Paul Merson: Liverpool Must Beat Arsenal to Stay in the Title Race

In his regular column for Sky Sports, pundit Paul Merson stated that Liverpool cannot afford any slip-ups in their upcoming showdown against Arsenal at Anfield if they want to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

Andoni Iraola's side host the champions on Sunday. Ahead of the encounter, the Merseysiders trail league leaders Arsenal and Manchester City by six points. During his time at Bournemouth, Iraola managed three wins over Mikel Arteta's side in their last four meetings, but has already suffered a home defeat to City earlier this month. Liverpool head into the clash on the back of five consecutive victories, while the Londoners are on a six-game unbeaten run.

According to Merson, Liverpool are starting to find their rhythm, but this game remains a must-win:

"If Liverpool want to be in the title race, Sunday is a must-win. If they don't, they'll stay at least six points behind with a trip to the Emirates still to come. In that scenario, you're hoping Arsenal lose two matches while you go faultless. Considering Liverpool will inevitably drop more points, it would take Arsenal losing three or four games between now and the end of the season, which is a massive ask."

Merson emphasized that the fixture is vital for the hosts in the race for Champions League qualification, while a win for the visitors could deal a devastating blow to the title race:

"If Arsenal beat Liverpool, the title race is practically done. Then the question becomes who is actually going to stop them. This is one of only three or four tough games Arsenal have all season — along with away trips to Manchester City, an in-form Chelsea, and tricky opponents like Brighton and Brentford."

Historically, Arsenal have not won a league fixture at Anfield since 2012 — back when current manager Mikel Arteta was still playing. The pundit believes this record puts pressure on the Gunners to avoid defeat, while a victory would represent a massive psychological triumph.

Merson also highlighted Arsenal's relentless schedule across November and early December, claiming that by December 13 it will become evident whether they can claim the trophy. He noted that Bukayo Saka's potential injury absence is a major hurdle:

"If Bukayo Saka misses this stretch, it will be a huge blow. Some say he hasn't been in peak form, but he is a player who consistently makes the right decisions on the pitch week in, week out."

With Max Dowman expected to serve a suspension, the attacking responsibility is likely to rest on Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.

"It's one thing for Madueke and Eze to come in for a few games and then get rested, but being relied on for six to eight straight weeks is a completely different challenge. On the flip side, it might help them, as the certainty of regular playing time gives them the freedom to express themselves, particularly Eze," Merson concluded.