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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

'Done nothing' - Paul Merson shares passionate Liverpool verdict with blunt Arsenal point

Paul Merson has defended Liverpool in a heated debate where the Reds were compared to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side.

The former Arsenal star doesn't believe Jurgen Klopp can be criticised for not wanting to 'rock the boat' at Anfield with a number of new signings in the summer.

Liverpool 's success over the last five years has allowed Klopp to be loyal to his stars according to the ex-Arsenal midfielder as he spoke on Sky Sports ahead of the Reds clash with Napoli in the Champions League.

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Former Championship player Jobi McAnuff compared Liverpool to Arsenal, but Merson wasn't impressed with that comparison as he asked: "What have Arsenal won?"

Merson said about Klopp's loyalty to his players: "You see it with teams who come up into the Premier League. I wouldn't have a go at Jurgen Klopp for that with the success they've had over the last five or six years, it's been so solid so why would you want to rock the boat and bring in other players. It was a machine.

But, McAnuff used Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United as an example of what you have to do as a manager: "You have to evolve, like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal."

"Arsenal have done nothing, they've done nothing have Arsenal," replied Merson. "They're the youngest team and improved but they haven't won anything."

McAnuff argued back: "The players Arsenal have brought in the last 18 months or so are better than the players that have been there. Odegaard came in, Ramsdale has.

Merson asked: "Where do you find that at Liverpool?"

And, McAnuff offered a response that everyone would agree with: "Midfield, for me."

Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray got involved in the argument by saying: "When you look at Liverpool, they've brought Elliott in, they've brought Carvalho in. They're the future and not lived up to their reputation."

"Carvalho was one of Fulham's best players and can't have all of that responsibility to go and compete at the top level," added McAnuff.

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