Liverpool return to Premier League play on Sunday at Manchester City but have been handed a boost by Arsenal on Saturday afternoon
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has prematurely declared that Liverpool will be Premier League winners this season after Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off and the Gunners lost to West Ham United. Mikel Arteta’s side went into the game against the Irons with the chance to cut the gap to five points on the Reds after Arne Slot’s side drew with Aston Villa in midweek.
However, the North London team put up a poor performance at the Emirates Stadium, falling behind in the first half to a Jarrod Bowen header. As the Gunners chased the game in the second half, a VAR review reduced them to 10 men after 73 minutes.
After Mohammed Kudus dispossessed Myles Lewis-Skelly on the halfway line, the defender dragged the winger down to spoil a golden scoring opportunity. He was first given a yellow card, but after referee Craig Pawson was advised to consult his monitor, his punishment was escalated to a red card.
Merson was watching the match in the Sky Sports studio and, distraught, declared that the Premier League title battle was finished. “Red card for Lewis-Skelly. Liverpool are league champions,” he remarked.
“I would book the open-top bus immediately; it will be cheaper. If you book it in May, you will spend twice as much.
“The firm knows you need it, so they’ll charge you extra. I was only letting you know.”
While Liverpool may not want to be overly optimistic just yet, they will admit that they are in a fantastic situation. If they beat Manchester City on Sunday, they will go 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Slot’s men will have played one extra game than the Gunners. Arsenal will play their game in hand, against Chelsea, on the same day as the Reds attempt to win their first trophy of the season in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Slot’s men will have played one extra game than the Gunners. Arsenal will play their game in hand, against Chelsea, on the same day as the Reds attempt to win their first trophy of the season in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
