Shearer and Merson agree: Liverpool must beat Arsenal to join title race

Liverpool have been told that only a win over Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday will be enough to establish them as genuine Premier League title contenders this season.

Paul Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column that Andoni Iraola's side need to beat the defending champions to be taken seriously in the title race.

Alan Shearer offered a similar verdict, telling Betfair that Liverpool "could become title challengers with a win on Sunday" and that "you have to look at it that way."

The assessment follows a turbulent few weeks for Liverpool, who were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City earlier this month but have since won five straight matches in all competitions.

That run included a victory over third-placed Brighton last weekend, a result Shearer highlighted as evidence of growing confidence under Iraola. "Not many people thought that they could get that result," he said.

Shearer pointed to the manner of recent performances as much as the results themselves, referencing a difficult opening half-hour against Villarreal before Liverpool improved. "It just feels as if there's a little bit of momentum happening at Liverpool," he said. "It seems as if the players are buying into his ideas and they're getting results."

Liverpool's meeting with Arsenal carries extra significance given last season's narrow outcome at Anfield, when Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick settled a 1-0 win for the hosts.

Shearer suggested the stakes extend beyond this weekend, with Manchester City's position in the table also shaping how the chasing pack must respond. "Whatever happens with Man City, whenever it happens, I guess the team in third position would also have to think, well, if that does happen to City, then we've got to be ready," he said. "We've got to be ready to mount a challenge, you know?"

He framed Sunday's fixture as a pivotal moment for Liverpool's season. "So, I think it's a big opportunity for Liverpool to throw themselves into that talk if they get the right result this weekend," he said.

Arsenal arrive at Anfield looking to respond after a surprise defeat in midweek, adding further weight to a fixture both pundits have cast as a measuring stick for Liverpool's title credentials.

Victory would extend Liverpool's winning run to six matches and close the gap on the division's leading pair, while defeat would leave Iraola's side needing other results to go their way to stay in contention.