PAUL MERSON COLUMN: Man United could smash Liverpool, Arsenal should get Defoe

THE STAGE is set for Wayne Rooney this weekend but whether he breaks Sir Bobby Charlton’s record or not, Liverpool are in all sorts of trouble.

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

PAUL MERSON COLUMN: Man United could smash Liverpool, Arsenal should get Defoe
Man United could smash Liverpool if they play at their best

If Rooney could pick one team to break the record against and become Manchester United’s greatest goalscorer you know it would be Liverpool.

He could do it too. But I don’t think he will start the game, not if Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fit, so he might have to do it from the bench.

What an option he is to have in reserve like that though. It tells you everything about United right now. Their squad suddenly looks so deep.

United are rolling and I don’t see how Liverpool will be able to live with them if they defend like they have been lately.

They are making a lot of mistakes and United could tear them apart if they hit top gear.

James Milner is a good player but how is going to live with Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford?

He was given the runaround by Nathan Redmond at Southampton when Liverpool lost in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi final on Wednesday.

When United went to Anfield earlier this season they were negative and nervous. No-one expected them to get a result.

But they’re playing with a lot more confidence now. If I was a Liverpool fan I’d be worried about the game.

United have a lot of big-game players. Ibrahimovic is scoring goals. Paul Pogba is getting better and better.

They have a top goalkeeper in David De Gea and the two centre backs have been brilliant since they’ve come in to the team.

Rashford is getting better and better all the time and Juan Mata is looking like the player who won player of the year at Chelsea a few seasons ago.

Jose Mourinho has got them clicking. I think it took him too long to work out his best side and how he wanted them to play.

But he knows his best team now and the players are performing. What I like most is that he’s brought back Fergie time.

He has the bottle to gamble at the end of games and go all-out for the win like Sir Alex Ferguson used to.

If they’re losing the game he’s going to change it knowing they could either win 2-1 or lose 3-0. That’s what United are all about.

You have to give him credit because if they beat Liverpool they are right back in the title race. They could definitely still win it.

Liverpool have hit a sticky patch and if they lose you start to wonder if they’ll finish in the top four.

I think Liverpool might have to change how they play at Old Trafford to give their back four more protection.

They miss Sadio Mane as well. He’s the one with the pace to frighten you on the counter attack. Without him United can squeeze up and push them back.

If Liverpool want to win the league I still think they need to go and sign Virgil van Dijk. It doesn’t matter that Southampton are a game away from a cup final.

They are a selling club and money talks. If Liverpool really wanted him they could get him. But right now their back four is not good enough to win the title.

PAUL MERSON COLUMN: Man United could smash Liverpool, Arsenal should get Defoe
Wayne Rooney could break Man United's goalscoring record against Liverpool

They are making too many mistakes at the back and some of them are bad ones. They have to buy a defender, and Van Dijk is the best around.

I think he’s been easily the best in the Premier League this season. Other teams might be in for him but Liverpool need him the most.

They could do a deal after the second leg of their semi-final. Okay Saints are leading in the tie but they could still go out, and even if they don’t there’s no guarantee they can win the trophy.

A big enough bid could force their hand because they’ve sold so many players over the last few years. It’s a no-brainer for Liverpool.

JERMAIN DEFOE shouldn’t go to West Ham. But if I was Arsene Wenger I’d buy him for Arsenal.

I find it strange that West Ham want him. I think he’s a great player but they’re not going forward with him. He’s too old.

It’s different for Arsenal. Give him an 18-month contract and he can come on in games when they need a goal.

He’s a natural goalscorer and they don’t really have one of those. He’d get to play Champions League football as well.

Think how good he could be making those runs with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez supplying the passes.

He’d have the chance to win the league at Arsenal and he’d help them a lot. Next season he could get you 20 goals.

PAUL MERSON COLUMN: Man United could smash Liverpool, Arsenal should get Defoe
Arsene Wenger should bring Jermain Defoe to Arsenal

But if Sunderland let him go now they might as well give everyone their season ticket money back.

You’re basically sending a message out that you know you’re getting relegated if you sell your best player.

*******

SAIDO BERAHINO has blown his chance of moving to a big club but he needs to get his career back on track.

He makes good runs and he’s a good finisher but he’s lost his way. Where is he going to go now if he leaves West Brom?

He won’t get a move to a bigger and better club. They won’t touch him. If you’re going to be that high maintenance you have got to be very special.

I think that’s what has put off the big clubs. The only one who might still take him are Tottenham. He’d be a good fit there. But is he worth the risk?

Otherwise he’s looking at a sideways move to a club like Stoke. But what would he be playing for there? They’re out of the FA Cup and going nowhere in the league.

Stoke going out of the FA Cup was the biggest shock for me last weekend. They should have put everything into a cup run this year. They’re not getting relegated.

If Berahino goes there good luck to him, but it’s not exactly the Champions League football he was after when he first said he wanted to leave is it?

I think he needs to leave West Brom but he’s not going to get the sort of move he wants and he’s only got himself to blame for that.