Liverpool and Arsenal look well placed to battle it out with Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.
The Reds and the Gunners won third and second place respectively in the division last year, with City coming out on top.For Liverpool, it has been all change over the summer as Arne Slot takes over from Jurgen Klopp. But the early signs have been good that the Dutchman can continue Klopp’s legacy.
Meanwhile at the Emirates, Mikel Arteta has once again boosted his squad with a couple of new arrivals and will hope to go one better with Arsenal in the Premier League.
Key to both teams are their free-scoring attacks. Being more potent could end up making all the difference come May. And pundit and former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has now predicted which team will score more.
Paul Merson compares Arsenal and Liverpool
In many ways, Arsenal really have to win one of the big trophies this season. Arteta has now been at the club for almost five years, seriously challenging for the last two.
In that time the Spaniard has won an FA Cup, but has fallen short everywhere else. With all the money the Gunners have now spent under his control, they should be in a place to win something bigger.
For Liverpool, the stakes are not quite as high this year. Slot will be given time to get things right at Anfield and there will be patience if it doesn’t click straight away.
One reason why that time may not be needed, however, is the Liverpool attack. Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo make up a fearsome fivesome for the Reds.
Two have already found the net this term, as Jota and then Salah registered on the opening matchday last weekend.
And writing for Sportskeeda, Merson claims that Slot’s forwards will score more than Arteta’s equivalents.
“When I compare them with Arsenal, I don’t think Gabriel Martinelli will score 15 league goals this term and I think it would be great if Leandro Trossard could get at least 10 goals,” says the pundit, after backing both teams to put up a title challenge.
“But that’s not a problem with Liverpool, I think the Reds’ front five will score more than Arsenal’s in my opinion.”
Who scored more last season?
Just like Liverpool, Arsenal have quite a set five options in their attack. Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are also there for now, but both could leave before next week’s transfer deadline.
Either way, Arteta’s main quintet are: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
Just like with Liverpool, two of the five are on the scoresheet already. Saka and Havertz scored the goals as Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday.
So, things are level for now. But what about last season? With all ten players at their respective clubs all season, Liverpool’s five scored 55 Premier League goals to the 51 scored by the five at Arsenal. There’s not that much difference.
With things starting off in much the same vein this time, we’ll have to wait and see if Merson’s claim is on solid ground.