'Biggest shock': Paul Merson makes early call for Liverpool vs Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday

01/02/2025 01:30 PM

Liverpool prepare to welcome Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday as they look to cement their status as Premier League leaders.

The Reds have raced off the blocks under Arne Slot and are six points behind second-placed Arsenal while also having a game in hand after the Merseyside derby against Everton was called off due to Storm Darragh.

Manchester United, on the other hand, are in the middle of one of their worst-ever season, as they find themselves 14th in the Premier League standings.

Not much has changed since Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at the helm, with the two sides separated by 23 points in the league table.

And Paul Merson has made an outrageous early claim on the game that will be music to the ears of the Anfield faithful.

Paul Merson gives Manchester United no chance of beating Liverpool

Liverpool have lost just once in the Premier League this season – which was a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest early in the season – and have been notoriously hard to beat under Slot.

Manchester United, in stark contrast, have already suffered nine league defeats, with only the bottom four sides in the Premier League losing more games than them this season.

Merson feels Manchester United beating Liverpool would be the biggest shock of the weekend, which goes to show just how much the tide has changed in recent years.

"You know what? If Manchester United won at Liverpool this weekend, it would be the biggest shock in the Premier League,” said Merson on Sky Sports.

“Whatever happens in the other results – even if West Ham win at Man City – it wouldn't be a bigger shock than Manchester United winning at Liverpool.

“And that's how far it's gone. The only thing you can hope for if you're a Manchester United fan is a 0-0 result. If Liverpool score early, I dread to think what score this will be."

Liverpool team news ahead of Manchester United

Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are on the comeback trail for Liverpool after picking up injuries in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League win against Real Madrid, although it remains to be seen if they feature against the Red Devils.

Joe Gomez is out after picking up a hamstring injury against West Ham United, while Dominik Szoboszlai will be back in the squad after serving his one-match ban.

Federico Chiesa is being eased into the side and was left out of the squad for the trip to the London Stadium, so he’s another player whose involvement remains a doubt.

Slot will address the media tomorrow and all the attention will undoubtedly be on Trent Alexander-Arnold and his Liverpool future, but he is also likely to provide a fitness update, so it’ll be worth keeping our eyes peeled.

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