Liverpool’s challenge for the Premier League will be defined by games against Aston Villa and Man City, says Paul Merson | Football news
Paul Merson says that the next two Liverpool games against Aston Villa and Man City will define their offer to win the Premier League title.
Speaking solely SkySports.comMagic Man is building up to a key night in the Premier League when Liverpool League leaders look to open a gap of 10 points over Arsenal when Aston Villa took over Wednesday at Villa Park.
It is also a big night for the Champions League villa. There are currently six points with a maximum of four – and five points from the fifth place if the Premier League will get an additional place of the Champions League next season – the side of Unai Emery cannot afford more terrain, especially with the game against Chelsea, live on Sky Sports, Arrival on Saturday.
Merson discusses the title race, the signs of any Liverpool nerves, Villa’s stops and their hope that they will secure the Champions League football for the second season …
‘Wolves’ victory wasn’t nice for Liverpool, but it doesn’t matter’
The only thing that is important for Liverpool at this stage of the season is to continue winning.
They were nervous about the wolves. It was obvious to see, but what matters? They got a job and won the game.
Liverpool started really, really good against Wolves, but I thought it would be a tough game.
They are not flying right now, they don’t play at the top of their game, but they still win, and that’s all that matters.
‘Vila, City Games will define the PL title of race’
The play against Aston Villa is a big game. It is the first of several big games for Arne Slot and its side.
For me, the Premier League Race will be defined in the next two games for Liverpool.
They will define whether Liverpool will win the league comfortably or go all the way to the wire.
The trips to Villa Park and Etihad are never easy and if they are dragged to a point or a few points, I think that would be included.
But if they got four points from the next two games, I think it would be practically in terms of titles.
‘It will be nervous, but the victory is all that matters’
Will be nervous for Liverpool. No doubt about it.
This is what concerns the race in the title. You can’t move away from it.
After Everton’s last minute, it equates where you thought you had two hands on the trophy, you would start to worry. Such moments will take place until the end.
But as you react it is crucial. It was not nice, but they crossed the line against the wolves, which is all that matters.
‘Liverpool deserves respect’
Liverpool has lost one Premier League game this season.
People can talk about lighter games or a lighter schedule, but they all played at least once.
It’s amazing that Liverpool did this season under the slot of Arne.
At the top are the phases of the champion group and lost one match in the Premier League.
They deserve a lot of respect for that.
It’s hard to do, win in the Premier League. For me, the Champions League is much easier to beat than the Premier League.
‘Four points from Villa and City Games would make things difficult for Arsenal’
That’s why the Arenal is still in the race.
It will not be massively demolished from Liverpool to lose its initiative, especially when these games come to Villa and Man City.
Two draws in these games would not be the worst results during the season, but two points Arsenal would give the opportunity to approach three, which is nothing.
But four points for Liverpool and then it would have to be a huge collapse not to win them.
It’s a huge week in the title race.
‘Vila struggled to build a swing’
For Aston Villa, this season was a bit like after Lord Mayor’s show.
Last year, they managed to get to the Champions League with the best four endings, but they didn’t really manage to build any momentum this season.
Earlier in the season, they beat Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League, but then a few days later, Man UTD came to the city and kept a 0-0 draw. Everything fell a little straight for Villa and the game took it out.
It worried me and in some ways it was a story about the season. They play in Europe, work well, and then fight to repeat it in the league.
‘Ipswich result of shocker’ | ‘Pressure will be mounted with a defeat Liverpool and Chelsea’
Last weekend was a shock for a villa. Running with Ipswich was a really bad result.
They played against 10 men and they really needed a victory, but they just couldn’t find the way, leaving them in a ticklish place in terms of Champions League qualifiers.
Winning against Ipswich and then two draws against Liverpool and Chelsea, that would not be a bad return. However, the point against Ipswich has accumulated pressure. Vili now need a minimum of victories of Liverpool and Chelsea.
That’s a big question.
The defeat of Liverpool and Chelsea will see that the pressure is increasing on Unai Emery nowhere.
‘Rashford and Asensio brought to football Cl’
Villa struggles to face the demands of domestic and European football shows how difficult it is. Newcastle were the same last season.
When you look at what Man City did and what the character of Liverpool, Chelsea and Man UTD over the years, going deep in European tournaments and staying at the top in the country, you can see how difficult it is from Villa and Newcastle.
The signatures made the villas in Marcus Rashford and Marc Asensiou, who will not be on the youth training scheme in terms of salaries, expect to return to the Champions League next season.
These players were brought to make sure they were coming at least fifth in the league.
‘Questions will be asked if Villa fails to get football cl’
If they do not qualify for the Champions League, people will start to ask questions.
They will ask questions about the Jhon Durana Agreement. She’ll want to know why Villa sold him.
I get a profit, but could he help them blow them up to the Champions League qualifying?
This is Aston Villa, which has not won anything for a long, long time. When you get good players, you have to ensure that you keep them, not just sell them for profits.
This works if I can finish the season on the high league. Then it acts as a good job, but it’s a good line. Completion and questions will start to mount.
