Paul Merson thinks £19m star Liverpool sold now as good as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland

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Paul Merson has hailed Dominic Solanke and how the Bournemouth star is proving his worth after his previous struggles at Liverpool.

In 2017, the 26-year-old left Chelsea for Liverpool but struggled to prove his worth under Jurgen Klopp and scored only one goal for the club.

But Dominic Solanke is a different animal now, with 12 goals from 18 Premier League games this season.

Paul Merson was naming his Premier League Team of the Season at the halfway stage when he had picked Manchester City’s goal-crazy striker, Erling Haaland up front, as he told Sky Sports Football (26/12/23 at 2:40 pm).

The former Arsenal man thinks Dominic Solanke has been as good as the Treble winner this season and he would have named him in his team if he was picking it after his recent hat-trick against Nottingham Forest. 

It has taken the Chelsea academy product a few years to get to this stage because many were labelling the £19 million star a flop before his recent surge.

Yes, it was right for Liverpool to move him on when they did, but it just proves how sometimes you need time to prove your worth.

Dominic Solanke’s form for Liverpool

“I had Solanke (but picked Haaland),” said Merson. “But I did pick this (Team of the Season) before the last week (hat-trick). I think he has been outstanding. 

“I think he went to Liverpool a bit early. Didn’t perform. Got behind the eight ball. Went to Bournemouth and now I think he has been outstanding. I think he has been a threat. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he carries on doing what he is doing he gets a move.”

Dominic Solanke for England?

Harry Kane will always be the main guy for Gareth Southgate unless he falls off a cliff or retires, and that’s not going to happen any time soon.

But England still need someone backing the Bayern Munich star up and Solanke could just be that guy.

He hasn’t played for England before, but his form this season is deserving of representing his country.

Someone like Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins will have something to say about that, but after that, Callum Wilson is out of form, whilst Ivan Toney is still banned, so why not Solanke repping England when the squad is next named?