Paul Merson believes that an Arsenal victory over Sunderland could be fatal for Liverpool’s title hopes should they lose against Manchester City on Sunday.
Mikel Areta’s side have already taken a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League having won eight of their first ten games and only losing once.
Only one team have scored more goals than the Gunners in the league so far this season, but their superb form has largely been predicated on their remarkable defence, which has kept eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.
Arsenal currently sit six points ahead of City and seven clear of Liverpool, who face off against each other in a blockbuster clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
But before then, the Gunners have the chance to pile on more pressure and move temporarily nine points clear at the top of the table if they pick up a win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
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And should they do so, Merson believes Liverpool will have entered must-win territory to keep alive their hopes of defending the league title they won in Arne Slot’s first year at the helm.
Writing in his Sportskeeda column, the former Chelsea midfielder said: ‘Before this game kicks off, Manchester City could be nine and Liverpool could be 10 points behind Arsenal.
‘If Liverpool finish the weekend 10 points behind Arsenal, I don’t care who you are and what you’ve got, you are not catching them in the title race!
‘If Liverpool lose this game, they are out of the title race. So basically, this is their biggest game of the season.’
After a worrying run of form that saw Liverpool lose four consecutive league games, the Reds bounced back with wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
Slot has gone somewhat back to basics, particularly in the heart of midfield, and Merson believes the Reds will rise to the occasion to claim a pivotal win away at City to keep their title hopes alive.
‘Manchester City are on a roll at the Etihad, where they have won five games on the trot,’ he said. ‘Liverpool, meanwhile, have had four losses in their last five matches away from home. If you look at form, there’s only one winner here and that’s City but I’m not going to look at it that way.
‘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.
Who will win the Premier League?
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Arsenal
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Manchester City
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Liverpool
‘If Conor Bradley had Vinicius Jr in his back pocket, he won’t be worried about facing Jeremy Doku or Savinho either.
‘Liverpool will also have too much for City to handle when they go forward. I don’t think City are great defensively, even in that win over Bournemouth, they were far from convincing at the back. Don’t get me wrong, City are bang in form but not just the team they were three or four years ago.
‘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.
‘When you’re a Liverpool player, you aren’t going to get too many games where the opposition will have a go at you. But this game will be different, City will try to take the game to Liverpool and that could open up space for Wirtz to be his best self. We saw that against Real Madrid and that is why he should be in the starting XI ahead of Cody Gakpo.
‘Liverpool have found some confidence now. Arne Slot has also gone back to his best full-back pairing and midfield combination. When you have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as your three in midfield against City, you have got to be the favourites.’
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