Paul Merson predicts who will win at the weekend… Liverpool or Arsenal

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It’s a big few days in the Premier League for Liverpool as they face two enormously testing games.

The first of the double header comes this evening, as the Reds take on Chelsea at Anfield. With the Blues having regained some form recently, Liverpool will have to be at their best to claim a big win.

From there, Jurgen Klopp’s side head to the Emirates to face Arsenal on Sunday. They have good, recent memories of the stadium having won 2-0 there earlier this month. However, writing for Sky Sports, Paul Merson has claimed that lightning will not strike twice for Liverpool.

He did back the Reds to get a result against Chelsea tonight, though.

“This is a big game and I think Liverpool just win this [against Chelsea], just because of the home advantage,” Merson predicted. “But I do not see them beating Arsenal, not after the cup game.

“If Arsenal play anywhere near the level they reached during the first game between them this season again, it is impossible for them to be as wasteful two times on the trot.”

Merson expecting Arsenal win

Although Arsenal could well beat Liverpool at the weekend, we’re not sure we agree with Merson’s logic here.

That the Reds downed the Gunners three weeks ago in North London had little to do with missed chances.

Mikel Arteta’s side did spurn one or two decent openings, but they were nowhere near as creative as plenty seem to want to have us believe. Aside from a hairy moment in the first-half where Martin Odegaard hit the crossbar, Liverpool were comfortable.

It felt like a game where the Reds held Arsenal at arms length before picking them off capably at the end. That can very much happen again.

To suggest that Liverpool got lucky in this way is quite bizarre, to be honest. Arsenal had five shots on target all game. The Reds had three. It was hardly a peppering.

Besides all of that, Liverpool also have a very good recent record at the Emirates.

The win earlier this month was their third 2-0 victory at the stadium in their past four visits. It was hardly a fluke result.

With Arsenal winning last night and going well again, it will be a very, very tough game for Liverpool. Aside from March’s visit of Manchester City, it’s probably their hardest remaining game. In truth, it could go either way, but the cup game will have no bearing at all.