Paul Merson’s most recent column for Sky Sports reveals a growing unease about Liverpool’s early‑season trajectory, while also casting doubt on the club’s marquee signings Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola. The Reds have now endured three draws in their first four Premier League outings, the latest a goalless stalemate against Fulham at Anfield that left them perched in seventh place. With a Carabao Cup tie against a struggling Tottenham Hotspur looming on Tuesday and a return fixture against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth on the horizon, both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports ahead of the international break.
Adam Bate of Sky Sports summed up the Fulham performance as “unbeaten but unsatisfied,” a phrase that resonated with Merson’s own appraisal. He echoed the sentiment, noting that the team’s inability to break down a side that could not even score against them was a worrying sign.
Merson also questioned whether Jurgen Klopp is finding the transition from Bournemouth to Anfield more challenging than anticipated. He offered a respectful nod to Bournemouth’s standards, pointing out that a 0‑0 draw at home for them would not raise eyebrows, whereas the same result for Liverpool instantly becomes headline news. The former England midfielder warned that Klopp must loosen the tactical “shackles” that seem to be restricting the team’s attacking flair. He observed that while Manchester City and Arsenal have already established a massive gulf over the rest of the league, Liverpool appears to be lagging behind in creativity and confidence.
"You watch the games now, every weekend that goes past, Man City and Arsenal are so far ahead of everybody else. It's mind‑blowing how big the gulf is," Merson wrote. When it comes to the club’s recent signings, Merson admitted he is a fan of Florian Wirtz and regards him as a special talent, yet he confessed that the German’s impact has not yet materialised.
"I don’t know how long they can wait on Florian Wirtz. I’m a big fan of him, I think he’s a special player. But it isn’t working; it just isn’t working," he said.
The same uncertainty applied to Bradley Barcola. While acknowledging Barcola’s speed, Merson argued that raw pace alone does not fit Liverpool’s style.
"If you said to me, what's Barcola's game? He's quick.
Now, you play at Liverpool, you don't really have to be that quick. You don't have to be like the fastest man in the Premier League.
You've got to have a bit more," he explained, stressing the need for guile and creativity—qualities he believes Mohamed Salah embodied during his most prolific seasons. Merson also highlighted a tactical issue: Liverpool often resort to parking players behind the ball, a strategy that limits their offensive options. He recalled a brief spell in the opening 15‑20 minutes of the recent Everton clash where Liverpool looked outstanding, moving the ball fluidly and creating problems for the opposition. However, the failure to convert that dominance into a goal, he argued, allowed doubt to creep back in.
"When they don’t get that goal, then that mindset sets in again," he warned. Confidence, according to Merson, is the missing ingredient.
He believes that any player, regardless of age or experience, who lacks belief will struggle to perform at the highest level. "I say any footballer, I don't care if you're under 10s or professional, if you can bottle one thing, it's confidence," he asserted, noting that Liverpool’s current squad appears to be short on that essential self‑assurance.
Looking beyond Liverpool, Merson turned his attention to the league’s front‑runners. He predicted that Arsenal would clinch the Premier League by a double‑digit margin, citing their favourable fixture list—Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all away. He praised Arsenal’s composure, noting that they no longer seem prone to “bottle jobs” and appear to play with an almost pre‑ordained confidence, as if they have already received an email confirming the final score. Despite his criticism of Liverpool, Merson remained optimistic about their overall quality.
He argued that the club possesses an abundance of talent and is guided by one of the best managers in the business. Even after a disappointing draw against Nottingham Forest, which he described as “terrible,” he was confident that relegation was not a realistic threat for Liverpool. "They've got too many good players and they've got one of the best managers in the business.
They're just having a little bit of a time at the moment," he concluded. Merson emphasized the importance of the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham, labeling it a potential “momentum swinger.” A win could provide the Reds with a much‑needed boost heading into the international break, while a loss might deepen their confidence crisis.
He urged fans to tune in to the match, which will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. on September 15.
In summary, Paul Merson’s column paints a picture of a Liverpool side that, while still unbeaten, is plagued by a lack of cutting edge, tactical rigidity, and insufficient confidence. The uncertainty surrounding the integration of high‑profile signings like Wirtz and Barcola adds another layer of complexity.
As the season progresses, the Reds will need to find a way to unlock their attacking potential, restore belief, and perhaps most importantly, give Jurgen Klopp the freedom to experiment without the constant pressure of headline‑grabbing draws.