Liverpool is now nine points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and Paul Merson believes it doesn’t have to get much worse for Mikel Arteta to forget about the title.
Arne Slot’s Reds are storming away at the top of the Premier League table, with just one defeat so far from 12 games. Liverpool is top of the league and five points clear of Manchester City after Saturday’s win over Aston Villa.
It was a perfect weekend for Liverpool, with City losing at Brighton and third-placed Nottingham Forest losing 3-1 at home to Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Gunners’ failure to beat Chelsea put the icing on an already-brilliant few days for Liverpool, with Arteta fuming at his side’s inability to break down the Blues.
Gabriel Martinelli had put the visitors ahead at Stamford Bridge, but Pedro Neto scored a screamer to equalize not long after, meaning the points were shared – with both sides sitting nine points behind Liverpool.
And speaking on Sky Sports, Merson explained that he believes if that nine-point gap turns into 12, Arteta and Arsenal can forget about the title race completely.
He said: “They’ve gotta get a run. They’ve got to make sure this goes down to six points before it gets to 12 points. If it gets to 12, goodnight.
“I don’t think they’re back in it. I think they’ll do well to catch Liverpool, but if it goes to six before it goes to 12, which is important, and that may be at the end of December, but so long as it goes to six before it goes to 12. If it goes to 12, it’s finished. If it goes to six, then it’s hardly anything in it.
“Arsenal haven’t got a mistake [left to make], Liverpool have a mistake [left to make], because they’ve got such a big lead on Arsenal.”
