Liverpool vs Arsenal: Andoni Iraola's side must beat the Premier League champions to be in the title race, says Paul Merson

In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson believes Liverpool have to beat Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday to be contenders for the Premier League title.

Andoni Iraola's side host the champions live on Sky Sports' Super Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm, with Liverpool six points behind joint-leaders Arsenal and Man City.

Iraola managed three victories over Arteta's Arsenal in his final four meetings as Bournemouth head coach, but the Reds boss lost his first heavyweight clash at Anfield against City earlier this month.

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With Liverpool on a five-game winning run and Arsenal unbeaten in six, read below for the Magic Man's thoughts about the game of the weekend...

'If Liverpool want a title race, they have to beat Arsenal'

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.

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.

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.

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?

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!

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 injury a blow ahead of crucial month'

What a November Arsenal have, by the way. They've got a hard month, including the start of December.

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.

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.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Liverpool vs Arsenal: Andoni Iraola's side must beat the Premier League champions to be in the title race, says Paul Merson