Dean Saunders Exclusive Interview with WDW Bingo

Dean Saunders is a former professional footballer and manager who played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, plus others and managed Wrexham and Doncaster Rovers. He made 618 club appearances and earned 75 caps for Wales, scoring 212 career goals.

He spoke exclusively to WDW Bingo on the 16th of September 2025.

Question: Liverpool found a way to win at Burnley – is there any concern over their early-season form?

Dean Saunders: “Liverpool have four wins out of four, it’s the perfect start to the season, no matter the performances. The teams they have played so far have shown Liverpool too much respect in a way. They’ve sat deep and soaked up pressure and been tough to beat.

“Liverpool will have to adapt to this style because I think every team will come to Anfield and do that this year. They will have to earn every point they get, and in moments where performances aren’t perfect and the crowd is willing you on, you can almost try too hard to win and forget the basics.

“Liverpool have signed some of the best players in the world in their positions. The reason you buy them is that they can break down teams and create chances in crucial moments that turn draws into wins. Teams aren’t making it easy for them, and nor should they.

“Liverpool have conceded four goals so far this season, so there is clearly some uncertainty at the back. Injuries happening at the same time as new signings come in is never a recipe for clean sheets. Dominik Szoboszlai has been playing out of position at right back, so I think they all deserve some time to grow into the season.”

Q: What did you make of Burnley’s performance against Liverpool?

DS: “In the Championship last year, Burnley were difficult to score against, and that’s a big reason they are back in the Premier League. Scott Parker should stick to the tactics he put in place against Liverpool and play on the counter with their attacking talent, as this will be a lot more fruitful than attempting to play expansive football when weaker opposition than Liverpool goes to Turf Moor. That’s what will keep Burnley in the league: defend first, and goals will come.”

Q: It’s very unusual for a title-winning team to have such an overhaul of their forward line, particularly when they were top scorers in the Premier League last season. Do you think over time that Liverpool have made the right choice in losing Diaz and Nunez and getting in Isak and Hugo Ekitike?

DS: “People seem to have forgotten the players that Liverpool have lost this summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota, and Luis Díaz are no longer with the squad, and no matter the price tag that comes with the signings, these are great players who can’t be replaced instantly.

“There’s risk to every single signing that Liverpool have made this summer, and there’s no guarantee that any of them are going to perform to the levels of those no longer at the club. Performances don’t come from price tags. If you take the money out of the scenarios and compare the new players to those they lost, I’m not even sure Liverpool are going to be much better off.

“Ekitike has had a brilliant start to the season, and he has already proved himself as a goalscorer to both the manager and the fans. But one thing that will be motivating every single Liverpool attacker is the new signings. I guarantee you that even Salah is sitting in the changing room thinking, ‘Are all of these attackers coming into the squad to replace me?

“This can motivate players to raise their levels, and I’m sure that is what Arne Slot is hoping will happen with his squad. They’ve loaded up with fantastic attacking talent, and all of these players are capable of and willing to play every single minute in every game this season.

“There’s always going to be some rotation, but the starting players won’t want it. They don’t want to give their competition the opportunity to perform on the pitch and keep them out of the side for the next game. As a manager, you love it when the players are motivated like that, so I think all of this new competition is healthy for Liverpool and will only make them an even better team.

“These players will be playing through small knocks, the kind that last season they would have missed a game or a training session through, and those are the teams that win trophies. This summer will have unlocked a hunger in the Liverpool dressing room. Even Salah, who is almost immovable in the Liverpool side, will be looking to raise his levels this season.”

Q: Mohamed Salah has had a bit of a slow start to the season by his standards. Do you think it’s simply a matter of Salah now entering a different phase of his career and becoming even more of a team player in a new-look attack with Isak the main goal threat, or is it a sign of decline?

DS: “One of Liverpool’s biggest problems will be at right back this season. That’s no slight on Jeremie Frimpong, as he is a great player, super talented, with unlimited potential at Liverpool. But I think the club has underestimated the importance of Trent. He is an exceptional passer of the ball, probably the best passer of the ball in the world. I think losing him could seriously impact Mohamed Salah’s performances this season, as we have seen already in the first few games.

“Trent always unlocked Salah, and I’m not sure Frimpong is going to be able to do that as consistently. Which, of course, is going to affect Salah’s numbers this season, in my opinion. But Liverpool have an abundance of attacking talent, so I’m sure they’ll all get on the same wavelength eventually, figure out their roles and how they are all going to contribute goals and assists.”

Q: Any worry about Florian Wirtz after his quiet start?

DS: “I’m not worried about Wirtz at all. He’s been a part of four winning performances, so what more can you really ask for? I would have maybe liked to have seen a few more flashes of genius, as I know he has that in him. It’s hard to play as a number 10 against a low block, but he needs to get used to it, as teams will set up like that against Liverpool all season.

“He operates in those spaces between the midfield and defence, and when teams attack Liverpool, these gaps will grow and he will find success. Once he forms a better relationship with Salah, I’m sure both players will impact games a lot more. However, the best players find ways to impact every game, and he is a great player, so I will be expecting more from him as the season progresses.”

Q: What did you make of Slot’s comments about Kerkez? As a new signing and someone relatively young, could it be difficult for him to come back from that?

DS: “Milos Kerkez has big boots to fill, and it hasn’t been the easiest start to his career at Liverpool. Personally, I still think Andy Robertson is one of the best left-backs in the world. Liverpool only lost a couple of games last season, so he can’t have done that much wrong.

“But I’m sure Kerkez will bounce back. He will have to adjust to the line Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté set, which will be strange for him. However, if the long-term plan is for Liverpool to transition from Robertson to Kerkez, then there is no better left back in the world to learn from than Andy Robertson.”

Q: How did you handle being the most expensive British transfer at the time, moving to a club like Liverpool? What advice would you give Alexander Isak in the same situation now?

DS: “I’ve played for Liverpool and I’ve been the record signing, so I know how the expensive players are feeling right now. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak will be desperate to make an impact. Wirtz has had some good games and has contributed in ways other than scoring and assisting. Wirtz needs time to settle and to feel comfortable in the team, then brilliant performances will follow.

“Isak looks like a magnificent signing, his training videos look sensational, and I’m sure he will hit the ground running. In my opinion, he should be ready to go this weekend against Everton.

“I don’t buy into it taking a player any more than two weeks to get match fit. He may not have had a preseason, but he wasn’t twiddling his thumbs all summer, hoping for his move to go through. He kept himself fit and was training. I would expect him to start at the weekend in the derby in front of a packed Anfield, and hopefully he makes his mark in that game, scores a goal and sets the tone for his Liverpool career.”

Q: What are the expectations and the demands placed on you at a club like Liverpool when you arrive as a big-money striker?

DS: “The expectations are, of course, really high. You come into one of the biggest clubs in the world with a price tag everyone is talking about every time they mention your name. But you have to remember your job. I lived and breathed scoring goals. Even when I was out of form, I dreamt about scoring and I hope Isak is the exact same. You think about the amount of goals you’re going to score in a season, and I used to aim for twenty, but I’m sure Isak will have even more on his mind.”

Q: Do you think Hugo Ekitike should be concerned about his game time, especially in the Premier League with the arrival of Alexander Isak?

DS: “When a club signs as many attackers as Liverpool have this summer, every player will be looking to prove themselves to the manager and the fans. This sometimes leads to players being selfish at times. However, once everyone is on the same page and competing for their position in the team, they will slowly realise that it doesn’t matter who scores; it’s all about winning games and trophies.

“They’ll get over their initial egotistical thinking and become a team. Once that happens, this new look Liverpool attack will be scary.”

Q: Prediction for the Merseyside derby, and are you shocked about Everton’s good start to the season?

DS: “This Merseyside derby feels a little bit different from others in recent memory. There was a time when I expected Liverpool to always beat Everton comfortably, but they look like a new team this season with the signings they have made, and David Moyes is getting a great tune out of them. This will be a battle for Liverpool, but I imagine they will come out on top in the end.”

Q: There’s a good chance Alexander Isak will make his Premier League debut for Liverpool against Everton on Saturday. One of your first appearances at home for Liverpool was in the derby. What can he expect from the game?

DS: “There’s a long build-up to the game this week, and if he does make his debut against Everton, there’s no better introduction. I vividly remember walking out to the pitch on my first derby day and thinking about the fans and what it meant to them. What it meant for them to go to work on Monday and have the bragging rights over the Blues they worked with. You feel an extra responsibility to deliver on derby day, and if you do, you’ll be remembered forever.

“It’s always a battle against Everton, but let’s say Isak starts on Saturday, performs well, and he scores the winner, that would do wonders for the pressure of the price tag he carries with him. He’s an amazing player with a sharp eye for goal, so it is only a matter of time before he scores on derby day, but it would be the dream debut if he gets on the scoresheet this weekend. That’s what every Liverpool fan will be dreaming of when they go to bed on Friday night.”

Q: What have you made of Villa’s start to the season? They are the only team in the top seven leagues not to score a goal. What has happened to their attack?

DS: “It’s been a poor start to the season for Aston Villa, and it looks like to me that they have gone away from what was working for them over the past few seasons. When Unai Emery became the manager, he overhauled their style and turned them into a compact team that broke up play and attacked fast when they won the ball back. But that doesn’t seem to be happening at the moment.

“The key to the changes Emery made was Ollie Watkins. Every player would look to be direct and get the ball to him as soon as possible while he was isolated against defenders. It didn’t matter if it was to his feet, down the channels, or over the top because he runs all day. So for me, Villa aren’t getting the ball forward fast enough at the moment. When you create plenty of chances, Ollie has proven he will score goals, so that’s what needs figuring out.

“I’m not a manager anymore, and Emery is the manager of Aston Villa, but to me, that’s what the problem seems to be. I can’t remember ever hearing of a team not scoring for the first four games of the season. You could understand if it was a promoted team with a low budget, but not a club of Aston Villa’s stature, it’s unacceptable.

“It could also be a product of Emery’s and Watkins’ relationship last season. There was a time last season when the manager dropped Ollie for the two biggest games of their season in favour of a loan player. The only reason Villa made it to those games was because of Ollie’s goals, so I can imagine he was extremely frustrated when he was left on the bench.

“Trust from your manager is the key for strikers. When strikers feel trusted, they perform at their very best. When I lost trust from managers during my career, I moved on. I hope Ollie doesn’t do that, as he is a fantastic asset for Villa. But he may still think Emery views him as replaceable, which will subconsciously affect the way he plays on the pitch.”

Q: Could you see Emery coming under pressure soon if things don’t change rapidly?

DS: “Yeah, I could see Emery coming under pressure if the results continue this way. Especially if Villa don’t score against Sunderland this weekend. But I do think Emery has enough grace in the bank to buy himself more time. Villa have also had trouble with FFP, which hasn’t helped their situation this summer.

“I don’t tend to look at the table properly until about the eighth game, when it sorts itself out a bit and table position is more telling. Villa could easily win two or three of the next four games and be in the top half of the table, so I expect the club to be patient for now. They’ll be hoping they pick up some form soon, but if they don’t, I’m sure they’ll consider Emery’s future.”

Q: Wrexham have spent £33m on 13 new signings this summer, including Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich for £10m, Callum Doyle from Man City for £7.5m and Ben Sheaf from Coventry for £6.5m. What do you make of their transfer business and does it represent value for money?

DS: “The owners have certainly put their money where their mouth is this summer, and they have signed some brilliant players. It’s unbelievable what they have done since taking over Wrexham, but they have brought together a squad that is more than capable of competing at the top of the Championship.

“I’ve heard on the grapevine that a couple of the players are earning £30,000 a week or more, which is crazy compared to when I was managing Wrexham. Our highest paid was getting around £1,500 a week, and it was only 15 years ago. But when the owners came to the club, it was probably around that level as well. The impact they have had on the club is unbelievable.”

Q: Wrexham have been ruthless in terms of their player turnover. Do you think they will be just as cutthroat in terms of changing managers if results don’t go Phil Parkinson’s way this season?

DS: “Phil Parkinson has been brilliant during his reign at Wrexham, but it’s been a tough start to the season for them considering the money spent. So I’m sure the vultures will be circling around his job soon. It is an attractive position for any manager without a job with the strong squad they have assembled and owners who will back you in the transfer windows.

“If they don’t improve soon, Parkinson will lose his job, and that’s the reality of football, especially at such an ambitious club. It’s easy spending the money, it’s getting results after you have spent the money that is the difficult part. The squad needs a little bit more time to be allowed to gel before we can expect better performances and results from them. But you don’t always get time in football.

“Reputations and form can change very quickly in the Championship. You can win three games in a week, and the outlook on the team and the job the manager is doing can completely change. It’s a tough league to be consistent in.”

Q: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have said they want to take Wrexham into the Premier League. Do you think that’s achievable, and what do they need to do to reach that goal?

DS: “They’ve spent £33 million this summer, which demonstrates the ambitions they have for the club. They’re going for it, the aim is the Premier League, and I’m sure it won’t be too long before they are playing on the biggest stage.

“They have been ruthless this summer, both with spending and getting rid of some of the players that have played huge roles in getting them to where they are now. It’s definitely a brave way to manage a football club, but they want to compete with the best, so you always have to be improving the squad.

“The Championship is full of big clubs now and plenty that have been in the Premier League in the past couple of seasons; those squads are full of top players, so I can understand the decisions they have made this summer. They have been ruthless, and it’s exciting.”

Q: Paul Mullin moved to Wigan on loan this season. He already has a couple of goals for them. What have you made of his start to the season, and could you see him back at Wrexham or maybe even at another Championship club?

DS: “One thing about Paul Mullin is that he is a goal scorer, and he always will be. He knows where the net is, and when he is in form on a scoring streak, I’m not sure there is any forward scarier in the EFL. Wrexham have signed players from higher up and have decided to send him out on loan, which I think is fair enough, as they have Premier League ambitions.

“One thing Paul needs to do is keep at it. He needs a manager who backs him to score goals and lead the line, which he seems to have found at Wigan. He needs to stay fit and bang in goals to show Wrexham what they are missing. I actually think Wales could still use him in an international squad. It’s hard to find natural goal scorers, and that’s exactly what Paul is. Wales could use some of his firepower.

“In the footballing world nowadays, if you score 15 goals a season, you become a £100 million player, and I know Paul doesn’t play in the highest leagues in the world, but I think his talents have been undervalued. I wouldn’t toss him on the scrap heap yet. If Wrexham struggle for goals this season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them recall him and get him back in the mix.”

Q: Crawley had a poor start to the season, but they have picked up two wins in their last two games. Can you see them improving further up the table now? And are you surprised that Scott Lindsey returned to the club in March? Is he the right man to really improve Crawley?

DS: “I always look out for Crawley’s results as I really enjoyed my time there. Scott Lindsey got them promoted and then moved on, which didn’t work out for him. They had a poor start, but a few good results over the last few games will give the fans a bit more hope for this season.

“Lindsey obviously loves the club, otherwise he wouldn’t have returned earlier this year and that’s what counts at smaller clubs. You have to put the time in to attract local players, and it is a great catchment area with Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth not too far away. It’s sometimes hard to attract players to move all the way down there, so they need a manager who understands that, which Lindsey does.

“He’s had plenty of success with the club before, so I don’t see why he couldn’t again. Crawley’s ambitions will be to get back into League One and then push for the Championship, and the club clearly believes in Lindsey; otherwise, they wouldn’t have reappointed him. I think he can take them far again and those two league wins may have been the catalyst the squad needed to kick on up the table.”

Q: What do you think of the general standard of League Two? Is it tougher or easier than when you managed Crawley?

DS: “It’s a completely different game now than when I managed Crawley, despite it being only ten years ago. There are a lot more foreign players coming to the Premier League now, as there is so much money and it’s the best league in the world, so it attracts the very best talent. This has a knock-on effect that has just improved the whole of the EFL.

“The EFL is now the home of talented English players who may have played in the Premier League once upon a time. Therefore, the Championship, League One and League Two have all drastically improved in terms of quality. The Premier League is so good now all of the fringe talent has just dropped down another league, which is great for the sport as we want the competition to be at as high a level as possible. But as we have seen over the past few years, the gulf between the Premier League and the EFL is getting wider every year as more money is spent on top talent from around the globe.”

Q: A mixed start to the season for Derby. Five points in five games now after they beat West Brom at the weekend. Do you expect them to keep improving and push up the table this season?

DS: “John Eustace masterminded a survival package for Derby at the end of last season that was seriously impressive to witness. I think they will keep improving this season and five points from five games so far this season isn’t too bad a start. Winning away at West Brom last weekend was a huge result to kick-start their campaign.

“I think they can keep on improving under John. He has proven to be a brilliant manager over the past few years, so I’m sure Derby will finish much further up the table this season. But you do need money to keep up with the big boys in the Championship. Derby are a huge club, but they don’t have the finances at the moment to match some of the other teams in the league.

“Keeping the squad John wants together is the key. Money to spend will only improve the club – I don’t necessarily mean to spend millions in the transfer market either. Retaining your best players and paying them what other clubs are willing to pay them can majorly help. You can’t be losing your best players in the summer window season after season, otherwise the club will never improve.”

Q: A strong start to the season for Doncaster Rovers, they have 16 points and are fifth in the league. Is this a better start than anyone at the club could have dreamed of, and have they caught you off guard a little bit? Could they get back-back promotions?

DS: “It’s great to see Doncaster have such a strong start this season. They have really built on the momentum they had last season and they have made it count early on. Grant McCann is a superb manager who has done a fantastic job over the past couple of seasons. The fans will now be dreaming of a return to the Championship, which would be brilliant to see.

“They have plenty of talent in the squad and Grant is managing it pretty well from what I can tell. A small blip at Wigan last weekend, but it’s how you bounce back in those leagues. You can’t let one result affect you, as you can soon see all your positive momentum disappear.

“They’ve got a great group, which they have built on this summer, and they have Billy Sharp. Sharp will go down as one of the EFL greats and maybe even one of the best British strikers ever. He probably didn’t get a fair shake as a Premier League player during his career.

“He may not be as quick as he once was, but he is still banging in goals now and he will continue to do so when Doncaster are creating him chances. He’s as prolific as you get in League One.

“I expect Doncaster to be in the promotion mix come the end of the season, hopefully in the automatics rather than the playoff lottery.”

Q: A really poor start to the season for Sheffield United. Chris Wilder has now been reappointed after just five games away from the club. First of all, should he have ever been let go? And what do you make of Chris’s relationship with the Blades? He’s been in and out multiple times now.

DS: “Last season Chris had Sheffield United playing some great football, but then they collapsed towards the end of the season. That’s not always the manager’s fault, but sometimes it is and the board obviously felt that way as they got rid of him and replaced him with Rubén Sellés, and that was just a disaster.

“Sometimes in football you need to appreciate what you have, but that’s easy to say after the new manager hasn’t worked out. They have had terrible results this season, especially considering the budget they have and the players they have in the squad. Everyone in football saw the sacking coming. I expect Chris to get this squad back on track very soon.

“Chris knows the club and squad inside out, so I expect to look at the table in a few weeks and see the Blades a good way up the league. I have played with Chris at Sheffield United, and managed against him when he was at Oxford and I was at Wrexham, so I know a lot about his character.

“Chris Wilder is an absolute winner and a terrible loser. He’ll set them up in the first few weeks so they don’t self-destruct and get points on the board. When he gets used to the squad again and the new players at the club, you will see him start to experiment and the football will improve. I wish him the best of luck, and I think the tide is going to turn for Sheffield United very soon.”

We hope you enjoyed our interview with Welsh football legend Dean Saunders. For more football and betting content, check out our expert Darren’s Premier League season betting guide.