Former Chelsea midfielder Paul Merson has delivered a stark warning to Liverpool, claiming their Premier League title defence could be over by Sunday evening if they fail to beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal's Commanding Lead Puts Pressure on Rivals
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have established a formidable position at the Premier League summit, winning eight of their opening ten matches while suffering just one defeat. The Gunners currently enjoy a six-point advantage over Manchester City and sit seven points clear of Liverpool ahead of this weekend's crucial fixtures.
What makes Arsenal's start particularly impressive is their remarkable defensive solidity. The North London club have kept eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions, providing the foundation for their early-season dominance. Only one team has scored more goals than Arteta's side this campaign, highlighting their balanced approach.
Title Race Could Be Decided This Weekend
The title picture could become significantly clearer by Sunday night, with Arsenal having the opportunity to temporarily extend their lead to nine points when they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Writing in his Sportskeeda column, Merson articulated the high stakes for Liverpool: 'Before this game kicks off, Manchester City could be nine and Liverpool could be ten points behind Arsenal. If Liverpool finish the weekend ten points behind Arsenal, I don't care who you are and what you've got, you are not catching them in the title race!'
The former England international was unequivocal about the consequences of a Liverpool defeat, stating: 'If Liverpool lose this game, they are out of the title race. So basically, this is their biggest game of the season.'
Merson Backs Liverpool to Rise to the Occasion
Despite Liverpool's recent struggles away from home, where they've suffered four losses in their last five matches, Merson believes Arne Slot's side will deliver when it matters most against a Manchester City team that has won five consecutive games at the Etihad.
Merson highlighted several key battles that could decide the outcome, particularly focusing on Virgil van Dijk's confrontation with Erling Haaland. 'Virgil van Dijk will be up against Erling Haaland and I think he will win that battle against the City striker. If you look at individual centre-backs, Van Dijk is the Rolls-Royce and I believe he can handle Haaland.'
The pundit also expressed confidence in Liverpool's defensive capabilities against City's wingers, noting: 'If Conor Bradley had Vinicius Jr in his back pocket, he won't be worried about facing Jeremy Doku or Savinho either.'
Merson was particularly insistent about team selection, advocating for Florian Wirtz to start ahead of Cody Gakpo. 'If you buy a player for £115 million or around that mark, you have to play him in your biggest match. Whether he is firing or not, he has to be there! You brought him in for these games and to beat City, you need someone that can pick the right pass. Florian Wirtz is that type of player.'
Liverpool appear to have rediscovered their form after a worrying spell that saw them lose four consecutive league games, bouncing back with important victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. Slot has returned to his preferred midfield combination of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, which Merson believes gives Liverpool the edge.
This weekend's fixtures could effectively determine whether the Premier League title race remains a three-horse contest or becomes Arsenal's to lose, with Liverpool facing the prospect of playing catch-up from an almost insurmountable position if results don't go their way.
