Paul Merson says Liverpool must beat Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday to keep their own title hopes alive. The Gunners travel to Merseyside with a six-point lead over their rivals and an unbeaten run of six games to protect.
Merson, the former Arsenal forward, laid out the high stakes for the hosts. "If Liverpool want a title race, they have to beat Arsenal," he said. He argued that a Liverpool defeat would leave them needing Arsenal to lose twice without slipping up themselves. "You're then asking Arsenal to lose two football matches without you losing one," Merson added.
Arsenal have not won a league game at Anfield since 2012, when current manager Mikel Arteta was still a player in the squad. The team's current form suggests they are capable, sitting second in the Premier League with 21 points from eight games, having won seven and lost just one. Their recent results show a team hard to beat, with three wins and two draws in their last five outings, part of an unbeaten run that extends to five matches. This sequence includes a 2-0 victory over Everton and a 2-2 draw with Bayern München.
Liverpool, however, arrive in strong form themselves, having won five consecutive matches. They currently sit fourth in the standings, making this a critical clash in the early title picture. Andoni Iraola, who has beaten Arteta three times in their last four meetings from his time at Bournemouth, now leads the Reds.
Mikel Arteta's side are unbeaten in six matches across all competitions. Their last result was a dramatic 1-1 draw with Fleetwood Town, where Viktor Gyökeres scored. Before that, they secured a 2-0 league win over Everton with goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel. Bukayo Saka remains the team's top scorer this season with three goals in seven appearances. Arsenal's overall record shows 13 goals scored and just five conceded, giving them a goal difference of plus eight.
The fixture at Anfield is the start of a demanding run of away games that also includes trips to Manchester City, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford. Securing a positive result on Sunday would provide key momentum. Arsenal's next match is this high-profile visit to Liverpool, scheduled for Sunday with a 4.30pm kick-off.
More detail at Sky Sports Football
