Paul Merson Predicts 2026/27 Premier League Top Six With Bold Liverpool Verdict
Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has revealed his predictions for the 2026/27 Premier League season, including his expected top-six finish and his assessment of Liverpool’s chances of challenging for the title.
Merson has backed Arsenal to retain the Premier League crown, placing Mikel Arteta’s side at the top of his predicted table. He believes the Gunners currently have very few weaknesses domestically and possess enough strength throughout their squad to maintain their position at the summit.
According to Merson, Arsenal’s depth is one of their biggest advantages. He feels they have quality alternatives across almost every position, meaning injuries are less likely to derail their campaign. He also expects further attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool are Merson’s surprise choice for second place.
Despite his concerns about the Reds’ squad depth, the former Arsenal star believes Liverpool can finish as Arsenal’s closest challengers if their key players remain fit and perform consistently.
Merson feels Liverpool were too inconsistent last season and will need a significant improvement this time around. He believes their strongest XI is capable of competing with anyone, but doubts whether they currently have enough depth to cope with injuries and the demands of competing on several fronts.
One of his biggest concerns is the goals Liverpool lost following Mohamed Salah’s departure. Merson believes the club still needs another attacking player capable of filling part of that void.
He also expects Florian Wirtz to improve considerably after struggling to fully settle into English football during his first campaign. Merson believes the German midfielder now has a full season of Premier League experience behind him and should be much more influential.
Alexander Isak is another player Merson is watching closely. The Swedish striker endured an injury-hit campaign and was unable to feature consistently. Merson believes Liverpool will need Isak to stay fit and find his best level if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
Merson has Chelsea in third place, with their lack of European football potentially giving them a major advantage. He believes playing only once a week could help the Blues maintain their energy levels and compete strongly throughout the campaign.
He also highlighted Chelsea’s attacking options, particularly Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. However, he questioned how Xabi Alonso will fit Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro into the same system without creating congestion in attacking areas.
Manchester City are predicted to finish fourth.
Merson does not believe City will be able to reclaim the title this season, placing them behind Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in his final prediction.
Tottenham Hotspur are fifth, with Merson expecting them to bounce back dramatically after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. He pointed to the unpredictable nature of football, noting that Tottenham’s survival came at Aston Villa’s expense in a crucial late-season encounter.
Merson believes Spurs could now take the European position many expected Aston Villa to occupy.
Manchester United complete Merson’s top six in sixth place.
The pundit remains unconvinced that United have enough squad depth to challenge the Premier League’s leading teams, particularly with European football adding to their workload.
He believes the team could struggle badly if key players such as Bruno Fernandes suffer injuries. Merson also questioned whether United’s midfield has enough physical dominance and defensive quality, while he remains concerned about their inconsistent attack and occasionally vulnerable defence.
Beyond the top six, Merson believes the relegation battle could involve established Premier League clubs rather than necessarily being dominated by the newly promoted sides.
He identified Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Newcastle United as teams that could potentially become involved in the fight for survival. Bournemouth, in particular, could struggle if injuries hit because of their relatively thin squad and European commitments.
Merson also believes Newcastle face serious uncertainty and will need to start strongly if they want to avoid being dragged into trouble.
Finally, Merson selected Brentford as one of the teams capable of exceeding expectations. He expects them to remain in the race for European qualification and believes both Brentford and Brighton could cause problems for the established Premier League sides.
Merson’s predicted 2026/27 top six
1. Arsenal
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Manchester City
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Manchester United
Overall, Merson’s biggest message to Liverpool is clear: the Reds have enough quality to finish second, but they must keep their key players fit, improve their consistency and add more attacking depth if they want to seriously challenge Arsenal for the title.
