1 hour ago
29
Liverpool could secure the Premier League title this weekend, Paul Merson has sensationally claimed, if the Reds beat Crystal Palace and Arsenal loses to Newcastle United.
Arne Slot's men are up first, traveling to Selhurst Park on Saturday. Mikel Arteta's side will then take to the field at St James' Park, potentially eight points behind at kick-off and playing catch-up even at this early stage.
Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson predicted a 1-1 draw in the Liverpool game, suggesting that Oliver Glasner's men are likely to cause problems for the Reds a few weeks on from winning the Community Shield clash at Wembley on penalties.
But he believes that if Liverpool can squeeze over the line again, that would put huge pressure on the Gunners.
"Should Liverpool win at Selhurst Park, they will go eight points clear of Arsenal before the Gunners play Newcastle away from home. So if Liverpool win this game and Arsenal lose on Sunday, the title race is over, finished!" Merson said.
"I know it sounds crazy and Arsenal have good fixtures coming up, but eight points between them will be too much.
"We were all choosing between Liverpool and Arsenal at the start of the season. And if anyone was on the fence back then and I told them Liverpool would have an eight-point head start, no one would have backed Arsenal for the title!
"That was when we still had 38 games left to play, and we only have 32 after this weekend."
Neither Liverpool nor Crystal Palace have trailed so far in this Premier League season. Both teams are unbeaten, though the Eagles have drawn three times.
The Reds are looking to win their opening six top-flight matches in a season for a fifth time having previously done so in 1978/79 (six), 1990/91 (eight), 2018/19 (six) and 2019/20 (eight).
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Only two reigning Premier League champions have started with six wins in a row — Chelsea in 2005/06 and Manchester City in 2023/24. Both teams retained the title.
Liverpool.com says: While an eight-point gap would be substantial even at this stage of the season, it wouldn't mean the race is over. Far from it, in fact.
For that to happen, the Reds have to win a tricky game at Crystal Palace and then it's over to Newcastle. It is feasible that Liverpool wins and Arsenal loses this weekend, but that wouldn't finalize anything at this early point in the campaign.
English (US) ·