Liverpool is gearing up for a trip to Arsenal, and despite a nine-game unbeaten run, pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton both fear the worst for Arne Slot's side
07:00, 08 Jan 2026
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are predicting a tough time for Arne Slot and Liverpool against Arsenal
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are predicting a tough time for Arne Slot and Liverpool against Arsenal(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Liverpool, believe it or not, has the chance to do the double over Arsenal on Thursday.
It has been a disappointing season for Liverpool from the perspective of defending the Premier League title, and the Gunners look likely to take over the crown, but the Reds did emerge victorious at Anfield earlier in the campaign.
They are also heading to the Emirates on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run. But the green shoots are undoubtedly tentative, and Arne Slot has no right to be satisfied with the number of draws across that period. The continued doubts over Hugo Ekitike's fitness will certainly not improve Liverpool's chances of claiming a second win over Arsenal.
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Joe Gomez is back fit, providing at least a little more breathing room when it comes to defensive options, but there are major challenges at both ends of the pitch.
It's hard to plot an obvious route to a clean sheet, with Liverpool notoriously vulnerable to set pieces and facing the masters of that particular craft. At the other end, making a dent in Mikel Arteta's mean defense would have been difficult even with Ekitike or Alexander Isak available, but the challenge is now even greater.
Bournemouth did manage to score two in Arsenal's most recent outing, and perhaps Slot will be almost grateful to play a side which might at least think about leaving some space in behind for Liverpool to attack. But there is no doubting that the challenge is monumental, with the manager conceding that the Gunners are deservedly on top of the table.
Arsenal vs Liverpool predictions
And while Slot (along with the more positive-minded Liverpool fans) can certainly conjure up reasons to at least be hopeful, pundits are overwhelmingly expecting Arsenal to come away with the three points. Paul Merson said that away wins for Wolves or Leeds this week would be less of an upset.
"If you're Arsenal, it's a brilliant time to be playing Liverpool", Merson wrote for SportsKeeda. "Should Arsenal win at the Emirates, Liverpool are completely out of the title race! Something is just not right at Liverpool, and I can't see them getting a result here."
Liverpool will certainly not be heading to London with the title on its mind, and it's generous of Merson not to have discounted the Reds from the race already. But his assessment of some intangible "not-rightness" is frustratingly close to the mark.
Merson did go on to praise Florian Wirtz, who is "starting to show his quality." The former defender expects the summer signing to be a "key player" in the future after he stepped up in recent weeks.
Paul Merson thinks Florian Wirtz's recent form is a bright spot for Liverpool
Paul Merson thinks Florian Wirtz's recent form is a bright spot for Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
But even with Wirtz starting to come good on his potential, Chris Sutton agrees with Merson that Liverpool will lose to Arsenal. Both pundits fear the effect of a potential Ekitike absence.
"Liverpool badly missed Hugo Ekitike in their draw against Fulham, and put in another lackluster display," Sutton wrote for the BBC. "Arne Slot's side are nine games unbeaten now, so their recent results have been all right on paper.
"It's their performances that are the problem, though. When you see them with your own eyes, they are miles off where they were when they won the title last season, and are nowhere near where Arsenal are at now, either.
"When Liverpool beat them at Anfield in August, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was criticised for being too cautious, as he often is in big games like this. It has to be different this time.
"This Liverpool team have been leaking goals all season, so Gunners fans are not going to accept Arteta sitting back. I doubt Arteta will do it this time, because Arsenal are at home and Liverpool are there for the taking."
Chris Sutton has echoed Merson's gloomy forecast for Liverpool's trip to the Emirates
Chris Sutton has echoed Merson's gloomy forecast for Liverpool's trip to the Emirates(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Sutton was also far more scathing in terms of the title picture, bluntly stating that "no one" thinks Liverpool is going to win the Premier League anymore. Even while sitting in fourth currently, he says the required long winning run is simply "not going to happen."
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With that in mind, he backed Arsenal to "exploit all of Liverpool's weaknesses" and win 2-0. The only surprise, given the tone of his commentary, is that he did not plump for a wider margin.
Merson, for his part, went with 3-1. The pair are in agreement that Liverpool won't pull up any trees, even if Sutton was pulling a few fewer punches in his assessment.
It's up to Liverpool to upset those expectations. If Slot can complete an unlikely double, then perhaps the Reds' on-paper revival can be kick-started in earnest on the pitch.