Kewell spent five years at Anfield and played 139 games in all competitions for the Reds, with whom the Aussie won the UEFA Champions League in 2005.
The former winger expressed his admiration for Liverpool coach Arne Slot, who arrived in 2024 from Eredivisie side Feyenoord. "He's been fantastic. I don't think he could have wished for a better opportunity," said Kewell, who did add a sidenote to Liverpool's title charge.
"I think it's harsh what I'm about to say - it's helped that Arsenal have had a terrible time, Manchester City have had a terrible time, Chelsea have not been up there, and no one has really challenged him.
"But in saying that, he (Slot) was fantastic at the start of the season. The way Liverpool played at the start of the season, I think they deserve to be exactly where they are."
'Tough' contract situations
When asked about the precarious contract situations of Liverpool stars Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk, Kewell said the situation is “tough” for Slot and Liverpool.
“You don’t want to lose your best players, you don’t want to lose a homegrown player first and foremost,” Kewell said about Alexander-Arnold, who’s being heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
”He is an England international, he grew up there, he’s played very well, he’s won everything that he needs to win, and he’s probably one of the best natural crossers the Premier League has seen. If he goes, it would be a disappointment, but the fact that he’s in that opportunity means he’s a great player."
The former Australian international is moved less by Salah’s potential departure. “What he’s achieved at Liverpool in that space of time is nothing but phenomenal. It’s a tough one because he’s coming to that age, and who knows what’s happening with the contract situation.
“I think Liverpool will be disappointed because he does score a lot of goals, but sometimes when you do see a great player move, it blooms other players, and that gives them more responsibilities.
The odds of Salah staying at Liverpool increased recently and seemed to reach a high point as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that a deal for Salah is "imminent".
"But no one wants to see him leave. He would be a massive loss, not only to Liverpool but to the Premier League as well. I think he’s also a good ambassador. He’s very professional, trains well, you never hear a complaint about him, he plays every single game, and that’s probably what young footballers should be looking up to."
‘The best centre-back in Premier League history’
Kewell is clear about who he thinks is worth the most to Liverpool: “Van Dijk is the one for me. I think he’s been huge ever since he arrived at Liverpool. His stature, his size, the way he plays. I like him."
Van Dijk has recently expressed his desire to stay at Liverpool and admitted a deal was close, though nothing has been officialised yet.
“I’ve always liked him as a player, and I think he’s probably up there as probably the best centre back the Premier League’s ever seen. That’s only my opinion, and I think you can bring anyone beside him, left-back, centre-back, right-back, anyone beside him, and he can make them feel comfortable.
“Whereas that goes, it could take time, because they have got players there that can fill that role, but it may take a little bit of time.”