Paul Merson has dismissed Liverpool’s chance of winning the Champions League, and while they probably won’t win the competition; the pundit is wrong to write them off completely.
Writing for Sky Sports, the former England international boldly claimed that the Red couldn’t win the Champions League due to being unable to defend and not having a good in-form goalkeeper.
“Liverpool can’t win the Champions League in a month of Sundays, said Merson.
“The players going forward for them do cover up the cracks at the back.
“And you go through any champions, World Cup, Premier League, European Championships, European Cups, tell me a team that has won anything without a good, in-form goalkeeper?”
It’s true, Liverpool face a difficult task winning the Champions League, but they’re still potential contenders.
Merson cites their defence and goalkeeper issues as being the reason, but these aren’t new problems.
The Reds are well aware that they lack in those areas, however they’ve shown time and time again this season, that they can be successful in spite of them.
The pundit referenced Liverpool’s 4-3 victory against the previously undefeated Manchester City, where they went from a 4-1 lead to only being a goal in front, in a matter of minutes.
At the end of the day, they still won and they’ve been the only team capable of beating Pep Guardiola’s side in the league this season.
The scoreline matters even less in a tournament that’s in the knockout stages, it’s just important you win.
It’s true Liverpool’s round of 16 opponents,FC Porto, could easily put three past the Reds over two-legs.
However, given Jurgen Klopp’s side attack, the Reds could easily score five or more in their games against Porto.
Mohamed Salah has scored 24 goals this season, a goal every 98 minutes, with Roberto Firmino also scoring 17 goals this season.
The Reds then have Sadio Mane with nine goals to his name, with Emre Can and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have four goals each.
Merson admits Liverpool’s attack covers up the cracks; but he still underestimates it, as it’s an attack worthy of hiding the flaws well enough to win trophies.
Also in reference to Merson’s issue about the Reds’ available goalkeepers; he believes that a team can’t win anything without a good in-form goalkeeper; a team isn’t guaranteed victory with one either.
The result of the 2016-17 Champions League final, between Real Madrid and Juventus, along with the result of the 2014-15 season final, between Barcelona and Juventus; shows how a good attack can overcome any defence and goalkeeper.
Gianluigi Buffon is easily among the best goalkeepers to ever have played the game; but he still suffered a 3-1 and 4-1 defeat in Champions League finals to deny him a winners’ medal.
Buffon’s Juventus were defensively strong but there was nothing they could do against the potent attacks of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Liverpool’s current attacking options are the same level of deadly, if not more so, then those of the Spanish giants during those times.
Therefore, while they’re dark horses in this year’s Champions League, based just on their attacking threat; Klopp’s side could lift the Champions League trophy in May and prove Merson wrong.