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Paul Merson and Mark Lawrenson disagree over astonishing Liverpool claim vs Aston Villa
Paul Merson believes Liverpool “are not playing well enough” to beat Aston Villa on Saturday and that the Reds are only showing up “in patches”. Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Arne Slot has lost just one of his first 16 matches in charge and is currently enjoying a 12-game unbeaten run. Liverpool are also in the quarter-final of the League Cup and have the best defensive record in the Premier League with just six goals conceded.
Villa, meanwhile, come into Saturday’s contest on a three-game losing streak and have yet to record a win in four outings. The club lost their first European game of the season on Wednesday thanks to a penalty conceded via a bizarre handball offence from Tyrone Mings.
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Unai Emery has lost first-choice right-back Matty Cash and Ross Barkley to injury with his side currently in sixth, some seven points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, Merson believes the Reds will struggle against Villa.
“I saw Brighton against Liverpool and [Brighton] were actually better than Arne Slot's men for the majority of that game,” he told Sportskeeda regarding last weekend’s 2-1 comeback victory.
“I just don't think Liverpool are playing well enough to get a win in this game. If they give Villa the kind of chances they gave Brighton, the likes of Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins will punish them.
“Liverpool were really fortunate to come away with a win in the last game, but I doubt they'll have that kind of luck here.” He added: “I really think Villa can cause Liverpool problems in this game.”
Luis Diaz netted his first Liverpool hat-trick in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen with Cody Gakpo notching the other goal for his maiden Champions League strike for Liverpool. However, Merson believes Darwin Nunez will get the nod this weekend.
He continued: “Although Luis Diaz netted a hat-trick in the Champions League, I believe Darwin Nunez will return to the starting line-up for this game. I didn't think the first half against Leverkusen was great.
“That's the problem for Liverpool now, they only play well in patches. They're not firing on all cylinders or playing mind-blowing football, they are just getting the job done.”
Merson continued: “Curtis Jones has improved a lot. But I'm not sure if he can start ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai in this game.
“Both of them are good players. However, as a manager, I think you look at Jones and get the feeling that he can make more of an impact when coming off the bench.
“Still a top player, I don't see any reason why he won't be considered for an England call-up. My prediction? Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa.”
Meanwhile Liverpool great Mark Lawrenson takes the opposing view. “I think Liverpool will win this one, Aston Villa have been slipping a bit recently,” he told PaddyPower.
“Liverpool have been quiet in the first half and then turning it on in the second so they might even come from behind but it will be close… Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa.”
