Liverpool must beat Arsenal at Anfield to stay in title race, insists Merson
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports) knowing a win is essential to keep their Premier League title hopes alive, according to Paul Merson. The Reds trail the joint-leaders by six points, and Merson believes defeat would all but end their challenge.
- Match: Liverpool vs Arsenal, Premier League
- Date & time: Sunday, 4.30pm kick-off (Super Sunday)
- Venue: Anfield
- Standings: Liverpool six points behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City
- Form: Liverpool on a five-game winning run; Arsenal unbeaten in six
- At stake: A Liverpool win blows the title race open; an Arsenal win could effectively seal it
What was said
"If Liverpool want a title race, they have to beat Arsenal."
"If they don't win, they stay six points behind at least and still have to go to the Emirates. 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."
"This Sunday is one of only three or four difficult games Arsenal have got this season. 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."
"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!"
"If Arsenal go and win at Anfield, you go: wow."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Merson's analysis is typically forthright. He frames Sunday's match as a defining moment for both clubs: for Liverpool, a chance to prove they are genuine contenders; for Arsenal, an opportunity to land a psychological blow. His comments about Saka's injury and the reliance on Madueke and Eze highlight the depth challenge Arsenal face in a congested November.
The former Arsenal man also points to the historical weight of a trip to Anfield, where the Gunners have not won in the league since 2012. That statistic alone underlines the difficulty of the task, even for a side that has started the season strongly.
The numbers
- Points gap: Liverpool are six points behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
- Liverpool's run: Five consecutive wins.
- Arsenal's run: Unbeaten in six matches.
- Anfield league wins for Arsenal: None since 2012 (Mikel Arteta was a player then).
- Iraola's record: Three victories over Arteta's Arsenal in his final four meetings as Bournemouth head coach.
- Arsenal's difficult fixtures: Man City away, Liverpool away, Chelsea away (when they're hot), plus Brighton and Brentford.
Injury and availability
Bukayo Saka is described by Merson as injured for the upcoming period, and his absence would be a significant blow. In his place, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are expected to feature. Additionally, Max Dowman is set to be suspended, further limiting Mikel Arteta's options. No return dates have been reported.
Why Anfield will define both teams' seasons
Merson's central argument is that Liverpool cannot afford to drop points against their direct rivals. A six-point gap with a trip to the Emirates still to come would leave Andoni Iraola's side relying on Arsenal suffering a costly collapse. Given Liverpool's propensity to lose games themselves, Merson calculates that Arsenal would need to lose three or four more matches for the title to swing back towards Anfield.
For Arsenal, the tactical challenge is clear: they must cope without Bukayo Saka, whose ability to make the right decision in the final third is, according to Merson, underappreciated. Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze offer flair and directness, but the demand of starting six to eight consecutive matches is a different proposition. Merson suggests it could be a liberating experience for them, particularly Eze, but the loss of Max Dowman to suspension leaves Arteta with fewer rotation options.
Defensively, Arsenal will need to handle the Anfield atmosphere and Liverpool's attacking momentum. The Reds' five-game winning run has built belief, and Iraola's previous success against Arteta—three wins in his last four meetings while at Bournemouth—suggests he knows how to set up against this opponent. However, Iraola's first heavyweight clash at Anfield ended in defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, a reminder of the step up in class.
The historical statistic that Arsenal have not won at Anfield in the league since 2012 is a psychological hurdle. Merson's disbelief at the figure is understandable, but it also serves as motivation for Arteta's men to break the drought. A win would send a powerful message to the rest of the league, and Merson admits it would prompt a 'wow' reaction.
Talking points
- Is Merson right to suggest a Liverpool defeat would effectively end their title challenge, or is he underestimating the unpredictability of the Premier League?
- Should Arsenal be worried about Saka's injury, or do Madueke and Eze offer enough firepower to cover his absence?
- Does Iraola's record against Arteta give Liverpool a tactical edge, or will the step up in quality at Anfield prove too much?
- With Arsenal facing a tough November, could the title race be decided before the turn of the year?
What happens next
Liverpool and Arsenal meet at Anfield on Sunday at 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports. The result will have immediate ramifications for the title race: a Liverpool win would close the gap to three points and inject fresh belief into their campaign, while an Arsenal victory would extend their lead and heap pressure on their rivals. Both managers will also be eyeing the forthcoming fixtures, with Arsenal's demanding schedule set to test their squad depth.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Liverpool vs Arsenal kick off?
The match kicks off at 4.30pm on Sunday and is live on Sky Sports.
Is Bukayo Saka injured for Arsenal?
Paul Merson says Saka is injured for the upcoming period and will be missed, though no specific return date has been given.
Why does Merson think Liverpool must win?
He believes a defeat would leave Liverpool six points behind with a trip to the Emirates still to come, making it extremely difficult to catch Arsenal.
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