Danny Murphy has backed Arsenal to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title this season but believes both will be outclassed in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are the current favourites to win the Premier League after winning six of their opening eight games and moving three points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Defending champions Liverpool won their first seven games of the season before four straight defeats saw Arne Slot’s team slip to fourth, four points adrift of Arsenal.
Murphy backed Liverpool to retain the Premier League trophy before a ball was kicked but has now changed his mind and expects Arsenal to become English champions for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal’s sensational form over the past two months has raised hope the Gunners can also enjoy success in the Champions League following their run to the semi-finals last season.
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The Premier League leaders are currently joint-top of the Champions League group phase, having thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 earlier this week.
Arsenal also proved too strong for Athletic Bilbao and Olympiakos but Murphy suspects it will be a different story should they, or Premier League champions Liverpool, come up against PSG.
Champions League holders PSG thumped Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 on Tuesday to maintain their perfect start to the competition.
Luis Enrique’s side began their title defence by beating Atalanta before scoring a late goal to down last year’s semi-finalists Barcelona.
Asked if he expects Arsenal to win one of the Premier League or Champions League this season, Murphy told talkSPORT: ‘Yes, I do now.
‘I think they win the Premier League. In the Champions League… PSG, when everyone is fit, they’re on a different level.
‘But I don’t agree that Mikel Arteta has to win something. If you get 98 points and lose the title on the final day or lose the Champions League final in extra-time because of a bad refereeing decision you’re not going to get rid of the manager, are you? That would be ridiculous.
‘So I don’t think he has to win something but he would have to be damn unlucky and be competitive right until the end in both competitions to be forgiven.’
Liverpool ended their four-match losing run with a much-needed 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night.
The Reds fell behind early but scored three goals in ten first-half minutes to take control. Hugo Ekitike netted against his former club while centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed home from corners.
Cody Gakpo added Liverpool’s fourth in the second half from Florian Wirtz’s first assist for the club following his £116m summer move before Dominik Szoboszlai made it five.
Having faced Arsenal and Liverpool so far this season – as well as La Liga leaders Real Madrid – Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is well-placed to give his take on the best team in Europe.
Asked whether Arsenal were the best team Atletico have played so far this season, Simeone told Amazon Prime through a translator: ‘Yes, I would say the best team we have faced this season.
‘They compete so well, their players run and run and they have quality all over the pitch. They deserved to win today and I want to congratulate them.’
Arsenal will look to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League this weekend when they face Crystal Palace. Liverpool, meanwhile, visit Brentford.
The next round of Champions League fixtures take place on November 4-5 and includes mouth-watering clashes between Liverpool and Real Madrid and PSG and Bayern Munich.
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