February 20th 2025.
Paul Merson, a former Arsenal star who now works as a football pundit, believes that the Premier League title race could be decided this weekend. According to Merson, if Liverpool manages to defeat Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, they will most likely win the title this season. However, the outcome of the match between Arsenal and West Ham on Saturday could also have an impact on the race.
Currently, Arsenal is in second place and a win against West Ham could reduce Liverpool's lead at the top of the table to just five points. But Merson feels that even if that happens, it won't matter much if Liverpool ends up restoring their eight-point cushion. This is because Arsenal has come very close to winning the Premier League in the past two seasons, but they were narrowly beaten by City both times. The Gunners have not won the title since 2004, and if Merson's prediction comes true, their wait will continue.
Merson also shared his thoughts on the recent Champions League match between City and Real Madrid, calling it an "embarrassing night" for the English team. He believes that if someone had no idea it was City playing, they wouldn't have thought it was a team worthy of being champions. Merson also pointed out that although City had a convincing 4-0 win against Newcastle, it was not a true reflection of their current form.
The football pundit predicts that Liverpool will dominate the game against City and come out as winners. He even suggests that Jurgen Klopp should start Diogo Jota, with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on either side of him. Merson believes that Jota's ability to drop into the midfield will allow the other two to make runs and create opportunities for the team.
When it comes to City's new signings, Merson is not convinced. He feels that Nico Gonzalez looked slow and laboured in the recent loss against Real Madrid, and Omar Marmoush hardly made an impact on the game. In fact, Merson believes that Marmoush would have been better off playing alongside Erling Haaland, who potentially will miss the match against Liverpool. However, Merson is confident that even if Haaland does play, Liverpool's defensive powerhouse Virgil van Dijk will be able to handle him.
In the end, Merson predicts a 3-1 victory for Liverpool against City, which he believes will be a major blow to Arsenal's title hopes. He also expects Liverpool to continue their winning streak against Newcastle and Southampton, which will solidify their position at the top of the table. Merson admires Liverpool's champion mentality and believes that it will play a crucial role in their success this season.
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