The lucky losers

Paul Merson doesn't rate most of Liverpool's squad - but says they're good enough to beat Portsmouth.

Gerrard is world class, but what about the others?

Are Liverpool's players good enough to be playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world? I don't think some of them are. I won't name names, but I'll tell you the players that are worthy of their places and you can figure the rest out for yourselves. The goalkeeper is top drawer, Jamie Carragher has always played well (despite some stick this season), Steven Gerrard is top class, Fernando Torres is top class and Javier Mascherano does a job. Then there's Glen Johnson who is a good attacking full-back, but not a good full-back and Yossi Benayoun, who is good, but I'm not sure Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United would buy him. As for the rest of them, they are very, very lucky to be playing for a massive club like Liverpool. I can't speak about Alberto Aquilani because he's hardly played. I can't understand why a fit £20million midfielder didn't play in a big game against Arsenal last week. Arsenal didn't have to play well to beat Liverpool in that game; I just couldn't believe how bad Liverpool were in the second half. They were kicking into the Kop and barely had a shot on target. I remember seeing them lose at home to Aston Villa earlier this season and they were bombarding Villa's goal - but they weren't doing it last weekend. I haven't seen Liverpool play that badly for a long time. The games just get bigger and bigger for Liverpool and they have to go and win at Portsmouth on Saturday. There's a long way to go, but I expect Aston Villa, Arsenal and Man City to win this weekend and Liverpool need to keep up with them. It will get hard when the Europa League games start coming. They will play have to league games on a Sunday and if the teams all around them have won on the Saturday it puts the pressure on. I can't see them putting their best team out in the Europa League. Will Torres and Gerrard really travel to Eastern Europe on a Thursday night before a big league game on Sunday? I don't think so. As for Portsmouth, people say they were unlucky against Chelsea, but that's been the story of their season. I've seen them against Everton, Tottenham and Stoke and they were unlucky in those games - but if you lose every week that's not bad luck. That means you're not good enough. Portsmouth have some stinking games coming up and if they don't pick up anything on Saturday they could be seven or eight adrift by the New Year. If that happens it could be goodnight because I can't see them putting together a run of wins. PAUL'S PREDICTION
Away win - It's a big game for both teams and a draw is no good to anybody, but I can't see Portsmouth coping with Torres and Gerrard. Liverpool will have too much and will win a tight game 2-1.

MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Steven Gerrard - I say it all the time, but for me he's one of the best players in the world. If he plays well they will win. It's very rare to see Liverpool win when Gerrard has a bad game.