Sky Sports’ Paul Merson pens newest column on Liverpool returning to sq. one after their shock defeat at Bournemouth, Chelsea’s excellent week and the title race as Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard shone in Arsenal’s win at Fulham whereas Man City edged previous Crystal Palace

Managers need to maintain level-headed and so do gamers. Liverpool had an amazing end result in opposition to Manchester United that can put them within the historical past books however then you have to flip up and carry out at Bournemouth.

When you watch the Bournemouth sport you assume, ‘What likelihood have Liverpool bought at Real Madrid?’ Needing to attain three, no less than, is a giant ask, it could be one of many biggest Champions League comebacks of all time. Barcelona did it in opposition to PSG however that was at residence. This is away on the cup holders. If it was two targets then you definately by no means know, however three…I give them no likelihood.

This is why wherever you go on this planet, the Premier League is being proven as a result of one of many backside three groups can beat one of many prime groups. You by no means get it the place Bournemouth relaxation everyone for subsequent week’s sport as a result of they do not assume they’re going to beat Liverpool. That does not occur within the Premier League and that is why it is the very best league on this planet.

Tottenham have received 5 of their final seven within the Premier League. They had a surprising lead to midweek in opposition to AC Milan however that is soccer. They’ve bounced again to beat a poor Nottingham Forest away facet who’re chalk and cheese residence and away. The prime 4 is of their fingers and in the event that they win their subsequent two video games in opposition to Southampton and Everton they’re going to be arduous to chase down.

Chelsea are a harmful animal

Chelsea are a harmful animal, they have some unbelievable gamers and so they simply have to click on – at occasions in opposition to Leicester they did.

Bad groups do not rating the targets like they did, two of them had been unbelievable. Kai Havertz’s flick has to go down as one of many targets of the season, you are not seeing that on a Sunday morning.

It was an impressive week for Chelsea, with wins over Leeds, Dortmund and Leicester, and now with Everton at residence subsequent they will get on a roll. Football is a humorous sport the way it can change so rapidly, you’ve got solely bought to take a look at Liverpool shedding at Bournemouth.

Graham Potter has switched to a few on the again and it is working. It’s taken some time for him to get it proper however it’s 100 per cent higher than with 4 in defence.

And he nonetheless hasn’t bought Reece James. Ruben Loftus-Cheek crammed in for him on Saturday and performed nicely however when James comes again you’ve got bought among the finest of the enterprise together with Ben Chilwell on the left. You’ve bought to get your wing-backs excessive up the pitch and James and Chilwell are excellent attacking gamers.

Mateo Kovacic has come again not too long ago, I’m a large fan of him, and enjoying alongside Enzo Fernandez in midfield. Then Potter can decide any three from seven choices up entrance that may trigger havoc to anyone. Don’t overlook, Thiago Silva is not enjoying both. James and Silva are Chelsea’s two greatest gamers.

Marc Cucurella has performed rather well not too long ago. Sometimes he can dive in, in the event you’re doing that in his place on the left of the three then there is a security web behind you in the event you do not win the ball. For all three of the central defenders, there is a security web for them from one another.

If the Champions League quarter-final draw goes their approach, bar Man City and Bayern Munich, I do not assume too many groups will need to play Chelsea. If they do not meet these two then I feel they’re going to get by way of to the semi-finals.

Trossard an ‘unbelievable’ signing for simply £27m

Arsenal’s efficiency within the first half at Fulham was mind-blowing. It was like watching Man City of their pomp and this was in opposition to a great Fulham group. It was scary. It was bordering on ridiculous.

It felt like that they had no less than two extra gamers on the pitch however the factor that can win Arsenal the league is beginning matches nicely. I watched them at Leicester once they had been underneath stress for a end result and so they began nicely and had been nice.

Then they had been at residence in opposition to Bournemouth and begin poorly. Against Fulham they begin nicely and it is a stroll within the park. I do not see how they will be stopped if they begin nicely in matches.

Gabriel Jesus coming again is a little bit of an issue for Arsenal as a result of the lad will need to play – he did not signal to be a bit-part participant like he was at Man City. It will trigger issues in time however in the meanwhile it is like one other signing.

Leandro Trossard might play for Man City. It’s an unbelievable signing for £27m. When his agent stated to him he was going to Arsenal for that charge he should have thought, ‘Is that each one I’m price?!’

The lad might go within the Man City group on Tuesday and also you would not know any completely different, he is that good. But Arsenal play like Man City, in the event you put them in a light-weight blue package you’d assume they’re. You do not get larger compliments than that.

Odegaard having larger influence than De Bruyne

As we discuss right this moment, Martin Odegaard is the very best midfielder within the Premier League. He has extra impact on the Arsenal group than Kevin de Bruyne has on Man City. We have to speak in moments and, within the current, Odegaard is primary indubitably. I’m not saying he is a greater participant than De Bruyne, however proper now Odegaard’s having extra of an influence.

Palace away is a troublesome sport however Leipzig away is an even bigger match for Man City. If Man City win the league and never the Champions League then it isn’t been an amazing season. They purchased Erling Haaland in to win the Champions League, not the Premier League for the fifth time in six years. And De Bruyne will play in opposition to Leipzig.

The title race will come right down to the fixtures. Whoever performs first on a weekend can have a large benefit. If Arsenal had performed first in opposition to Fulham and beat them like they did, they might have been eight factors away from Man City, who needed to go to Crystal Palace.

City play first, they win after which Arsenal are solely two factors clear, and their sport turns into harder at Fulham.

If Arsenal play first and so they maintain going eight factors clear with City needing to win to make it 5, earlier than it, it’ll take its toll. It occurred with Tottenham and Leicester in 2016.

If Arsenal win their subsequent two video games in opposition to Palace and Leeds, I do not see how they are often stopped. They’ll be 5 factors clear no less than with eight video games to go. They’ve bought to play Man City however they’re going to need to win that sport.