1 day ago
5
Paul Merson has offered a frankly ludicrous assessment of Liverpool’s issues so far this season, laying much of the blame at the feet of the club’s expensive summer signings.
No one can argue that the Reds’ start to their Premier League title defense has been hugely disappointing. While 15 points from seven games isn’t an awful tally, it's the standard of performances that has alarmed fans. After 11 games in all competitions, we’re yet to see a complete performance.
Arne Slot has struggled to find the balance between incorporating the summer signings and continuing to select those who guided Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th top-flight success. After a summer of such upheaval, it’s unsurprising there have been a few bumps in the road thus far.
However, Merson believes that, despite Liverpool adding eight players in the market, Slot should have already found a winning formula.
“I don't know when he's going to know his best team. We're already in the middle of October and he doesn't know his best team. That's a worry,” the former England international said on Sky Sports.
Slot has had just seven games with his new-look squad since the transfer window shut - one of which featured a makeshift Carabao Cup XI. So Merson’s incredulity that the Dutchman has yet to settle on just one team is frankly baffling. That’s before considering squad rotation, which is imperative for a time competing on multiple fronts.
In fact, if anything, it has become clear in the early weeks of the campaign that Slot’s first-choice XI features Alisson, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah. That’s seven of the 11.
Merson wasn’t done, though.
“You know, you've got a big football match tomorrow where they could be four points behind Arsenal. He's paid over £100 million for two players, surely they've got to play.
“This is the big football match. This is a must-win football match in my opinion, if Arsenal go and win this evening. You're paying over £100M for players and they're not playing in these big games.
“Wait a minute, you paid this money, you chased these players, we're playing big games here and not playing them.
“I don't think he'll want to be shown that he's been wrong in signing these players at the moment. That's why I don't think he will ever know what his best team is.”
Firstly, must-win in October - really?
As for the suggestion that Florian Wirtz isn’t trusted to start big matches, the German has been named in five of the seven league matches this term and both Champions League encounters. That includes fixtures against Arsenal, Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid.
Again, there can be few arguments that Wirtz’s displays have so far underwhelmed, but would Slot not face criticism for continuing to select an out-of-form player? It’s also worth remembering the plethora of elite-level stars who have needed time to adapt to the Premier League after moves from abroad. Wirtz’s situation is not unique.
As for Alexander Isak’s slow start to life at Anfield, only on Friday did Slot say the club’s record signing is finally fit following his lack of a summer pre-season.
“Fitness-wise, I think he is close to the level he should be. I think we can judge him in a fair way from now on,” said the Liverpool head coach on Friday.
Those two sentences alone sum up why Merson’s stance lacks any merit whatsoever.
Likewise, stating that Liverpool has been “wrong in signing these players” is simply a knee-jerk, social media big take to cause controversy and drive engagement.
It may work, sadly, but Merson’s comments are ill-judged at best. At worst, they’re completely nonsensical.
English (US) ·