An Exclusive Interview With Emile Heskey

Emile Heskey is a former professional footballer who played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and others, scoring 130 goals in 633 club appearances and making 62 appearances for England, scoring 7 goals. He spoke exclusively to Best New Bingo Sites on the 30th of April 2025.

Q: Liverpool have won the Premier League. How impressed have you been with the job Arne Slot has done? You were part of a title challenge in 2002, so you know how difficult it can be…

EH: “At the beginning of the season, I was a big advocate for giving Arne Slot time as he was taking on a very difficult job from a brilliant manager. Liverpool went from one generational manager to a relatively unknown quantity in Slot. Jürgen Klopp was fantastic in the way that he got Liverpool to play the game, and the way that he saw the game, he was brilliant for the Premier League. But Slot didn’t even need the time to settle in, and he only brought in one of his own players who has barely played!

“Slot was coming in and taking over from an iconic Liverpool manager, and we’ve seen it with Manchester United, sometimes, an era change can affect a club for a long time. So, you’ve got to take your hat off to Slot. Liverpool have been fantastic all season, and he has made subtle but important changes to the style of play, which has made them Premier League champions again. For me, he is the manager of the season by far.”

Q: Can you see Liverpool retaining the Premier League title next season? Which clubs do you expect to challenge them for the title?

EH: “It will be difficult for Liverpool to retain the title next season, but they have a great squad and manager, so they are definitely capable. I think City will come back stronger next season, and I think it is just the Pep Guardiola factor that makes me believe that, and Arsenal will also be on their heels. With Arsenal, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they take that next step and win the league.

“Aston Villa and Newcastle will also be right up at the top of the league again next season, assuming Newcastle will have the power to spend in the summer, if PSR is holding them back, it’ll be hard to sustain their form. It’ll be interesting to see what United show for next season, if Ruben Amorim brings in a handful of players that could really transform United into challengers once again. If you had predicted United to finish where they will this season, nobody would have believed you. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and they do have some talented players, they just need to show it more often. I fancy them to be up the league challenging again this time next year.”

Q: Liverpool are by some distance the top scorers in the Premier League. What have you made of Liverpool’s number nine options this season? Is Luis Diaz a viable long-term option there, or should Liverpool be looking to sign someone in the summer as a main striker?

EH: “Luis Díaz playing down the middle for Liverpool is just temporary. He is a winger who, when asked, can give you something different down the middle to change your game or adapt to the opposition. However, he isn’t an out-and-out number nine, and Liverpool won’t be pinning their hopes or making plans for him to lead the line next season. They know they must invest in a striker this summer, and Darwin Núñez will be the second-string striker to bring off the bench.”

Q: Do you have any faith left in Darwin Núñez? Can you see him leading the line for Liverpool consistently in the future?

EH: “I was a fan of Núñez when he signed for the club, but after these past couple of years, I can’t see him ever being the starting number nine for Liverpool. I liked him because of his energy, tenacity and his ability to bring something different, but Liverpool will be looking for a striker this summer who can score consistently, as he isn’t that player at the moment.

“That same statement applies to Díaz and Diogo Jota as well, they all have to score more goals and help Mohamed Salah. However, saying this, I think Liverpool were spoiled a little bit with Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Salah up front together. They all consistently contributed scoring goals, which is rare for a front three. If Salah went through a sticky patch in that team, I knew Firmino and Mané would pick up the slack, but in this current team, I’m not sure that’s the case, which is something the club will know and will focus on when recruiting a striker this summer.”

Q: Do you think Ollie Watkins would do well at Liverpool? He is a great player who thrives on a lot of chances, and Liverpool creates the most in the league.

EH: “Any club at the top of the table would benefit from signing Ollie Watkins. I think he would absolutely suit Liverpool as he gets himself into great positions to score, and he’s a keen runner in behind. He recognises when to make runs, which is why he gets so many chances, and his link-up play is pretty good.

“Ollie needs to be loved. He needs to be the number one striker, and I think if Liverpool signed him, he would be number one and a fantastic signing. Sometimes players need that little bit of love from their manager, and if you give Ollie that, he’ll be a fantastic asset to any team.”

Q: Do you think Harry Kane would be a good signing for Liverpool this summer?

EH: “Harry Kane is a goal scorer, an out-and-out goal scorer. Wherever he goes, if he leaves Bayern Munich, he will score goals. But he isn’t the right striker signing for Liverpool this summer, his age is the problem for me, not his ability, so I imagine Liverpool will go in a different direction. I couldn’t see him fitting in at Liverpool in this Slot style of play.”

Q: Trent Alexander-Arnold could leave for Real Madrid. Do you think he should? Can you understand some Reds fans not being impressed with that?

EH: “I can understand why the fans and maybe even the club are frustrated by the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation, as Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it’s hard for everyone to understand why he would want to leave. People expect homegrown players to stay with the club forever and cement their legacy like Steven Gerrard did, and if they do leave, it’s on the club’s terms, which isn’t the case with Trent.

“But I do sympathise with him, I believe all footballers grow up fantasising about playing abroad. When I was learning the game, I dreamt about going and playing in Italy, as it was the best league in the world at the time. I had those ambitions, and I saw Paul Ince and David Platt make those moves, which let you know it was possible. So, I believe every player dreams of playing abroad and gaining that football and life experience. If a player says they have never even thought about it, they’re lying.

“Real Madrid are arguably one of the biggest clubs in the world, alongside Liverpool, so I can understand his interest in moving. At the end of the day, it is his career, and he can do what he likes with it, and if he thinks Madrid is the next step, then he will go.”

Q: Is Connor Bradley good enough to step up to the plate and be Liverpool’s number one right back next season?

EH: “Absolutely, Connor Bradley will be the starting right back for Liverpool next season, and he is a phenomenal player. I hope the fans don’t try and directly compare him to Trent because they are both completely different footballers. Bradley is a better defender than Trent, but not as good on the ball. The club will be happy with this trade-off, and Liverpool will be better defensively with Bradley starting next season. He is ready to step up into that role, as we have seen many times this season, and he will continue to develop the attacking side of his game.”

Q: I think it’s evident that Liverpool feel they need a new left-back for next season, despite the great servant Andy Robertson has been. Who do you think is the best replacement for him? Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth and Antonee Robinson from Fulham have been strongly rumoured.

EH: “I would choose Antonee Robinson from Fulham if I could sign anyone to play left back for Liverpool. Liverpool should do all they can to sign him, as I believe he is a like-for-like replacement for Andy Robertson. Robinson has had success this season getting up and down the wing, crossing the ball and making the box, where he has contributed goals, which is exactly what Liverpool used to get from Robertson in his prime.

“Unfortunately for Robertson, it looks like his time at Liverpool is coming to an end which is a shame, but he can be proud of everything he has achieved with the club. He came in for a tiny fee, and he has been unbelievable for years and won everything possible. What a brilliant servant. However, I do think Liverpool need an upgrade now, and there’s no better player out there for them than Antonee Robinson, he would fit perfectly into this team.”

Q: It’s early days – but what can you see happening with this Liverpool squad under Slot? Is this just the start for them?

EH: “This is just the start for Liverpool, they must add to the squad this summer, without question, they need to sign a striker and a left-back. Even with just a couple of signings, they could be elevated again, which is a scary thought, but Slot will leave no stone unturned and use the depth of the squad he has next season. He has done a fantastic job so far, and I imagine everyone at the club will set their sights high again next season.”

Q: Is Virgil van Dijk still the centre back he used to be a few years ago? Is he worth 400K a week, which is his reported new contract?

EH: “Virgil van Dijk still has a lot to offer Liverpool, and he is absolutely worth the money they are reportedly paying him. Although at times he looks like he’s playing in second gear but when he needs to step up, he does. Also, we can underestimate the value of his leadership in the team, especially if we keep in mind Liverpool will probably have two new defenders in the back line next season if Bradley comes in to start and they sign a left-back. The influence he can have on players transforms the team, and he is still a fantastic footballer; he is worth every penny they are paying him.”

Q: Who do you think has been Liverpool’s most underrated player this season?

EH: “Alexis Mac Allister has been a standout player for Liverpool this season, and I have seen him get plaudits but not as many as he deserves. He has been amazing in the middle of the park this season, alongside Ryan Gravenberch, they make a fantastic and dynamic pair.

“Curtis Jones, when called upon, has also been amazing, especially since he hasn’t been consistently starting. He has influenced the team from the bench and been brilliant from the start when chosen. It’s nice for Liverpool to have such a versatile player like Jones, and these types of players are always underrated, but key in title wins, and their managers know the value in them.”

Q: What have you made of Villa’s season so far? How impressed have you been with the way they’ve made shrewd signings and rotate the team effortlessly while generally maintaining results?

EH: “Unai Emery and Aston Villa have been forced to rotate due to the volume of games they have been playing, which has come about from plenty of success this season. They’ve had to rotate players between competitions, and I take my hat off to recruitment. What a fantastic January window. Emery is also still criminally underrated after all this time. Emery has done a fantastic job at Villa, he has galvanised the club again. The fans deserve to see their team playing like this again. They are a brilliant fan base, and they should be fighting and battling to get into the top four.

“Villa’s style of play is pleasing on the eye, and they have some great players. Morgan Rogers came out of nowhere for me this season. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that he would be as good as he has been? He is one of the best attackers in the league. It’s rare for a young lad to come in and grab his opportunity, but he is a class player with an extremely bright future.”

Q: Should Aston Villa sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent transfer? If yes, do you think it will happen? If not, where do you think he could land next season, assuming he moves on from Man United?

EH: “Marcus Rashford will be a difficult permanent signing for Aston Villa, as there are contractual obligations and a certain level of money that he wants. Therefore, I’m not sure it will be beneficial for Villa to sign Marcus or if it is even a possibility. However, one thing is for sure, Rashford will bring value and talent to any team he is playing for. Signing Rashford is a lot easier to say than to actually get done, but if he did sign for Villa, he would be fantastic for them as he has been since January.”

Q: What did you make of Rashford comments stating he only wants to play for a Champions League club next season?

EH: “Every player wants to play Champions League football. It is the competition that everyone wants to be in, and he has been used to playing in for United. It’s the pinnacle of club football, so I understand where he is coming from. I hope he goes out there and helps to secure it for Villa before the end of the season.”

Q: Will Villa make the Champions League places?

EH: “It’s going to be tough because it’s very tight between plenty of teams. There are realistically three places to play for, as Arsenal won’t be dropping out of second place. Five teams are realistically fighting for them in Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest, so it will be a battle to the very end.

“Villa have a gap to make up, which makes things difficult for them, but they are more than capable of winning all of their remaining games and getting in the Champions League. Nottingham Forest have had a fantastic season. What a brilliant team they have formed, but I could see them not quite making the Champions League. Villa will need some help from other teams to make up the gap, but I think if they win their last four games, they will be in the Champions League next season.”

Q: Do you see Rogers being a staple in the England squad by the World Cup next summer?

EH: “One hundred percent! We know the level of competition there is playing for England in those midfield spots, but I think Rogers has the edge on Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in current form. He has had a standout season and has the upper hand, he has proven himself in both the league and in Europe, so I can easily see him starting for England at the World Cup next summer.”

Q: Marco Asensio has been brilliant since signing for Villa in January. Would you keep him at Villa if the opportunity arose in the summer?

EH: “Marco Asensio has added plenty to the Villa squad since his arrival in January. He is creative, and he has been brilliant both from the start and the bench, which is exactly what you need from a loan player. I’m not sure of the logistics around signing him permanently, but I imagine Villa will look into it after his performances in the second half of this season.”

Q: Moving on to Leicester, are you surprised Vardy is being allowed to leave? Will they regret not keeping him for the Championship?

EH: “Jamie Vardy leaving Leicester came as a huge surprise to me. I was surprised the club didn’t seem to have the option for another year, as I’m sure they would have loved to have him in the Championship. Similarly to van Dijk at Liverpool, Vardy’s experience could have been valuable to the squad next year. I suppose everything has to come to an end, and it was Vardy’s time to leave Leicester. I am surprised he is looking to stay in the Premier League, it will be interesting to see if anyone signs him as he has a wealth of experience and still has goals in the locker. Next season, he’ll turn 39, and his experience can help any team, but at what price?

“Leicester are in transition, and the whole club now needs gutting, in my opinion. I’m talking about 80 or 90% of the players need to move on, and the club needs a full overhaul. They have the advantage of some young talent coming through, which will help the process, but most of the first team just aren’t anywhere near good enough.”

Q: What about Ruud van Nistelrooy? Do you think he has what it takes to handle the Championship and bring Leicester straight back up?

EH: “I think Leicester will keep Ruud van Nistelrooy for next season and see if he can rebuild the club. Leicester are going to be in trouble with PSR again, I imagine, so I don’t think sacking the manager will be an option even if they were looking to move on.

“Ruud plays a similar style of football to Enzo Maresca, which worked in the Championship, so there is definitely potential for Leicester to be good next year and push for promotion with their possession-based style. We will just have to wait to see how things pan out for them, and I hope they don’t get deducted any points.”

Q: What are the positives, do you think Leicester and their fans can take into next season in the Championship?

EH: “Positives? We’ve got a young 15-year-old Jeremy Monga who looks exciting, and it’s nice to see players like that as it gives the fans something to like about the team, even when they are as poor as they are. I hope he gets more game time next season, and any other players we have of a similar level in the academy should get a chance. There’s not much you can take out of the season that we’ve just had.”

Q: At the beginning of the season, you said you expected an ‘exceptional’ season from Birmingham, and they have already won the league. Have you been impressed?

EH: “I have been very impressed with Birmingham all season long, and when you look at the squad they have formed, I can’t say I’m surprised how comfortably they have won the league. I guarantee Birmingham will be challenging at the top of the Championship next season, and they may even get back-to-back league titles.

“They have a fantastic opportunity to mimic Ipswich and get back to where they belong in the Premier League, facing off against their rivals, Aston Villa, but I’m sure they’ll have some battles with West Brom next season. They have a very talented manager who has rightfully been voted Manager of the Season, and a strong team, and I expect them to be promoted next season.”

Q: Are Birmingham too big a club to even be happy with Championship football?

EH: “Birmingham are a hugely well-supported club, and they should be a Premier League staple. They are an ambitious club, and I have seen the facilities the owners plan to provide the club with, and they are state-of-the-art. Birmingham are not a club with Championship ambitions from what I can tell, it seems to me they have their standards set on the Premier League and maybe even the Champions League in the future. It’s brilliant to see, and I’m sure they will be back to where they belong soon.”

Q: Will Bolton be disappointed they haven’t made the playoffs? Winning 1 of their last 6 games has cost them a chance at promotion, when they have been in good form since Steven Schumacher took over in January?

EH: “I’m sure everyone at Bolton will be hugely disappointed with how their season has ended. A few months ago, fans and players were dreaming of promotion to the Championship, and now they have finished outside of the playoffs.

“Bolton are a massive club and they’ve taken a bit of a battering over the past decade or so. They are a club with stature that deserves to be at least in the Championship, and I am rooting for them to achieve that next season. I hope they are back stronger next season because the way this season has concluded for them will be tough to take.”

Q: Wigan have survived again. What has to change at the club to push for promotion rather than being a bottom-half team? They’ve been in better form since Ryan Lowe took over in March.

EH: “It’s going to be difficult for Wigan to progress as a club because it’s all about money, and I think they’re doing well just to maintain their position in League One for now. If they are looking for significant progress, they are going to have to recruit perfectly, which is difficult to do. They need the right combination of getting some good permanent signings and then recruiting well in the loan market, the way the teams at the top of League One and League Two do. But you don’t find a Reece James in the loan market every season. Talent can still only take you so far, they will need investment or a cash injection at some point to keep up with the top teams in the league for a full season, so for now, I think the club is doing a great job at just maintaining their position in League One.”

Q: Can you predict the Champions League and Europa League places? Do you think Villa will qualify?

EH: “I’m excited to see the race for the Champions League, it’s going to be exciting. I really hope Villa sneak in, and I think they are capable of doing it, but they need a bit of luck with other results. I have Villa sneaking in fifth behind Man City, Newcastle, Arsenal and of course Liverpool. I think Forest have had a fantastic season, but may just burn out, and the battle for fifth between Forest, Chelsea and Villa will be interesting, but I hope Villa get it with Chelsea and Forest in the Europa League.”

Q: Your second cousin, Mateo Joseph, is a Leeds player, and they have just been promoted. He has made 37 appearances in the league so far this season, mainly from the bench. Are you excited to see him get a chance in the Premier League again? Do you see him improving next season?

EH: “I have every faith in Mateo to keep improving year on year. It’s his time to stake a claim now. He’s been great when he’s played for Leeds this season, and he has done a fantastic job nailing down a place in the first team squad. He will be playing against the best of the best next season, and it is a great chance to stand up and be counted by contributing consistently in the Premier League.

“Footballers thrive in those scenarios, where they are playing against other fantastic players, and I think Mateo will thrive next season. He needs to keep plugging away as he is still just a young footballer with plenty to learn. I think it will be a really interesting season for Leeds. Over the past few years, teams that have been promoted have gone straight back down, but I think they will break the trend and do really well next season.”

Q: What do you make of how difficult it seems to have become to stay in the Premier League as a promoted side?

EH: “The Championship is totally different to the Premier League, there is extra pressure that comes with playing in the best league in the world. I think fans and pundits underestimate how hard it is to go to these huge stadiums with big crowds and perform to the level that is needed to survive in the Premier League.

“Burnley came up last time with a record number of points and tried to stick to their guns playing a certain type of footballer, which they did all season, but they conceded plenty of goals and ultimately got relegated. So, you have to be really smart to stay in the Premier League.

“The funny thing now is that teams aren’t even making it to 20 points in a season, which demonstrates how big of a gap there is between the Premier League and the Championship. When I was playing, we would aim for 40 points to survive, but some teams aren’t even putting up half of that now, which is sad to see for the competition in the league. The gulf between the top teams who have been in the league for a long time and those at the bottom is bigger every year, it is harder than ever to survive for newly promoted teams.”

Q: Your sons are making waves in the Manchester City academy. How important are these next few years in their development as young forwards? And how much would you like to see them break into the first team squad, seeing as Pep now seems more open to playing young talent?

EH: “Yeah, it is an important few years for them both, they have to both keep grafting and learning their trade to develop into great players. Reigan is doing well in the under-21s and has the playoffs coming up with them, so it would be nice for them to win the playoffs after winning the league.

“They are both developing nicely, and I have hopes that they will both be breaking into first-team squads soon, whether that be at Man City or out on loan. Playing first-team football is what it is all about, and where you learn the most about your game, so these are important next steps for both of them, but they will keep pushing themselves, and I hope they get first-team opportunities soon.”

A huge thank you to Emile Heskey for such an interesting discussion – we’ll be sure to bear those insights in mind when updating our Premier League bingo card generator for next season!