Paul Merson would have been in disbelief watching the bore draw between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening. During his Premier League predictions, the Arsenal icon didn’t mince his words when backing Liverpool to walk over their bitter rivals for a third successive season.
United travelled to Anfield with one win in their previous five games in all competitions, and March’s 7-0 humiliation lodged in their minds.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are challenging for the Premier League title again, and a victory would’ve sent Jurgen Klopp’s side back to the summit.
But Erik ten Hag orchestrated a frustrating 0-0 stalemate, in which the best chance actually fell for the visiting underdogs.
Not many gave United a chance before kick-off, and Merson was particularly confident when predicting another comfortable Liverpool win.
“People keep saying this is a big game, but is that really the case? I think this is my easiest call of the weekend – I expect Liverpool to win quite comfortably,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
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“Let me say it like this – I’d be more shocked if Manchester United got a draw at Anfield than if Crystal Palace got a result against Manchester City.
“That’s how confident I am that Liverpool are winning this, as Erik ten Hag’s side are absolutely all over the place. They got a free swing against Bayern Munich but went out with a whip.
“Before that, they were absolutely slaughtered at home by Bournemouth, and even if you look at the games they won, they just faltered over the line. I expect Liverpool to rip them to shreds, so I’m going for a 3-0 home win.
“I think Ten Hag will just be throwing players onto the pitch. I don’t expect anything from Manchester United, as they simply haven’t been good enough this season.
“Liverpool, on the other hand, are the league leaders and with games coming thick and fast in the festive period, they absolutely have to win this one, particularly with the game against Arsenal on the horizon.
“I predict Premier League results every weekend and have got a few things wrong over the course of the season, but I’m not worried in the slightest about my prediction for this game.”
Merson was proved severely wrong as the game certainly didn’t put the ‘Super’ in ‘Super Sunday’, and United will undoubtedly be delighted with the outcome.
It was a good weekend for the 55-year-old, though, as Liverpool’s slip-up meant his former club Arsenal finished the day as Premier League leaders.
