Paul Merson originally backed Arsenal to have the advantage in the Premier League this year, but Liverpool’s transfer business has swiftly changed his mind on the future champions
Paul Merson is no longer backing former club Arsenal to finally secure the Premier League title this season. Now, the ex-Gunner has put his eggs in Liverpool’s basket, believing they will retain their crown.
Merson revised his view after watching the final day of the summer window unfold. The Reds were undoubtedly the winners of the window in the Premier League in a record-breaking spending spree, securing the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong early on.
On the final day of the window, after a huge saga between the clubs and the player, Liverpool finally obtained their number one target in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who headed to Anfield for a British transfer record of £125million.
READ MORE: Liverpool sign 10 players and have 17 exits as £449m spent in record-breaking summerREAD MORE: Liverpool could face ANOTHER Marc Guehi setback after deadline day drama
Before the season began, Merson reckoned Arsenal could achieve their long-awaited Premier League success. But he seems to have changed his tune pretty quickly following the signings on Merseyside.
When asked if Liverpool are now top of the list for winning the league, the former England international said on Sky Sports: «Yeah, I would have thought so after yesterday as well.
«After you got [Isak]. See, I always weigh it up with the league [after some time]. I thought advantage Arsenal when they went and won at Man United, then all of a sudden they [Liverpool] go and beat Newcastle and they beat Arsenal.
«For me, they haven’t even gotten out of second gear yet and they haven’t played particularly well yet. Watching yesterday’s game, I watched yesterday and I’m like, I’ve never seen an Arsenal team so comfortable at Anfield – so comfortable and they still lost.
«What they are doing as well, as Christian [Purslow] said, they’re buying players to come into the team and these are top players.»
The Reds have added some top talent to their team from a position of strength, spending a whopping £449m across just one transfer window. Missing out on Marc Guehi was a late blow, and centre-back is perhaps the one position boss Arne Slot is light in.
So far, Liverpool have made it three wins out of three in the league – but not as comfortably as many would think. It took until the 88th minute for Federico Chiesa to restore the lead against Bournemouth on the opening day, and the 10th minute of added time for 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha to secure the 3-2 win over 10-man Newcastle last week.
A stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 83rd minute secured all three points for the Reds against Arsenal, although these late winners do show the resilience that often got Slot’s side over the line last season.
The Reds are the only team with a perfect record and head into the international break two points clear as a result. The league leaders will face a trip to newly-promoted Burnley afterwards, before a Champions League visit from Atletico Madrid and then the Merseyside derby at Anfield on September 20.
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