Paul Merson has updated his Premier League title prediction (Photo: Sky Sports)
Paul Merson is backing Arsenal or Liverpool to win the Premier League, dismissing Manchester City’s chances because the race is ‘out of their hands’.
With just seven games to go, the Gunners are top of the table, ahead of the Reds on goal difference, with the Citizens a point behind.
City are still considered favourites in part due to their highly favourable run-in, while Arsenal and Liverpool have to navigate tricky fixtures against the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Nevertheless, Merson believes the fixtures won’t matter too much given just how near-unstoppable the title rivals have been this season, saying on Sky Sports: ‘Every game is a hard game. Even today Luton at home, they [City] are going to have one eye on Real Madrid there’s no question about that.
‘You end up starting this game slowly, the clock starts ticking down very quickly. It’s weird how it works toward the end of the season. It’s just how they manage it.
‘I still think it’s going to be Arsenal or Liverpool, it’s in their hands. If Arsenal and Liverpool go perfect from now to the end of the season, Man City can’t do anything about it.
‘It’s out of City’s hands. Until it’s in their hands, they’ve got to keep on going and going. Even if they win all their remaining fixtures, if one of the other two go perfect they haven’t won the league.’
Pep Guardiola’s Man City have the best run-in – but they need Arsenal and Liverpool to drop points (Photo: Getty)
Just last weekend, Merson had backed Liverpool ahead of the others, but that was prior to the Reds’ 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
Breaking down the remaining games, the Arsenal legend added: ‘Man City have got the fixtures but I wouldn’t want to be Man City, because I can win every game and still not win the league.
‘Arsenal came back from their winter break and won nine out of ten. They can do it. They’ve got Chelsea at home, they’re a bag of Revels you don’t know what you’re going to get.
‘I’m quite confident for Arsenal against Tottenham. It will be an end-to-end football match, I just think Arsenal are stronger in midfield and I think they win that game.
‘The way Man United are playing, you saw them against Liverpool. Klopp said Arsenal will beat them if they play like that. And if Everton are safe, without being horrible that’s a given.
More Trending
‘They’re saying Liverpool are going to win tomorrow [against Crystal Palace]. I expect them to beat Fulham, I expect them to beat Everton – I know that’ll be a hard game.
‘But I expect them to beat West Ham, I expect them to beat Tottenham. And then you’re talking two football matches to go.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.