Paul Merson says Liverpool beating Tottenham on Saturday – live on Sky Sports – would be “massive” for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool are second in the Premier League after winning five and drawing one of their first six games, yet still trail Manchester City after the champions claimed six victories in a row.
With Pep Guardiola’s side starting their title defense in relentless form, Merson says claiming three points at Spurs – who are fourth and also unbeaten in the Premier League – would be an impressive statement from Liverpool.
Liverpool beating Spurs would be massive
If Liverpool come away from Tottenham with a win next week then it’s a massive result. I’m not saying they will lose the game, but to go to Tottenham now, you’re up against a very good team with good players.
In the first 35 minutes against Arsenal, I thought Spurs were pretty disappointing. I thought it was no different to watching Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho’s Spurs. If Gabriel Jesus scores for 2-0 then it’s a completely different story, but he misses an absolute sitter.
Destiny Udogie was outstanding. For him to get booked so early on in the game then go up against Bukayo Saka – one of the best wingers in the world – is some going.
But credit goes to Ange Postecoglou. He said to him: ‘I have faith in you, you’re a full-back, it’s your job to defend one-vs-ones, stay on the pitch’. Normally, against a player like Saka, a manager would take him off as you wouldn’t want a red card. But fair play to the manager and Udogie did his job really well.
Liverpool, meanwhile, still have got so much work to do. Manchester City are destroying the league at the moment, they’re putting so much pressure on everybody. It’s phenomenal what they’re doing.
Liverpool are doing well at the moment because you just have to stick in there. You have to take it a game at a time and you don’t want to be giving them a head start.
The biggest advantage Liverpool have is they can draw to Tottenham and Brighton over the next two weeks because they still have to play Man City twice – and they can beat Man City twice.
I’ve always said it from day one – Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League.
You need a proper center forward. I’m not blaming Nketiah because they drew 2-2 with Tottenham but with 32 games to go and all the Champions League games they have to play, I don’t think he takes them to the next level. I don’t even think Gabriel Jesus takes them to the next level.
I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried. Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira – I don’t think he’s good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on.
It wasn’t Arsenal’s strongest team but when you think about the Champions League and all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn’t it?
It’s alright sitting there and thinking ‘They need a center forward’ – but who is there?
Only Ivan Toney is available for them in January – there aren’t many center forwards around in the world. They’re a dying breed.
I heard Michael Owen chatting the other day. Years ago you had him, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, and Robbie Fowler getting 20 to 30 goals a season and they didn’t get a million England caps. Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand too. Now you get to 20 goals in the Premier League and you play for England.
Toney is a good player – he can hold the ball up, he’s good in the air. Arsenal might have to go for him. But there are not a million center forwards around.
