Liverpool backed to slump astonishing 10 points behind Man City in title race because of one City player
Manchester City has been picked to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title by an incredible 10 points, even though the deficit is only one heading into the last nine games.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Pep Guardiola’s team can go undefeated until the end of the season – including a victory over Liverpool on April 10 – and that midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will play a major role.
City and Liverpool meet at the Etihad Stadium next month in what is expected to be a winner-takes-all match.
Liverpool trailed by 17 points early in the season but is now only one point back.
Merson, on the other hand, believes that an in-form De Bruyne can help his team win their fourth Premier League title in five years.
“Manchester City win the league by double digits if they beat Liverpool at the Etihad – but it all depends on Kevin De Bruyne,” Merson wrote for the Daily Star.
“If De Bruyne plays well until the end of the season I think they win it comfortably because he just knits everything together. He makes everybody play in my opinion. I think Pep Guardiola has a big role to play too with the team he picks.”
City stumbled in their Premier League title defense on Monday, drawing 0-0 with Crystal Palace.
Liverpool are currently breathing down their necks in their bid to reclaim the Premier League title they won in 2019-20.
Merson, on the other hand, believes that only Guardiola’s ‘complicating’ things will cause City to lose the league. Meanwhile, Liverpool has not been playing as well as some may believe, according to Merson.
He went on:
“Sometimes I just think Pep makes it too complicated for himself. It was the same in the Champions League final and the team he picked then. It’s great when it works but when it doesn’t you have to ask questions. When the pressure comes on you make strange decisions and that was a bad sign for City.
“But I still think they have the advantage. They can reel off eight wins in a row so easily, and having Liverpool at home is a big advantage. Liverpool have the ammunition to win there and if you had to pick one team for that situation, having to go there and win, it would be them.
“But it would be a massive blow for Liverpool to lose there. They would probably have to put all their eggs into the Champions League.
“Liverpool were fortunate at Arsenal. If they play like that when they go to the Etihad the game will be over at half time. They have been a bit sloppy lately and I don’t think you can afford to be sloppy against City, who aren’t playing as badly as people think they are.
“It’s a shame that game hasn’t been put back to later in the season because it will be the title decider. I just still see City winning the championship. They are battering teams. It’s not like they are playing and not looking like scoring in a month of Sundays.
“They are absolutely dominating teams, camped out in their half creating chances and pinning them back. We’ve seen it too many times. They just have to make sure they don’t lose to Liverpool and then I don’t see who beats them.”
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Liverpool backed to slump astonishing 10 points behind Man City in title race because of one City player
