Paul Merson has written off Arsenal's top-four hopes
The Premier League top four will be a fiercely competitive place this season with teams spending big over the summer.
With the exception of Tottenham, the league's heavyweights have gone out of their way to break the bank, bringing in a number of club-record signings.
Arsenal finally bit the bullet and splashed the cash on a new striker - Alexandre Lacazette for £52million - and Liverpool also landed marquee signing Mohamed Salah.
However, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson does not think it will be enough to secure them a top-four finish and has predicted both clubs will miss out.
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Paul Merson thinks Liverpool's top-four hopes hinge on Philippe Coutinho staying
"I say that because I think Philippe Coutinho leaves Liverpool. In football, if Real Madrid or Barcelona come in for you, you're leaving," Merson said.
"It's very rare someone rejects them, and that's my worry for Liverpool.
"If Coutinho stays, I think Liverpool could finish above Manchester United, and they're top four."
However, Merson holds a lot less hope for his former side Arsenal who he thinks are the furthest of the pace of the so-called big six.
"I think they're a long way off still, I really do," he added.
"I don't see Alexis Sanchez staying at Arsenal by September and when you look at the rest of the team I don't see it happening.
"Alexandre Lacazette is a good player, but not everybody else was going after him. If you're good and playing in France, PSG will be after you, or Monaco, who lost a lot of their players.
"That's my worry. He plays that one-two, which will be good for Arsenal, but he's not going to beat three players."
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