Paul Merson sends 'crazy' Liverpool Premier League title warning to Arsenal

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has delivered a stark Premier League title warning, suggesting his former club's hopes will already be over if results don't favour them this weekend.

The Gunners icon believes Liverpool won't be caught if they extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points by beating Crystal Palace on Saturday evening, with Arsenal then stumbling at Newcastle United on Sunday. The Reds currently hold a commanding five-point advantage at the summit, having maintained their perfect start through five matches this campaign.

The defending champions may not have hit top gear yet, but they've still managed to overcome quality opposition including Arsenal and Newcastle United - plus local rivals Everton in last weekend's Merseyside derby.

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Mikel Arteta's side saw their deficit to the leaders stretch to five points after drawing with Manchester City at the Emirates last weekend, despite Gabriel Martinelli's dramatic stoppage-time leveller.

The Reds head to Selhurst Park on Saturday evening, before the Gunners make their own trip to St. James' Park the following day.

Merson anticipates both title contenders will drop points across the weekend fixtures.

However, he's confessed that he believes the championship battle will already be over if Liverpool secure victory in south London to establish an eight-point cushion, with Arsenal then suffering defeat on Tyneside.

"I said last week that Arsenal need four points in the next two games to be favorites for the league title," he wrote in his Premier League predictions column for Sportskeeda.

"Well, they got one at home to City and now they go to Newcastle.

"If Arsenal return to winning ways this weekend, we will look back on that point against Manchester City as a good one. But I fear for them if the exact opposite happens at Newcastle. Only time will tell.

"Should Liverpool win at Selhurst Park, they will go eight points clear of Arsenal before the Gunners play Newcastle away from home.

"So if Liverpool win this game and Arsenal lose on Sunday, the title race is over, finished! I know it sounds crazy and Arsenal have good fixtures coming up, but eight points between them will be too much.

"We were all choosing between Liverpool and Arsenal at the start of the season.

"And if anyone was on the fence back then and I told them Liverpool would have an eight-point head start, no one would have backed Arsenal for the title!

"That was when we still had 38 games left to play, and we only have 32 after this weekend.

"Crystal Palace have not lost a game since April, that's a run stretching back to 17 or 18 games.

"If Liverpool or Arsenal were on a run like this and won two trophies during the time like Palace, we would be going crazy, it's simply phenomenal.

"If you get three points away from home against Palace, it is a massive boost in the title race because they are a team that can upset one of your rivals.

"I think this will be a tight game and Liverpool could be forced to settle for a draw."

He continued: "Newcastle always turn up against Arsenal. The fans at St James' Park are always good, but they just get a bit more electric in this fixture!

"Arsenal have lost their last three games there, so this a tricky game for them. If Liverpool are held to a draw at Crystal Palace, Arsenal wouldn't mind walking away with a point here.

"But if the league leaders get another three points, this game automatically falls into the must-win category.

"When you look at Arsenal, they would have faced all of Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle after this weekend. Imagine spending big and not beating any of these three teams that finished in the top five last season? Where is the progress then?

"Arsenal have a good run of fixtures coming up after this game. But if you don't beat Newcastle, you are basically entering that run with an eight-point lead to chase down.

"If you're a team in the title race, you don't want to be playing catch up when the easy fixtures come along, you want to use them to get away from other contenders and kick on instead!

"We saw how Newcastle gave Liverpool a strong fight with just 10 men at St James' Park earlier this season.

"Liverpool were very fortunate to come away with a win in that game. If you're Arsenal, you want to match what Liverpool did here, but I don't think they can do it."

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