In his newest column, Paul Merson discusses Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool, Man Metropolis’s return to successful methods, analysis at Man Utd, Arsenal’s title probabilities and why Wolves followers can have an enormous say in Gary O’Neil’s future.

I might give Salah a brand new two-year deal, no extra

We’re solely listening to it on the grapevine, however we’re listening to two years with a yr choice to Mo Salah. That is a very long time.

I might give him 300-400 grand per week now. After all I might in the present day, as a result of he is doing the enterprise.

I am his greatest fan. I feel he is world-class. I am going to say he will get in each crew on the planet. He is a winger and he is prime scorer within the Premier League. It is simply completely wonderful the numbers he places up week in, week out, yr in, yr out.

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However in two-and-a-half years’ time, that is some huge cash to be giving somebody if they don’t seem to be doing the enterprise then.

Soccer adjustments. If it did not, we would all nonetheless be taking part in nonetheless! The one positive factor that occurs in soccer is, the older you get, the slower you get. That is a truth. In any other case, Usain Bolt would nonetheless be successful the Olympic 100 metres. For me, if it was a two-year contract, I might give it to him, however I would not give him the choice of one other yr. I perceive Liverpool 100 per cent.

I do know folks will say they have to purchase somebody and it’ll price them extra, however they must purchase somebody ultimately. He isn’t going to go on till he is 40, 41 years of age, so that you’re solely kicking it down the street.

Amorim wants this season to guage

I feel the supervisor is utilizing this yr to see what he wants and what he would not want. He can play sure gamers in sure video games, to see who’s going to indicate up in these huge video games. By the tip of the season, he’ll know he can depend on, who he must maintain and he’ll know the those that he must eliminate that aren’t going to assist him one bit.

He is taking a look. It is no good to maintain on taking part in the identical gamers each week they usually get via and win a recreation right here, win a recreation right here, come fifth, sixth within the league, after which transfer on once more subsequent yr. That is bought to cease. That is Manchester United. They’re one of many greatest golf equipment on the planet, little doubt about that.

They should, not write off a yr, however simply see who they want and who they do not want. We see it with internationals like Germany and France and groups like that. They’ve a nasty couple of competitions they usually reset; they write one off after which they arrive again and win a trophy.

I feel that is what Man United have gotten to do and I feel that is what he is doing. To do what he did in Portugal isn’t any luck. It’s a must to be an unbelievable supervisor to do what he is finished, and I feel he’ll get it proper, however it’s going to take him time. It is going to take him not less than a yr.

Arsenal can keep within the title race

If they will get their greatest crew on the pitch that beat West Ham, then they have an opportunity. The one which beat Sporting Lisbon was their greatest crew. In the event that they get that on the pitch each week, they will get on a run, win six, seven video games on the trot.

I stated on Tremendous Sunday a number of weeks in the past, the hole to Liverpool needed to get down to 6 factors earlier than it went to 12. It is all the way down to seven for the time being. Each have gotten troublesome video games this weekend, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Arsenal have simply bought to remain in there, maintain everyone match, and also you by no means, by no means know. However they will not be far off. With Odegaard again, they are a fully totally different crew.

Once you’re struggling, play your greatest gamers – that is what Pep did

Nobody likes dropping soccer matches and rapidly, you get right into a rut. It is simply occurred with one of many biggest groups that ever performed soccer.

I am not telling Pep Guardiola, he is one of many biggest managers of all time. However I all the time suppose after I was a supervisor – and I used to be supervisor on a a lot, a lot lesser customary – somebody instructed me sooner or later, each time your crew’s struggling, get the most effective gamers on the pitch. Even when they don’t seem to be taking part in the most effective or they’re battling a little bit of kind, get your greatest gamers on the pitch.

On Wednesday evening, he did that. He bought Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch and he’s their greatest participant when Rodri is not taking part in. He makes issues occur. Final yr and the yr earlier than, Jack Grealish performed in all the massive soccer matches for Pep Guardiola, and [against Nottingham Forest] he did that.

What Grealish does, he holds the ball and he attracts gamers in. Now, when he attracts gamers in, meaning somebody’s spare. When you’re leaving folks like De Bruyne free and Bernardo Silva free and Jeremy Doku free, you are going to get ripped to shreds.

I do know the consequence was 3-0, however Forest had a few huge probabilities at 1-0. If one in all them have gone in, who is aware of? It might have been a distinct recreation. Man Metropolis began rather well and went 1-0 up, but when it goes to 1-1, does that confidence drain once more? We’ll by no means know, as a result of they went on and bought the second, nevertheless it’s the beginning of a run.

Realizing Man Metropolis, they’re going to go and win the subsequent 13!

Wolves followers can have an enormous say on O’Neil’s future

There’s one factor for positive as a supervisor, the one those that get you the sack is the followers. It’s extremely uncommon followers are singing your title whenever you get the sack.

It is a huge, huge soccer match this weekend for Gary O’Neil and Wolves in opposition to West Ham. I take a look at this recreation and I feel, if both supervisor loses this soccer match, he will be underneath extreme strain from their followers.

I am not saying from the board as a result of they could have good relationships. However, as I stated, the followers get you the sack. When the followers need you out, it’s totally, very uncommon which you could keep there.

The board hearken to the followers. In any other case, if they do not hearken to the followers, then they activate the board. The board don’t desire them turning on them in order that they hearken to the followers.