester United next season challenging for the Premier League title.

It’s one of those where you’d hope that somehow they could flick a switch under Amorim.

To challenge for a Champions League spot, I’m not so sure that’s possible. But again, it’s going to be down to the ins and outs. Liam Delap, he seems to have been heavily linked with Manchester United. You know, I think it’d be a good option. He’s better than what they have

What would you suggest Pogba do to revive his career? A move down to the Championship?

I’d love to see Paul Pogba at Norwich City. Do I think his career is over?

“Well, he’d be a little fish in a big pond if he came to Norwich.”– Chris Sutton on Paul Pogba joining Norwich.

I’ve got to say in truth, in recent seasons, he had a doping issue, didn’t he? So I think he missed a large chunk of football recently, and I think at his age that’s really difficult when you’re out for that long to come back and hit the heights which he once did.

He’s such a talented player but I think he may believe he can still play at the highest level. I think that it would be really difficult for him to come back after so long. So he’ll just have to drop down a little bit and still play at a high level with Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The Team Behind This Interview

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