Paul Merson: Liverpool's Victory Over Tottenham on Saturday Would Be of 'Immense' Significance in the Premier League

 

Paul Merson: Liverpool's Victory Over Tottenham on Saturday Would Be of 'Immense' Significance in the Premier League

Paul Merson Highlights Liverpool's Crucial Clash with Tottenham

As Liverpool aims to keep pace with a formidable Manchester City side in the Premier League, Paul Merson emphasizes the significance of their upcoming match against Tottenham. Liverpool currently stands second in the league, with an impressive record of five wins and one draw in their first six games, yet they trail behind Manchester City, who have secured six consecutive victories.

Merson believes that securing a win against Tottenham, who currently occupy the fourth position and have an unbeaten record in the Premier League, would send a strong message from Liverpool to the rest of the league.

Merson acknowledges that Tottenham had a shaky start in their recent match against Arsenal, resembling the teams managed by Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. However, their resilience and determination to play their style of football impressed him. He particularly praised Tottenham's Destiny Udogie for his tenacity, even after receiving an early booking and facing off against the talented Bukayo Saka.

Turning to Liverpool, Merson acknowledges that they still have much work to do, given Manchester City's dominant form. He underscores the importance of not allowing City to build a significant lead and advises Liverpool to take it one game at a time.

What could work in Liverpool's favor is their upcoming fixtures against Tottenham and Brighton. Even if they were to draw these matches, Liverpool still has two fixtures against Manchester City, which Merson believes they have the potential to win.

Switching gears to Arsenal, Merson expresses his concerns about the team's forward options. He believes that Eddie Nketiah is not the player who can lead Arsenal to Premier League success and questions the readiness of Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira. Merson mentions that the club might have to consider making a move for Ivan Toney in the January transfer window, although he acknowledges the scarcity of quality center-forwards in the market.

Lastly, Merson highlights the pivotal match between Arsenal and Manchester City on October 8. He asserts that if Arsenal were to lose, they would effectively be out of the title race due to the substantial points gap. In Merson's view, overcoming a seven-point deficit to Manchester City is an insurmountable challenge, especially with only one remaining fixture against them, and it's a make-or-break moment for Arsenal's title aspirations.