Liverpool beating Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday would be 'massive', says Paul Merson

Paul Merson also believes Arsenal may need to move for Brentford's Ivan Toney in January as he is unconvinced by Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah; watch Tottenham vs Liverpool on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 5pm; kick-off 5.30pm

By Paul Merson, Football Expert & Columnist @PaulMerse

Image: Paul Merson believes Liverpool getting a result at Tottenham would be a massive result for the visitors

Paul Merson says Liverpool beating Tottenham on Saturday - live on Sky Sports - would be "massive" for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool are second in the Premier League after winning five and drawing one of their first six games, yet still trail Manchester City after the champions claimed six victories in a row.

With Pep Guardiola's side starting their title defence in relentless form, Merson says claiming three points at Spurs - who are fourth and also unbeaten in the Premier League - would be an impressive statement from Liverpool.

Liverpool beating Spurs would be massive

If Liverpool come away from Tottenham with a win next week then it's a massive result. I'm not saying they will lose the game, but to go to Tottenham now, you're up against a very good team with good players.

The first 35 minutes against Arsenal, I thought Spurs were pretty disappointing. I thought it was no different to watching Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho's Spurs. If Gabriel Jesus scores for 2-0 then it's a completely different story, but he misses an absolute sitter.

What I liked about Tottenham after that is they kept on playing the way they like playing and I was so impressed with them.

I thought Arsenal would win easily but for Spurs to come from 1-0 down and 2-1 down - normally they would lie down and get beat. Credit where credit is due. I thought they were outstanding and I now see them being around the top four.

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Destiny Udogie was outstanding. For him to get booked so early on in the game then go up against Bukayo Saka - one of the best wingers in the world - is some going.

But credit goes to Ange Postecoglou. He said to him: 'I have faith in you, you're a full-back, it's your job to defend one-vs-ones, stay on the pitch'. Normally, against a player like Saka, a manager would take him off as you wouldn't want a red card. But fair play to the manager and Udogie did his job really well.

Liverpool, meanwhile, still have got so much work to do. Manchester City are destroying the league at the moment, they're putting so much pressure on everybody. It's phenomenal what they're doing.

Liverpool are doing well at the moment because you just have to stick in there. You have to take it a game at a time and you don't want to be giving them a head start.

The biggest advantage Liverpool have is they can draw to Tottenham and Brighton over the next two weeks because they still have to play Man City twice - and they can beat Man City twice.

Arsenal may need Toney in January

This week on The Question, Sam Blitz and Nick Wright ask whether Arsenal need a new No 9 if they want to win the Premier League

I've always said it from day one - Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League.

You need a proper centre forward. I'm not blaming Nketiah because they drew 2-2 with Tottenham but with 32 games to go and all the Champions League games they have to play, I don't think he takes them to the next level. I don't even think Gabriel Jesus takes them to the next level.

I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried. Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira - I don't think he's good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on.

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It wasn't Arsenal's strongest team but when you think about the Champions League and all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn't it?

It's alright sitting there and thinking 'they need a centre forward' - but who is there?

Only Ivan Toney is available for them in January - there aren't many centre forwards around in the world. They're a dying breed.

I heard Michael Owen chatting the other day. Years ago you had him, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Fowler getting 20 to 30 goals a season and they didn't get a million England caps. Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand too. Now you get to 20 goals in the Premier League and you play for England.

Toney is a good player - he can hold the ball up, he's good in the air. Arsenal might have to go for him. But there are not a million centre forwards around.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank admits the club could sell Ivan Toney for the 'right price' and says he's expecting bids for the striker in January

Now, if Arsenal lose against Manchester City on October 8, they will be out of the title race. They would be seven points behind.

A lot of people say: 'But there are still so many games left'. But Arsenal wouldn't catch Man City if there were 600 games left if City had a seven-point head start. You just can't make that up, as from then Arsenal would only have one game against City and it would be away.

That game at the Emirates is a huge match, it's make or break already.

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