Will Manchester United Ever Reclaim Premier League Glory? Paul Merson Weighs In

Man Utd have to be braver - they're a million miles off a title challenge

I am perplexed. If teams are successfully scoring goals, then one must take the initiative.

In my opinion, the manager should display more courage. He possesses players capable of being bolder. The current approach is excessively defensive, focused on counter-attacking football. I have concerns for Manchester United.

The days of Sir Alex Ferguson are a distant memory, with Manchester United nowhere near winning the league. They are far behind Manchester City, and it seems like an impossible task to catch up. It's important not to overlook the fact that Manchester United is still considered one of the biggest teams in the world. Surprisingly, they can't even afford £7m for Marc Cucurella, while they are signing a player like Sergio Reguilon who is unable to secure a place in the Tottenham squad.

They have also acquired the Jadon Sancho addition. Let's just keep it within our organization.

Rasmus Hojlund displayed promise - he was quite a challenge to handle. However, this was only for a duration of 20 minutes. I caught sight of Mykhailo Mudryk for a brief period in January during the Liverpool match, but I have not witnessed him since then.

Arteta will stick with Havertz - and Rice can do it all

I feel for Kai Havertz. He's playing in a position where it's not easy. He hasn't played very well.

Mikel Arteta will continue to support him despite his lack of confidence, considering that Arsenal have won three matches and drawn one. You made a significant investment and took a risk to sign him. The best individuals always excel. Although I'm a devoted fan, I did mention earlier that he has a resemblance to Mesut Ozil.

That's the issue. If things are not going well, he appears disinterested. However, that is not the reality - it simply seems that way.

In comparison to Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice stands out significantly. Rice offers unparalleled dedication and effort in all aspects.

The result:

Arsenal must secure a victory to stay in competition with Manchester City, as the score stands at 1-1. Moments later, a goal is scored by an Arsenal player.

During the Saturday match, Chelsea finds themselves trailing by one goal. As a result, they substitute Caicedo, a holding-midfield player. Although both players occupy the same position, one of them offers a significantly higher contribution.

If Rice can throw goals into his game then I dread to think how much he’s worth.

If Chelsea's story was a book, you'd throw it in the sea!

With Chelsea's influx of countless players, one's mind ponders: "How does one assemble a cohesive team from this abundance?"

Chelsea's ultimate aim lies in triumphing over rivals and securing trophies. Unlike Tottenham, their focus lies not merely on landing a top-four spot, yet astonishingly, they have reached that point with remarkable speed.

If you were reading this book during your vacation, you would toss it into the sea, convinced that it is utter nonsense and couldn't possibly occur.

Chelsea once had an impressive group of talented young players they had nurtured, a team that had recently emerged victorious in the Champions League. Now, when you assess the present situation, you can't help but ponder: "How did things turn out like this?" It feels akin to a scene from Men in Black, where someone has unexpectedly altered the course of events, leaving you bewildered and questioning: "What just happened?"

Mauricio Pochettino, being a skilled manager, will likely find a solution, although it will be challenging. If they secure a place in the top four, they will achieve remarkable success.

Their excessive signings of similar players prove to be a mistake. Enzo Fernandez stands out as exceptional, surpassing the others in quality. However, one wonders how long he will tolerate this situation.

The team lacks strategic cunning. The players lack the ability to make precise passes.

When teams visit Stamford Bridge, they often adopt a defensive approach and focus on counter-attacks. I predicted on Saturday that Chelsea would lose 1-0. I am aware of their difficulties when facing teams with a defensive mindset.

They can’t break teams down. It’s like watching Subbuteo football - there’s no movement. Unless Fernandez finds that killer pass, no one else will.

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Chelsea have spent more than £1bn on signings under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership

Teams visiting Chelsea will be faced with the attacking threat posed by Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling's speed, along with Fernandez's exceptional vision. This combination is capable of creating chaos, as demonstrated in their match against West Ham, particularly in the first half.

However, the dynamics shifted in the second half. West Ham adapted their approach by adopting a deeper defensive position after scoring. As a result, Chelsea could have continued playing indefinitely without finding the back of the net.

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Despite being 38, Thiago Silva remains one of their top players. Age should not be the sole determining factor; sometimes it is necessary to invest in a ready-made talent. Apart from Ben Chilwell, Sterling, and Silva, no player exceeds 25 years old. Experience is crucial for success.

These players are all on eight-year contracts so I don’t know where this is going. Maybe you go and get the book back out the sea to see how this ends.

England midfield selections are ridiculous

Upon the squad's emergence, Trent Alexander-Arnold emerged as one of the midfielders. In James Ward-Prowse's perspective, he might be contemplating, "I will never have the opportunity to represent England." It's a situation where you have Jordan Henderson, who currently plays in the Saudi league in front of a modest audience of 6,000 each week, while Ward-Prowse showcases his exceptional skills for West Ham.

He has been a game-changer, yet he is constantly overlooked. It is utterly absurd.

Alexander-Arnold, primarily a defender, was once deployed in a midfield position during an England game against Malta. I mean... Malta. I anticipate a professional footballer in the Premier League to excel in midfield against Malta.

And what about Kalvin Phillips? He doesn’t play football.

When I played, if Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] wasn’t playing, he wouldn’t get picked - and he was the best player by a million miles.

If Gareth Southgate had been performing exceptionally well during his time at Aston Villa, but there was another centre-half who was consistently selected ahead of him despite not performing for his club, it would have undoubtedly frustrated him. Anyone would feel the same in that situation.

Gareth might insist that these players never disappoint him. However, the issue lies in the fact that if they ever do fail to perform, he will find himself in significant trouble. He is taking a risk by relying on them.