Arsenal 'Invincible' Gilberto Silva has tipped Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to do “marvellous things” even though he believes their loss to Watford ensures that Arsene Wenger's class of 2003/04 are still “number one.”
The Reds 3-0 defeat at Vicarage Road was their first in the Premier League for 44 games and 422 days and ended any hopes of emulating the Arsenal team who went the entire course of the 2003/04 season undefeated.
Wenger's side became the first since Preston North End in the inaugural Football League season in 1888/89, which consisted of 22 matches, to achieve the feat and they were rewarded with a specially-cast commemorative golden trophy.
Liverpool may well go on to break the English top flight points record (100, set by Manchester City in 2017/18) this season as they close in on their first League Championship in 30 years but they will now be able to match Arsenal's achievement.
Gilberto told The Times : “Liverpool came very close to the unbeaten record we hold with Arsenal. I have always said that one day it may happen and the way they have been playing, I was expecting them to do it.
“For most people, it was unexpected that they would lose at Watford but we are still there as No. 1, and this is a very special achievement.
“I was only talking about Arsenal’s Invincibles season last week over lunch with Jens Lehmann, our goalkeeper, and David Dein, who was vice-chairman. It is impossible not to talk about it. Every conversation I have with team-mates from that time is special.”
Although the former Brazil midfielder, who helped his country win the 2002 World Cup final among a 93-cap international career, was relieved that Liverpool were unable to match Arsenal's place among football's annals, he believes they have a bright future ahead.
Gilberto added: “I left the Premier League more than ten years ago. We won this in 2004.
“It’s such a long time and after the Liverpool game, ‘Arsenal the Invincibles’ came into people’s minds.
“It gives us a good feeling that people will still talk about us for I don’t know how long.
“Even though they did not break our record, what Liverpool have done this season is very special. It is not so easy with the competition nowadays.
“They face Manchester City, who have done so well, and the Premier League is a competition where anything can happen.
“Jurgen Klopp, his staff and the players have done a great job. They can still do marvellous things.”
