Paul Merson thinks Liverpool’s Merseyside derby postponement will give their title rivals a massive opportunity to turn the pressure on this weekend
The postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby has handed Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals a “massive” chance to ramp up the pressure on Arne Slot’s leaders, says Paul Merson.
The Reds were scheduled to be entertained by Everton in the final Goodison Park derby on Saturday lunchtime only for Storm Darragh’s impact around the region to force a late cancellation on the day.
It means Arsenal and Chelsea have the chance to reduce the deficit from seven to four when they travel on Sunday to be entertained by Fulham and Tottenham, respectively.
READ MORE: How Everton and Liverpool came to postponement decision after early morning talks at Goodison ParkREAD MORE: When Liverpool game at Everton can be played as most likely Premier League dates emerge
Merson, who grew up as a Chelsea fan before becoming an Arsenal player, thinks both London clubs have been given a great chance to turn the heat on Slot’s team, who now return to domestic action next Saturday when they entertain Fulham at Anfield.
“Massive, it’s massive,” former England international Merson told Sky Sports of the Merseyside derby postponement. “It’s a little let-in for the other clubs. It opens that door for the other clubs, it’s huge.
“If they win that game, they go and beat Everton, which you’d probably expect them to, even though it’s a difficult game, they’d have gone 12 points ahead of Man City.
“[Now] Man City can this game [against Crystal Palace] and go six points behind. Arsenal and Chelsea can go four. And I know they have got a game in hand but Chelsea and Arsenal could have been kicking off on Sunday 10 points behind, it’s a different game then. Now all of a sudden [if] they win, they are four behind.
“The game in hand is Everton, it doesn’t matter when it is played, whether it’s April or May or in four weeks’ time, it’s a difficult game. You know, you don’t look at this game and say ‘OK, it’s Fulham away’ – no disrespect to Fulham – but someone who might be around midtable at the end of the season where they go ‘you know what? it’s a nothing game, middle of the table, they’re not going for anything, they will probably roll over.’
“Everton aren’t going to roll over whatever day this game is played. The last Goodison game. Liverpool are flying at the moment, everything is going well, everyone’s fit, they’ve got their team out.
“When this game comes around, who knows? This could be stuck in the middle of a Champions League quarter-final, last-16 game, it’s just massive. It opens it up to everyone how big this cancellation is.”
