Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson says he believes either Liverpool or Chelsea will win the Champions League this season.
After watching the sides battle it out in the Carabao Cup final last night, Merson came to the conclusion that the two teams are more capable than Manchester City of lifting Europe’s top prize:
“It just showed me that both teams are bang in there for the Champions League. One of them two [will win it]. They are so good at the back. I watch Man City and they will give you a chance. I think Liverpool have got more chance of winning the Champions League than the Premier League. They can lose three more matches in the Champions League and still win it, but if they lose three Premier League games they have got no chance. They have got no leeway in the Premier League.”
It’s hardly a perceptive insight from Merson, but he is correct to point out the defensive strengths that the two teams showed at Wembley yesterday evening could also prove important to progressing in the Champions League.
The Reds face Inter Milan in just over a week’s time a Anfield in the second leg of their round of 16 tie and they will be hoping to seal their passage to the quarter-finals, having won their first game 2-0 in Italy.
With regards to Liverpool’s Premier League title ambitions, Merson is right that they can’t afford any slip-ups, and that includes their match against West Ham on Saturday.
