Liverpool head into Sunday’s clash with Arsenal knowing the result could have a major impact on their Premier League title hopes.
Paul Merson believes Andoni Iraola’s side must beat the defending champions at Anfield to remain firmly in the race, with the Reds currently six points behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.
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Liverpool under pressure to close the gap
Iraola’s team arrive in strong form after winning five consecutive matches.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are unbeaten in six and have built an early advantage at the top of the table.
Merson argues that failing to win would leave Liverpool with too much ground to recover, especially with a trip to the Emirates still to come later in the season.
He also believes defeat would make the title challenge significantly harder because Arsenal would then hold an even larger cushion.
Arsenal face difficult Anfield record
Despite their strong start, Arsenal have not won a Premier League match at Anfield since 2012.
Mikel Arteta was still an Arsenal player the last time the Gunners recorded a league victory away to Liverpool.
That record adds another layer to Sunday’s meeting, with both teams carrying strong incentives to avoid defeat.
Iraola also has a positive recent history against Arteta, having beaten Arsenal three times in his final four meetings with them while managing Bournemouth.
Saka fitness adds to Arsenal concerns
Arsenal could also be without Bukayo Saka during a demanding run of fixtures.
Merson believes the winger’s decision-making and consistency would be difficult to replace over an extended period.
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are among the players who could be asked to take on more responsibility if Saka is unavailable.
Liverpool clash starts tough Arsenal run
The trip to Anfield begins a challenging period for Arsenal.
Their upcoming schedule includes Champions League matches against Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, as well as Premier League games against Newcastle, Manchester City, Tottenham and Brentford.
For Liverpool, Sunday’s match offers an immediate opportunity to reduce the gap at the top and strengthen their position in the title race.
