Paul Merson backs Liverpool over Manchester United

Paul Merson has gone firmly with Liverpool in the Premier League race between the two clubs next season. The pundit said he would back Liverpool “all day long” over Manchester United, even though United have been in strong form under Michael Carrick and sit above them in the current table.

Why Merson is backing Liverpool

Speaking to metro.co.uk, Paul Merson said: "If someone asks me who among Manchester United and Liverpool will finish higher in the Premier League next season, I would actually back Arne Slot's team all day long!"

His explanation was straightforward enough. "I say that because Manchester United have played only once a week this season, and that's a lot easier compared to what Liverpool went through."

That argument is backed by the numbers in the brief. United are third in the Premier League with 64 points from 35 matches, three games left to play, while Liverpool are fourth with 58 points from 35 matches. United's recent league run is listed as WWWLD, with Liverpool on LWWWL.

Merson is not saying United have been poor. He is saying Liverpool should still come out on top next season, and he is leaning on workload as a major reason.

What the current table says

United's 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on 2026-05-03, after going 2-0 up through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, is the freshest meeting between the two sides in the brief. It also sits awkwardly with the idea that Liverpool are the safer bet right now, because the table still has United ahead on 64 points to Liverpool's 58.

There is a fair response to Merson's view. The current standings still favour United, and they have scored 63 league goals, slightly more than Liverpool's 59. But Merson's point is not about this exact moment in the season. It is about which side looks more likely to finish higher next year, and he thinks Liverpool's level can still rise above United's.

If that proves right, it will not be because of one result in May. It will be because Liverpool find enough consistency to close the gap Merson sees in the current comparison, while United's strong run under Carrick holds its level.