On Sunday, Liverpool will host Manchester City in a spectacular Premier League title showdown at Anfield.
With Liverpool heading the way at the top, you have the feeling that if they win this game, it will give them a great lift in the final title race.
Mohamed Salah has returned to action for the Reds, and Paul Merson has stated that if he starts, Liverpool will win the game.
Manchester City defeated Manchester United 3-1 over the weekend, but it didn’t come after Marcus Rashford’s amazing long-range goal.
The opposing side would occasionally attack the Treble winners on the break and target the acres of space behind the defence.
But Manchester United lacked the quality to cause many problems, which Paul Merson believes will alter against Liverpool and Mohamed Salah.
The former Arsenal and Aston Villa player believes the Egypt international is ‘world-class’ and ‘the best runner without the ball in the world’.
Will Mohamed Salah start for Liverpool against Manchester City?
“I am not saying it’s a one-man team, I just think he needs to play,” Merson remarked. “I believe he is world-class. He is among the finest players in the world.
“Look at Manchester City; one of their achilles heels will be down the left with Doku and Ake. I believe Ake fell asleep a number of times against Manchester United; Salah is the best runner without the ball in the world. I believe he will pose a threat. I believe they will win if Salah plays; if he does not, I am not sure they will win; nevertheless, with him playing, I would be surprised if they did not win.
“With Salah playing, they have the benefit of going all out and pressing high. They all know when to press Salah; if he doesn’t play, I believe they drop off.
“I don’t think Diaz will be enough of a threat to cause problems for Manchester City; you need more than that, and I believe Salah will provide that, so you’ll have Diaz, Salah, and Nunez.” That’s when you think, “I’m not sure how Manchester City deal with them.”
