‘Not sure he’d be able to’: Merson makes controversial Van Dijk claim ahead of City v Liverpool

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Paul Merson has claimed that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk would struggle against Arsenal’s Invincible front line.

The pundit, writing in the Daily Star, claimed Jurgen Klopp’s Reds aren’t up there with the greatest Premier League teams of all time.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City outfit is also some way off the likes of 1998-99 Manchester United, according to Merson.

Liverpool and City lock horns on Sunday in a huge game which could go a long way towards deciding this season’s champion.

The Reds and the Citizens have dominated the league since 2018 and one of them looks set to win this season too.

City won the title in 2018, 2019 and 2021, while Liverpool lifted the trophy in 2020.

This season, the two are once again way ahead of the competition, with third-placed Chelsea 13 points behind the Reds.

“I’d love to see him defend against Thierry Henry in his pomp”

Van Dijk has been crucial in Liverpool’s transformation from perennial underachievers to serial winners over the past few years.

However, Merson reckons prime Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp would get the better of him easily.

“Liverpool and Manchester City are still not up there yet with the greatest Premier League teams of all time,” he wrote.

“They are both great teams and they meet in what should be a real humdinger of a match this weekend that will help decide the title.

“But when I hear people say these are two of the best teams we’ve ever seen in the Premier League, I’m not sure they are.

“Arsenal’s Invincibles team was one of the greats. So were Manchester United’s Treble-winning side. And then there’s Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

“It’s too soon to put either of these teams in that class just yet in my opinion.

“Take Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk is a great player.

“But I’d love to see him defend against Thierry Henry in his pomp, with Dennis Bergkamp dropping off. I’m not sure he’d be able to!”

Merson also felt Jordan Henderson and Fabinho would struggle against Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira, or Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

“We’ve seen some brilliant teams dominate the Premier League and win multiple titles,” he added. “I just don’t think Liverpool and City are quite there yet.”