Arsenal icon and football analyst Paul Merson predicts that his former club’s chances in the Premier League title race hinge on their upcoming showdown against Liverpool.
The Gunners are set to face the table-topping Reds at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 4, in what is deemed a pivotal encounter.
With Mikel Arteta’s side currently occupying third place with 46 points from 22 matches, trailing Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool by five points, the outcome of this match holds significant weight. Manchester City, in second place, also share the same points tally as Arsenal but have played one less game.
Merson asserts that a defeat for Arsenal in this crucial fixture would effectively eliminate them from contention for the league title. Speaking on Sky Sports, he remarked:
“It all boils down to this weekend. Their performance in the FA Cup was lackluster. If they fall to Liverpool, they’re essentially bowing out of the title race. Therefore, this weekend’s clash is akin to a cup final.”
Merson notably references Arsenal’s recent 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup third round at the Emirates on January 7th.
During that match, Arsenal unleashed 18 shots but managed to direct only seven on target, failing to convert any of their five significant scoring opportunities. Conversely, Liverpool capitalized on their lone major chance of the game, with Luis Diaz finding the net in second-half injury time, securing victory for the Reds.
Before Diaz’s goal, the visitors had taken the lead through a Jakub Kiwior own goal in the 54th minute.
This impending fixture between Arsenal and Liverpool marks their second encounter in the Premier League this season, with their previous clash at Anfield in December resulting in a 1-1 draw. Despite a combined total of 26 shots in that match, both sides struggled to find the mark, registering just five shots on target between them.
Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring for Arsenal in the fourth minute, swiftly followed by Mohamed Salah’s equalizer for Liverpool in the 29th minute.
