Paul Merson shares ‘crazy’ Premier League title claim ahead of Liverpool’s game against Crystal Palace

Paul Merson Makes Bold Premier League Title Prediction Ahead of Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Clash

Paul Merson has weighed in on the Premier League title race, sharing his thoughts ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace.

As the Reds prepare to travel to Selhurst Park, Oliver Glasner’s side holds a minor psychological edge, having recently defeated Liverpool in the Community Shield. However, Liverpool remain unbeaten across all competitions and continue to grind out results—often leaving it late.

One notable example came in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton, where Hugo Ekitike was sent off late but also netted an 85th-minute winner. Remarkably, it marked Liverpool’s seventh goal scored in the final 10 minutes of a game this season.

While title rivals Arsenal needed a late equalizer to salvage a 1–1 draw against Manchester City last weekend, Merson believes the next round of fixtures could be a defining moment in the title race.

Merson: Liverpool Could All But Seal the Title This Weekend

Writing in his Sportskeeda column, the former Arsenal star claimed that a Liverpool win over Palace—combined with an Arsenal loss to Newcastle on Sunday—could effectively end the title contest just six games in.

“Crystal Palace haven’t lost since April—that’s 17 or 18 games unbeaten. If a team like Liverpool or Arsenal were on a run like that, with two trophies won during that time, we’d be going mad. It’s phenomenal.”

“If Liverpool win at Selhurst Park, they’ll be eight points ahead of Arsenal before the Gunners face Newcastle. If Arsenal then lose, that’s it—the title race is over! I know it sounds ridiculous, and yes, Arsenal have favorable fixtures coming up, but eight points is too big a gap this early.”

Liverpool’s ability to score late has drawn attention this season—so much so that former Red Jermaine Pennant recently dismissed conspiracy theories suggesting referees have been overly generous with added time.

Despite beating Everton 2–1 at Anfield last time out, Liverpool once again showed signs of inconsistency, particularly after taking a two-goal lead. In the Merseyside derby, Jack Grealish was a constant threat to young Conor Bradley, and the Reds were arguably fortunate to take all three points.

Nonetheless, following Liverpool’s impressive win over Arsenal before the international break, manager Arne Slot could see his team go eight points clear if Merson’s scenario plays out. While that wouldn’t mathematically seal the title, it would make the Reds firm favorites.

Still, Merson is not entirely confident either team will win this weekend—he’s predicted 1–1 draws for both Liverpool and Arsenal in their respective matches.

Wirtz Set for Another Bench Role?

Merson also weighed in on Liverpool’s midfield setup, speculating that Florian Wirtz may once again find himself on the bench.

Slot left Wirtz out of the starting XI for the recent win over Burnley and the Merseyside derby. While the German midfielder was also rested in the Carabao Cup, his starting spot remains uncertain heading into the Palace game.

“I said last week that Liverpool should go back to the midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai—and they did that against Everton,” Merson explained.

“I expect Slot to stick with that midfield again. You don’t want someone like Adam Wharton bossing the midfield, so I’d be surprised if Wirtz started through the middle.”