Paul Merson is backing Manchester City to edge Liverpool in the Premier League title race because of one player at Pep Guardiola's disposal.
Former Arsenal star Merson believes that midfielder Kevin de Bruyne - a £55m signing from Wolfsburg in 2015 - will be the difference between the two sides, ending The Reds' hope of landing a record-equalling 20th top flight league title this season.
Defending champions City are currently at the summit, just one point ahead of Liverpool with both sides having nine games left to play, including against each other on April 10. And it's here that Merson believes that the Sky Blues will run away with it.
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Writing for the Daily Star, he said: “Manchester City win the league by double digits if they beat Liverpool at the Etihad – but it all depends on one player. If midfielder Kevin De Bruyne plays well until the end of the season I think City win it comfortably because the Belgium international just knits everything together. He makes everybody in that City side play in my opinion. I think Pep Guardiola has a big role to play too with the team he picks.
“I just still see City winning the championship. They are battering teams. It’s not like they are playing and not looking like scoring in a month of Sundays. “They are absolutely dominating teams, camped out in their half creating chances and pinning them back. We’ve seen it too many times. They just have to make sure they don’t lose to Liverpool and then I don’t see who beats them.”
Sky Sports pundit Merson looked rattled as he made a defence for Manchester City's title hopes immediately after Liverpool's victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The 53-year-old insisted that Pep Guardiola's side were still in the driving seat despite seeing a once 14-point lead reduced to just a single point, as fellow studio guests and former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Greame Souness grinned in the background.
Although a point behind City, Liverpool have a superior goal difference to their title rivals, which could yet prove crucial come the end of the season.
