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‘Arsenal don’t even do that’ - Paul Merson slams Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp
PAUL MERSON has torn into Jurgen Klopp over his team selection in recent Liverpool matches.
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Liverpool have drawn three of their last five Premier League matches, losing their spot at the top to Manchester City.
The last two away games have ended in goalless draws at rivals Manchester United and Everton.
And Merson was particularly shocked at how Jurgen Klopp set his team up for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park last weekend.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum all lined up in a defensive-looking midfield.
Arsenal don’t even do that. They should, but they don’t do that
Merson believes Liverpool do not need a midfield like that with the defence they have behind them, including the PFA Player of the Year favourite Virgil van Dijk.
And the pundit pointed out not even Arsenal set up that defensively in front of their shaky back line.
“You’ve got the best defence, or one of the best defences in the country, with the best centre-half in the whole of the world in my opinion and you’re playing three holding midfield players in front of them,” Merson said on Sky Sports.
“Arsenal don’t even do that. They should, but they don’t do that.”
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Merson was also confused by some of Klopp’s substitutions against Everton.
“I’m a big fan of his,” Merson said of the German.
“I thought they were strange decisions last week, I really did.
“I’m a big fan of [Adam] Lallana but bringing [Sadio] Mane for Lallana was a bit of a shock for me.
“And then bringing [James] Milner on, again I’m a big fan of Milner’s, but I think Milner’s a closing the game out kind of player.
“And the other thing as well with the players, you’ve got to tell the players, they need to win football matches.
“There’s no urgency, no urgency. Last five, six, seven minutes they’ve got a corner in the far corner and they strolled over.
“I thought ‘get over there’. They set up Everton here to make sure they don’t let in a goal.”
Liverpool will aim to return to winning ways on Sunday when they host Burnley.