Paul Merson believes Liverpool could take a massive step toward securing the Premier League title this weekend if results go their way.
The Reds head into their 3pm clash with Crystal Palace — the league’s only other unbeaten side — holding a five-point advantage at the top. A win would stretch their lead to eight points over nearest rivals Arsenal, who play Newcastle tomorrow, and Tottenham, who face their game later tonight.
Arne Slot’s men already have enough of a cushion to afford one defeat and still stay top. However, this weekend’s fixture schedule gives them a golden opportunity to increase that gap and pile pressure on their title challengers.
Merson: Title race could be “finished” by Sunday
Writing in his Sportskeeda Premier League predictions column, Merson claimed that if Liverpool win at Selhurst Park and Arsenal lose to Newcastle, the title race could effectively be decided as early as tomorrow.
> “If Liverpool win, they’ll go eight points clear of Arsenal before the Gunners even play,” Merson wrote.
“Should Arsenal lose, the title race is over — finished! Eight points is just too much to claw back.
At the start of the season, people couldn’t pick between Liverpool and Arsenal. But if you’d said Liverpool would have an eight-point head start by now, no one would’ve backed Arsenal — and that was with 38 games left! After this weekend, there’ll only be 32.”
Merson’s change of heart
Interestingly, Merson initially backed Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to win the league but shifted his stance after their defeat at Anfield in matchweek three.
Just two weeks ago, following Liverpool’s win over Burnley, he was still critical of Slot’s side, suggesting they’d been “gifted” six points and “should be mid-table.” Now, however, he’s calling them potential champions — a dramatic turnaround in opinion.
If Liverpool manage to move more than two games clear of Arsenal this weekend, it would make the north London club’s task significantly tougher, especially with the Reds having the momentum of beating a Palace side unbeaten in five months.
On the other hand, if Liverpool drop points today and Arsenal win tomorrow, the Gunners could close the gap and breathe new life into the title race.
While it’s still too early to make definitive predictions about who will lift the trophy in May, Liverpool have a prime opportunity to strengthen their grip on top spot with a statement victory against high-flying Crystal Palace.
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