in , , , , , , , , , , ,

PL pundit gives his verdict on Man United summer transfer business ahead of Liverpool clash

Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don't have a '1% chance' of beating Liverpool.
Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don't have a '1% chance' of beating Liverpool. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don’t have a ‘1% chance’ of beating Liverpool

Speaking on the Sky Sports Soccer Special panel, Premier League pundit Paul Merson labelled Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing and rated the team’s chances against Liverpool tonight as being less than one percent.

Ronaldo was re-signed by United last summer to bolster their attack and add a striker to their ranks, with the Portugal international returning to the club where he made his name as an international superstar amidst much fanfare and hype.

However, Merson – who won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 1993 – said that he was a bad signing for the club as he has not made them a better team. The ex-Gunners star also said he was an individual signing and not a team signing.

“Bad signing. Whoever comes into the club as manager this time around will not have Ronaldo at the club. For Ronaldo, it has been good, but it is about the whole team, he has not made Manchester United a better team. I am talking about a team signing, not as an individual signing, if he is an individual signing he should be playing snooker or golf.”

Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don't have a '1% chance' of beating Liverpool. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to help Man United beat Norwich 3-2. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

This comes just days after the 37-year-old scored a hat-trick against Norwich City in the Premier League, helping his side beat the Canaries 3-2 at home as he dusted off his scoring boots to remind everyone of his qualities once again.

“I don’t give them 1% of a chance”

The Portugal skipper has had an up-and-down time back in his second spell at Old Trafford. He started the campaign well and hit the ground running, going on to score twice on his second debut and proving to be a crucial reason why the team reached the knockout stages of the Champions League. However, his form in 2022 has been patchy, despite scoring two hat-tricks.

Merson was critical of the Red Devils going to play Liverpool, saying that he does not give them 1% of a chance to win against their arch-rivals and that if they draw 0-0, it would be United’s best result of the season.

“Manchester United go to play Liverpool tomorrow, and I don’t give them one bit of a chance. I don’t give them 1% of a chance. As a team, they went 42 games without losing away from and they are going to Liverpool tomorrow and if they drew 0-0, it would be the best result of the season.”

Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don't have a '1% chance' of beating Liverpool. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo called a bad signing by Paul Merson. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

With Edinson Cavani missing a majority of the season due to injury and Marcus Rashford looking woefully out of form, much of the responsibility for scoring has been on Ronaldo’s shoulders. We have been over reliant on the Portuguese star for goals this term, which could be why he has struggled at times.

To add to our current strikers not showing up when needed, we have also had to deal with Mason Greenwood’s suspension and Anthony Martial’s loan move to Sevilla in the winter transfer window, meaning that once again, Ronaldo takes on the mantle as the leading striker on his own.

More Manchester United News

In the past, we have seen the player perform week in and week out when the pressure builds on him, but at 37, that time may be over. He is past his prime form that we witnessed at Real Madrid, despite performing well at Juventus over the last three years.

Ronaldo thrives under pressure to prove his haters wrong, so perhaps these comments from Merson could see him come alive against Liverpool tonight. That said, it will take a team effort and not just his performance to stop Jurgen Klopp’s side who are looking to complete a historic quadruple this term.

Manchester United supposedly interested in a shock move for PSG defender Sergio Ramos.

Transfer News: Manchester United eye shock move for Sergio Ramos

Former Manchester United star Edinson Cavani closing in on a Villarreal switch.

Transfer News: Spanish giants look at Man Utd veteran as backup option