Jamie Redknapp and Paul Merson clash on Sky Sports over Liverpool ‘disrespect’
Liverpool have had a comfortable end to the season with the Premier League title already secured.
The sides below have not had such an easy time of things, with second-placed Arsenal having only just secured their Champions League qualification on Sunday (18 May).
Despite Liverpool’s dominance in the top flight this season, there has been continuous debate over the woes that Arsenal have faced this term, suggesting that it gave Arne Slot’s men easy access to the title.
Although the league has been over for some time now, it’s a debate that Jamie Redknapp and Paul Merson found themselves caught up in.
Redknapp and Merson row over Liverpool claims
Slot has had an ideal first season at Anfield, showing no bumps in the road when taking the baton from Jurgen Klopp following his departure.
Although there have been off-the-pitch matters that could have taken centre-stage, the football has remained the number one priority throughout the season.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have committed their futures to Liverpool, giving the Reds a massive boost as they enter the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure has rubbed some supporters up the wrong way, the boss has done relatively well to manage the situation and not isolate either side of the debate.
The loudest noise at the moment seems to come in conversations surrounding Arsenal, with Redknapp and Merson the latest to get caught up.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Main Event (18 May, 18:46), Redknapp analysed Arsenal’s season by saying: “You can dress this up as a real positive if you want, second again. It’s not good enough this season. This will be the big miss for him because Manchester City in other years have been so good.”
Merson jumped in to say: “Yeah, but disrespectful to Liverpool. Liverpool are a good team.”
This prompted an immediate response from Redknapp to say: “I’m not disagreeing, I said that.”
Merson then went on to defend Liverpool, explaining: “They’re not coming from nowhere. Liverpool should have won the league last year, they were in the box seat. They get beat at home to Crystal Palace and it went there, but they’re a good team.”
Redknapp was keen to reiterate: “Yeah, I’ve said that.”
Merson jumped back in to finish: “It’s not like they’ve won it on 60 or 70 points, they’ve been brilliant.”
Slot can silence Liverpool doubts
Although the constant debates over whether Liverpool are deserving of the title may be frustrating, the Reds can let everyone else create the noise while focusing on the job that lies ahead for them.
Slot will be eager to add to his side during the summer transfer window, ready to push forward to achieve even more next season and prove to Arsenal that this season was no fluke from the Merseyside outfit.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost |
| Liverpool | 36 | 25 | 8 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 37 | 19 | 14 | 4 |
As Merson points out, while Arsenal’s struggles can be acknowledged, the Reds are certainly deserving of their share of credit for the exceptional season they have had.
It just adds to the motivation for Slot’s men to show what they are made of next season.