According to Sky Sports, Paul Merson has delivered a stark assessment of Liverpool's title prospects ahead of their clash with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds face the Premier League champions in a live Super Sunday fixture on Sky Sports, with kick-off at 4.30pm. Liverpool currently sit six points adrift of joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, making this encounter pivotal to their campaign.
Reds manager Andoni Iraola has enjoyed considerable success against Mikel Arteta's side in the past, securing three victories over Arsenal in his final four meetings as Bournemouth head coach. However, Iraola suffered a significant setback in his first major test at Anfield when Liverpool fell to a 0–3 defeat against Manchester City on October 11. The Merseyside club have since recovered impressively, stringing together five consecutive league wins ahead of this weekend's showdown.
Arsenal, meanwhile, remain unbeaten across their last six matches. According to NBC Sports, the champions secured a 2–0 victory over Everton on October 24, while Liverpool responded with their own 2–0 win against Brighton on the same day.
Liverpool's title hopes hinge on victory
Merson is unequivocal about what Liverpool must achieve this weekend.
Liverpool are starting to cook a little bit, but they have got to win this Sunday if they want to be in the Premier League title race.
The former Arsenal striker outlined the mathematical reality facing the Reds.
If they don't win, they stay six points behind at least and still have to go to the Emirates.This scenario would place enormous pressure on Liverpool's shoulders for the remainder of the season.
You're then asking Arsenal to lose two football matches without you losing one. And given Liverpool will lose more games this season, you're then asking Arsenal to lose three or four games for the rest of the season. That's a lot of games.
Yet Merson acknowledges that defeat carries consequences beyond the title race.
But at the same time, it's also must-not-lose for Liverpool as they still need to stay on track for the Champions League places.
An Arsenal victory at Anfield would represent a seismic shift in the title battle.
If Arsenal go and win against Liverpool, that could nearly be it for the Premier League title. You then start to think: who's going to go and beat them?
Arsenal's fixture list offers few obstacles
Merson has identified the upcoming period as crucial for Arsenal's title credentials.
This Sunday is one of only three or four difficult games Arsenal have got this season.
The analyst pointed to the calibre of opposition Arsenal must navigate.
Those games are Man City away, Liverpool away, Chelsea away when they're hot, plus the likes of Brighton and Brentford who if you beat, you know they'll do you a favour by beating your rivals later in the season.
Arsenal's record at Anfield carries historical weight in this context.
The last time Arsenal won a game at Liverpool in the league was in 2012, I couldn't believe it when I saw that stat. Mikel Arteta was an Arsenal player the last time they won at Anfield and now he's the manager!
This statistic transforms the fixture into a must-not-lose occasion for both sides.
That history makes it a must-not-lose for Arsenal as well. Just don't get beat. But if Arsenal go and win at Anfield, you go: wow.
Saka's absence poses Arsenal's main concern
While Arsenal's fixture list appears favourable, Merson has flagged a potential vulnerability.
What a November Arsenal have, by the way. They've got a hard month, including the start of December.
Merson believes the period ahead will prove decisive.
You'll know by December 13 if Arsenal will win the Premier League. Because there's a saying: after the hard games, come the easy games.
The injury to Bukayo Saka represents a significant blow to Arsenal's prospects during this critical window.
If Bukayo Saka is injured for this period, he's going to be missed. People say he isn't playing well, I think he's a decision-maker - he constantly makes those right decisions week in, week out.
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are poised to fill the void left by Saka's absence. However, Merson cautioned against expecting immediate consistency from the replacements.
Now there's Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze coming in and playing in his place. It's all well and good them coming in and playing for a couple, then sitting out for a couple - but when you're asking them to play six to eight weeks on the trot, that's a real tester. That's where it might take its toll.
Yet Merson identified a potential silver lining for Arsenal's squad depth.
But that might be a good thing for them. They know they're going to play and they can relax and go and express themselves, which is what you want - especially with Eze. And especially now that Max Dowman is set to be suspended.
What happens next
According to the Premier League, Liverpool will host Arsenal on Sunday, November 1, at 16:30 UK time. This fixture will go a considerable way towards determining whether Liverpool can genuinely challenge for the title or whether Arsenal's superior position proves insurmountable.
