Paul Merson: "Spurs Are Out Of The Premier League Title Race Already"

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has suggested that Tottenham are already out of the Premier League title race after picking up four points from their opening three games.

Mauricio Pochettino's side currently sit in seventh place after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

It means the club are currently five points behind leaders Liverpool, who have won all three of their opening league games.

Image: PA

Sky pundit Merson believes the North London club won't be able to make up that deficit in the coming months.

"I must admit, I didn't see this coming. Tottenham losing at home to Newcastle. Spurs look in disarray, a worrying sign this early in the season," he said in his Sky Sports column.

"They are out of the title race already, five points behind Liverpool with three games played. That may sound harsh, but would you back Spurs to win the league over Liverpool if Liverpool had a five-point head start?

"People go on and on about there being 35 games left but I'm fed up with that rhetoric, five points is a lot of points to make up.

"As a general rule, it takes five games to make up five points, Liverpool lost once last season and have won every game so far this, so where are Spurs going to bridge the gap?

Image: PA

Merson was convinced that Spurs would make the top three at the end of the season but their recent performances have cast doubt on his prediction.

"Before a ball was kicked, I thought Spurs were a dead cert to finish in the top three, now they look in the equation for top four football after their performances.

"I rate Tottenham highly as a team - they were Champions League finalists less than three months ago after all - but they have shocked me, they have been my biggest disappointment this season so far, and I'm not just saying that because I used to play for Arsenal.

"Pochettino's comments that he has never seen so much unrest at a football club the other day were concerning and eye-opening. He doesn't normally speak so strongly, he always looks after the club's interests and gets on with the job at hand. But his comment suggests things are unravelling at the moment."

Do you think Tottenham will be able to challenge for the Premier League title this season or have they already blew it?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Football, Paul Merson, Premier League, Arsenal, tottenham

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_