Liverpool told transfer mistake will cost them top four as Chelsea are tipped to leapfrog Klopp’s side

Paul Merson thinks that Moises Caicedo joining Chelsea over Liverpool will make all the difference in the race for the top four this season.

Chelsea and Liverpool met on the opening weekend of the season and played out an entertaining draw at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side grew into the game and showcased an improvement from what Chelsea fans became accustomed to last season.

While Liverpool did create several chances, their midfield didn’t look particularly balanced as they lacked a holding midfielder.

Chelsea managed to beat their Premier League rivals to the signature of Caicedo and Merson thinks that signing will make all the difference this season.

“Chelsea already look a hundred times better than last season and with Moises Caicedo moving to Stamford Bridge, they’ll finish in the top four instead of Liverpool,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“You could see in Sunday’s game that both clubs need Caicedo and that’s why he’s going for £115m. Is he worth that? Not for me, but Chelsea supporters won’t care how much they pay.

“Liverpool were so open. I just don’t see who is going to win the ball back for them. Conor Gallagher did a good job for Chelsea to break things up after a slow start, but Liverpool didn’t have that.

“If Liverpool had played one of the top sides, like Arsenal or Man City, on Sunday then they’d have been in trouble, it could have been four or five. They got ripped open a lot of times and were never punished.”

Jurgen Klopp’s side are also set to miss out on Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia as the teenager prefers a move to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool will now consider alternative targets as the likes of Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone are still being considered according to Fabrizio Romano.

“Liverpool will now move on to different targets. They keep following both Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone as they did earlier in the summer, but let’s see who they will ‘attack’ now,” Romano told Caught Offside.

“Of course they will try to limit leaks as it created an issue with the Caicedo deal and same with Lavia. It’s an open race for Liverpool in midfield, but for sure they will sign at least one new player in that position.”

READ MORE: Should Liverpool have given sporting director more power at risk of losing Klopp?