‘Magic Man’ Paul Merson returns along with his newest column, the place he explains why he expects Manchester United to get one thing in opposition to Liverpool’s new “safer” type on Sunday.
United have received two of their final three video games on residence soil in opposition to Liverpool, and kick-started their season in Erik ten Hag’s first 12 months in cost of their third recreation in opposition to the Reds – one thing they are going to hope to do once more.
Arne Slot has loved an ideal opening two video games as Liverpool supervisor, comfortably seeing off Ipswich and Brentford, however the Tremendous Sunday recreation, reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League, represents simply the most important problem of his burgeoning Anfield profession.
Discover out why Merse thinks Man Utd will probably be higher suited to enjoying in opposition to Slot’s Liverpool than his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, and why the subsequent three Premier League video games will “outline” Arsenal’s season by the tip of September…
Man Utd will get a consequence in opposition to ‘secure’ Liverpool
That is it – a giant, massive soccer match. Liverpool should go to Man Utd and get a consequence and if you happen to’re a Man Utd fan, it is a remaining cup remaining, a cup remaining. The one factor we query about Man Utd over the previous couple of years is consistency. I believed they did alright in opposition to Fulham, they performed some good soccer.
In opposition to Brighton they had been unfortunate, the disallowed aim hits his knee, however they should not have misplaced that soccer match. You come away from there with a minimum of a draw.
I do not see Man Utd shedding this recreation. I believe Man Utd trigger Liverpool issues, I believe it will be an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Liverpool are a special group now. They are not going to play the Klopp means. The supervisor has are available along with his personal concepts and he is extra strong, he is extra regimented, they’re secure, and so they’re extra cautious on the similar time.
They have nice gamers up entrance the place the supervisor goes, ‘you get on with it and win us the sport and we’ll be certain we’re strong on the again’. Man Utd do not need a gung-ho recreation.
This performs into Man Utd’s fingers that Liverpool will come and play a bit bit safer. If this will get into an end-to-end soccer match, Liverpool have extra of a menace and doubtless have higher gamers all around the pitch.
So for me, that is the place I believe it performs into Man Utd’s fingers a bit bit extra with the way in which Liverpool will play.
I nonetheless assume it will be an entertaining recreation – there’s an excessive amount of expertise going ahead on this pitch for there to not be objectives.
Subsequent three video games will outline Arsenal’s season
They’ve had a tough, laborious begin, Arsenal. This fixture laptop, the subsequent three video games – they’re are defining video games of the season for Arsenal.
You are speaking Brighton who’ve received each video games and on their day can move it round and have a proper go at you and do particular issues.
Then you definately’ve bought Tottenham away and Man Metropolis away. They lose two of these soccer matches out of three, and even win one and draw two, they are not far out of the title race already.
That is how ruthless it’s.
Man Metropolis put up numbers, we all know Man Metropolis completed strongly. You do not need to be going to Man Metropolis in just a few weeks on Tremendous Sunday and must win the sport to remain in contact.
So these subsequent two video games are huge for Arsenal. I believe they beat Brighton, however for a recreation that in all probability at the beginning of season regarded a pleasant one, it is grow to be a tough recreation. A tough recreation.
They should get by way of that, and they should get three factors as a result of they want to stick with Manchester Metropolis for my part.
They should keep on their coat-tails and after the worldwide break, you could not decide two more durable video games for me, Tottenham away in an enormous north London derby, after which the next week Man Metropolis away on the Etihad.
You lose each of them and you would be six factors behind Man Metropolis. That is too many already. Sorry, individuals would possibly go there’s 30-odd video games left, but when Man Metropolis misplaced three extra video games, that might solely give us a chance to lose yet another.
It is a massive, massive, massive, massive few weeks developing for Arsenal.
Consistency stays the large query for Chelsea
Chelsea’s win at Wolves was right down to good ending, some good ending, good counter-attacking soccer. Wolves had been horrible. I do not need to be a celebration pooper and I do not need to be a Chelsea fan – you do not need to be flat-track bullies.
That the week earlier than they did not lay a glove on Man Metropolis, did not lay a glove.
They completed final season beating West Ham, Brighton and Forest. However a few weeks earlier than that they had been getting smashed at Arsenal by 5. That is the benchmark.
That is what I say about Chelsea. It is consistency, it is consistency. And that is what they should do, beat Palace this weekend, after which once they begin enjoying the large boys. They have a fantastic begin to the season.
They have some actual good fixtures, however’s it is consistency. Madueke bought a fantastic hat-trick. Actual, actual good finishes, hitting them laborious and low down on the goalkeeper’s ft, and he was excellent.
He is bought to try this once more this weekend, and that is what it is all about. It is being constant. It might’t be 9 out of 10 one week and a 4 out of 10 week after.