I was disappointed not to win Ballon d'Or in '96
In 1996, I was desperately hoping to win the Ballon d'Or because of the form I was in. In the Euros that year I finished top scorer but Germany won the tournament and their midfielder Matthias Sammer did. More often than not, it has gone to someone who's won a major tournament, whether that's a World Cup a Euros or Champions League.
I might be correct in saying that I think there's only been three times it's gone to someone who hasn't won a major tournament and all three times that was Lionel Messi.
I remember 1996 very well. Sammer was an amazing player and won the Euros, so I understood when he got the Ballon d'Or. But I was feeling really positive about my chances when I went to the ceremony.
I'd scored 31 in the league, which back then was amazing. I'd finished top scorer in the Euros. I was the world's most expensive player. So I went in full of confidence and full of hope.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed when I didn't win it, but I understood giving it to Sammer for his achievements.
Harry Kane gets my vote for the 2026 Ballon d'Or
For the 2026 Ballon d'Or Harry Kane would get my vote. For the number of goals that he that he scored last year, winning the Bundesliga and a cup as well.
Obviously, he didn't have the success with England at the World Cup that he would have wanted. But when I look at all the other nominations, I think for what he did and the goals he scored, he was phenomenal. So Harry would get my vote for the Ballon d'Or this year without a doubt.
Looking at who could finish behind him, Mbappé would be one and you've also got to look at Rodri who was unbelievable in the World Cup. I know he didn't play a lot of football in the season because of injuries but Rodri I think may be another contender because of his performances for Spain.
He was player of the tournament and lifted the trophy as captain. Those would be my three with Kane as number one.
Isak must keep scoring to secure Champions League football for Reds
Alexander Isak must continue his current form all season for Liverpool. Ekitike will be out for a while yet, so it's key that Isak keeps producing. If he can do that Liverpool will have a real chance of Champions League football next season.
I really don't like Liverpool defensively. They're far too open, even on Wednesday the way they conceded. I think when you're conceding goals like they do, eventually you'll get punished. It has to stop.
Isak has to be at his very best this season and they have to get early balls to him, both from out wide and from in the middle. That can be difficult when teams are sitting deep and they're entrenched on their own 18-yard box. Then you need to go out wide and get early balls in.
If Liverpool get those ball into Isak, he's a very different player and there's not many better when you get the ball to his feet and he's running at defenders. Not many defenders will stop him in a one on one.
Barcola needs to score more goals
Liverpool have got Gakpo, they've got Barcola, they've got Ngumoha, they've got Munoz as well. It was slightly concerning that Barcola went off on Wednesday feeling his calf. It looked like more than cramp.
Barcola is a top player but he has to improve on his goal output. He had a chance or two on Wednesday night that he should have scored. He's a fantastic player, he'll get bums off seats and excite people.
Arsenal will win the league but don't bet on Invincibles 2.0
I'd be amazed if Arsenal did an invincible season again. It was some achievement what that 2003-04 Arsenal team did to not lose a single Premier League game. I don't care what era you did it, it's incredible to do that. But the standard now is tougher, everyone else is closer. I don't think Arsenal will repeat that, but I do think they'll win the league.
The only two that could get close to Arsenal are Manchester City and Chelsea. But we've already seen Arsenal beat Chelsea and deservedly so. Arsenal will win the league. They have strengthened in the key areas and their squad depth is the key to their success.
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Barcelona can beat Arsenal to Champions League glory
For all that I expect them to dominate domestically, it'll be tough for Arsenal in the Champions League this season. They could possibly go all the way, because of the players they've got and how good they are and the experience they will have taken from last season as well.
But the big boys - Real Madrid, particularly Barcelona, and PSG - will be dangerous again, and it would be some achievement for the French club to win it three times on the spin.
My tip for the Champions League this year is Barcelona. They are due one, and I think they've signed some big players. So I'm going to go for Haaland as Champions League top scorer and Barcelona to win it.
Refs are trying to improve VAR but they don't help themselves
Referees are trying to improve VAR. Last season was unacceptable, and they understand that. They've made a decent start but when you look at that decision not to award Arsenal a penalty at Aston Villa, that was clearly wrong.
The decision to give Nottingham Forest a penalty for Alisson's challenge on Neco Williams was wrong too. They came out with a video 24 hours later, but that's no good. We don't want football to be like that. What they provided on the day wasn't conclusive for me. They provided the full story maybe 24 hours later, but there wasn't evidence enough on the day to overturn the decision.
Obviously, I am the same as everyone else when it comes to VAR - well, the same as most people -as I wanted it in the Premier League. But I didn't expect it to be like this.
VAR is never going to be perfect. There's always going to be an incident over a weekend because there's that many games, and there's that many incidents, where we're all probably going to disagree with it. But when you hear them talking about the thresholds and the evidence, and then you've got a panel who are then ruling on the decisions, you wonder - what have we got into?
I'm sticking with my Newcastle prediction
I've been pleasantly surprised by Newcastle and Matthais Jaissle. The signings they made late in the transfer window - Fernandez Pardo and Nico Gonzalez - have both made important impacts.
But it's like everything else in Newcastle, it's literally black or white. You're either brilliant or you're rubbish. There's no halfway, there's no in between and at the minute they've had a really good start, so everything's positive.
I expect them to have some tough periods this season because of how young they are, and how inexperienced the manager is, but they've played five games, and they're five unbeaten. So I'm happy with that.
Newcastle have shown enough to suggest that they can have a decent season, but I won't change my mind on the predictions. I still expect us to be in and around mid-table.
Lewis Hall is best Premier League left-back
It's great news for Newcastle that Lewis Hall has signed a new long-term deal. There is always going be interest from other clubs in top players and he's a top left-back.
There's not many good left-backs out there and Newcastle have got a really good one, so I understand why other clubs were were sniffing around him in the transfer window.
The only issue is that I wonder how important his contract will be if he wants to leave one day. However, at the minute he seems very happy and happy enough to sign that new deal. So I'm pleased for Newcastle and him.
I have been really impressed with his start to the season. He now just needs to stay fit because, if he stays fit, he's one of, if not the best, left back in the league.
Rangers and Celtic fans only have themselves to blame
It is such a shame there will be no away fans at Old Firm games this season. I've been to loads of Old Firm derbies and they're brilliant occasions, but it can get a bit tasty at times. Unfortunately, the fans only have themselves to blame.
I get the emotions involved in the derbies and everything else and the rivalries and all of that, but it does sometimes spill over the top. I've been there and I've seen it. So, it's such a shame that it's come to this again that there's no away fans.
It will affect the atmosphere. These games always have a brilliant atmosphere, so it's a shame that there's not a small section of away fans that are able to go. But it is what it is and, for safety reasons, they had to do it.
O'Neill has been unbelievable for Celtic
Martin O'Neill has been unbelievable as Celtic manager after what he did last season to help them win the league title. I don't think anyone expected him to go back there and once he went there, he came back and stayed, and then he stayed again in the summer.
The standard of football in Scotland has declined rapidly over the years. It's clear because neither Old Firm club are in Europe for the rest of this season.
O'Neill is such a great character, he's so enthusiastic. And for him to still be managing Celtic at his age just shows what football means to him and how much he loves it.