Paul Merson rules one team OUT of Premier League title race as Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City’s three-way fight hots up

PAUL MERSON has made the bold prediction that the title race is out of Manchester City’s hands.

The Premier League title run-in still has three teams; Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool all closely vying for the title.

At the start of the weekend the trio were separated by just one point, with Arsenal setting the pace ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

And it is out of the two front runners who Merson, 56, believes will lift the league at the end of the season.

Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, the Gunners icon said: “It’s so different now these last seven games, you’ve seen it in the Championship… Every game is a hard game.

“Even today [Man City play] Luton at home, you know they’re going to have one eye on Real Madrid, no question about that.

“You end up starting this game slowly, clocks starts ticking down very quickly it’s weird how it works towards the end of the season. It’s just how they manage it.

“I still think it’s going to be Arsenal or Liverpool. It’s in their hands, it’s out of Man City’s hands.

“If Arsenal and Liverpool go perfect from now to the end of the season then Man City can’t do anything about it. Until it’s in their hands for me they’ve got to keep on going.”

Pep Guardiola’s defending Treble champions arguably have the easiest run of fixtures to end the season, with Merson agreeing he would rather be in his shoes for the run in.

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City only have to worry about playing Tottenham out of teams from the league’s current top six.

Arsenal have to play Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United and still have to face Chelsea.

Liverpool meanwhile, have to take on Tottenham and Aston Villa, while there is also the Merseyside derby and an away clash at West Ham to consider.

However, Merson argued: “But even if you win all six (excluding their clash with Luton) if the other two go perfect then they haven’t won the league.

“There’s not a lot of games left, we say Liverpool are going to win tomorrow, if they win tomorrow I’d expect them to beat Fulham, I expect them to beat Everton, I expect them to beat West Ham.

“You know I expect them to beat Tottenham, then you’re talking two games to go…

“There’s still a lot to play for here. Man City have got the fixtures but I wouldn’t want to be Man City cause I can win the game and still not win the league.

“And let’s be honest, Arsenal came off the winter break and won nine out of ten, they can do it.

“I know they have Chelsea at home but Chelsea are a bag revels, you don’t know what you’re going to get. I’m quite confident with Arsenal on the Tottenham match.

“Man Utd, you see them against Liverpool, [Jurgen] Klopp said Arsenal will beat these if they play like that and if Everton are safe, without being horrible it’s an absolute give me.”

Rio Ferdinand also shared his title run-in predictions on TNT Sports, but believes it will go City’s way for a record fourth time in a row.

City went top after thrashing Luton 5-1.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk