Paul Merson: “Liverpool should be mid-table” | OneFootball

Liverpool’s unbeaten start under Arne Slot has impressed on paper, yet doubts remain about the substance behind the results. The Dutchman’s side have collected maximum points from narrow victories over Arsenal, Newcastle, and Burnley, but each required late drama or fortuitous decisions that left pundits unconvinced.

Strip away those fine margins and the league table would look rather different, says former Arsenal and England player Paul Merson, writing for Sky Sports this week. Against Arsenal, Liverpool rarely threatened; against Newcastle, a stoppage-time strike turned one point into three; and at Burnley, a reckless challenge from Hannibal Mejbri gifted them a penalty in the dying seconds. Remove those moments, and the Reds could just as easily be sat in mid-table.

Midfielders not firing

The concern is less about results than about performances. Slot’s introduction of Florian Wirtz, a creative linchpin at Bayer Leverkusen, has not yet translated to the Premier League. The German playmaker has been crowded out in congested central areas, his influence blunted by opponents content to sit deep and deny him space. Liverpool’s once-dominant midfield, too, looks diminished. Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai dictated games last season, but this campaign they have struggled to exert the same authority.

That fragility has been exposed repeatedly, with opponents finding ways to bypass Liverpool’s press and turn their defensive line. “Teams are getting at Liverpool,” observed Paul Merson, a statement that is difficult to disagree with.

The paradox, however, is that results continue to arrive. Winning while underperforming has long been considered the hallmark of elite teams, but whether Liverpool can sustain such fortune is another matter. With tougher fixtures looming, Slot will know performances must improve.

GFN | Finn Entwistle