
Football pundit Paul Merson has weighed in on the Premier League title race, identifying Liverpool as his current favourites, while acknowledging Chelsea’s unexpected surge as serious contenders.
In his column for Sportskeeda, Merson highlighted the significance of the upcoming weekend’s fixtures, suggesting they could be pivotal in shifting the balance of power in the title race.
“This weekend has all the potential to end up being the one that initiates some shift in power in the Premier League title race,” Merson wrote.
He pointed out Liverpool’s demanding schedule, noting their involvement in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and a challenging away match against Tottenham Hotspur.
“I know they rested a lot of their main players for that cup game against Southampton, but by the time they face Spurs, they could drop down to second-place if Chelsea beat Everton,” Merson observed.
Merson cautioned Liverpool against complacency, advising them to disregard any perceived advantage of having a game in hand.
“For their own good, Liverpool have to forget about that game in hand. If you keep thinking of it as an advantage, it can only work against you in my opinion,” he stated.
Reflecting on the rapidly changing dynamics of the league, Merson noted how quickly Chelsea have closed the gap on Liverpool.
“Not long ago, Liverpool were six points ahead of Chelsea. Back then, no one would’ve thought it could become this close! That’s how quickly things can change in the Premier League,” he remarked.
Despite Chelsea’s impressive form, Merson still regards Liverpool as the frontrunners for the title.
“If I were to pick the favourites to win the Premier League right now, I would still choose Liverpool. But believe me when I say Chelsea are not a million miles behind them,” he asserted.
Discussing Chelsea’s unexpected title challenge, Merson emphasized that while they may not be outright favourites, they are undeniably in contention.
“If you ask me if Chelsea are favourites to win the Premier League, 100 million per cent they are not. But they are definitely in it, no matter what their manager says. You can’t deny it now,” he commented.
He also highlighted the potential impact of fixture congestion and injuries on Liverpool and Arsenal, suggesting that Chelsea could capitalize if they maintain their current form.
“Liverpool and Arsenal have so many big games coming up, especially in the Champions League. The more games you play, the more injuries you could pick up. If Chelsea go out and keep doing what they are doing now, they will push these teams till the end,” Merson concluded.
As the Premier League season progresses, the title race appears increasingly open, with Chelsea emerging as formidable challengers alongside Liverpool and Arsenal.