Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that Liverpool are the team that he 'truly fears' more than Arsenal in the Premier League title race this season.
The Citizens won an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title last season despite being pushed all the way by Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who came up short for the second successive year and finished just two points further back in second place.
Liverpool were unable to mount a serious title challenge towards the end of Jurgen Klopp's final season at the club, but the Reds have since made an impressive start to life under new head coach Arne Slot and currently sit one point clear of Man City at the top of the table this term, after winning seven of their opening eight matches.
Pep Guardiola's side are the only team who remain unbeaten thus far, winning six and drawing two of their first eight fixtures, while Arsenal are three points behind the Citizens in third after losing their first match of the season away against Bournemouth (2-0) last weekend.
Arsenal, who drew 2-2 with Man City at the Etihad Stadium last month, will now test their mettle against Liverpool in a blockbuster top-of-the-table showdown at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, a day after the Citizens play host to strugglers Southampton.
Arsenal dealing with 'crisis of confidence', missing Odegaard's presence
Not only will Arsenal be without the suspended William Saliba, who was sent off against Bournemouth, Arteta is also having deal with a number of injury concerns, with Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiofi, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu among those currently in the treatment room.
Martin Odegaard is also still recovering from an ankle injury sustained on international duty last month, and McInerney feels that Arsenal have missed the Norwegian's leadership and creativity in his absence.
"I don't think Arsenal are in great form right now," McInerney told Sports Mole. "I think there's a sort of crisis of confidence thing going on. Without [Martin] Odegaard, they're definitely lacking a leader in midfield. Of course, he's such a big part of that midfield.
"He's their captain, he's their leader, he's their creative lynchpin, he's so smart, he sees passes that, with all due respect, Declan Rice is not going to see, Thomas Party is not going to see, Jorginho isn't either. They don't have that same playmaker or anyone near the [same level of] creativity.
"I think they've been leaning on set pieces quite heavily because they're good at them. [Saliba's suspension is] a big blow because he's great as set pieces too."
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Can in-form Liverpool topple "shell-shocked" Arsenal at the Emirates?
Ahead of Sunday's intriguing contest, McInerney is hoping for a draw from a Man City perspective, but he would not be surprised to see Arsenal claim at least a point in front of their own supporters.
However, McInerney has talked up the "impressive" form of Liverpool, praising Slot and a few of his first-team stars including Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, and he feels that the Reds can take advantage of a "shell-shocked" Arsenal side who are "panicking a little bit".
"For me, I'm hoping it'll be just a draw. Either team can win this game," said McInerney. "I do feel Liverpool are in great form. Arne Slot has got them really, really fired up. Defensively, they're just not conceding goals, just three conceded, they are looking really, really impressive.
[The fact that Sunday's fixture is at the Emirates] makes me feel more confident that Arsenal will get something from this game. The Arsenal machine is doing well, but it's definitely showing more signs of stuttering than the Liverpool one.
"From a City fans' perspective, I'd be much more comfortable when Arsenal win than Liverpool win. Any chinks in the armour of Liverpool would be welcome right now, because they're looking good. I don't think people were taking them that seriously before the season started after Klopp's departure.
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Are Arsenal losing their heads, beginning to panic?
"Salah's bang in form, Curtis Jones is pulling the strings for them, he was really good against Chelsea. Gravenberch is having a phenomenal season, he's turned into a brilliant Fernandinho-esque complete number six, I don't know where that's come from, and their defence is settled with [Andrew] Robertson and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] playing alongside [Ibrahima] Konate and [Virgil] van Dijk - it's a good side.
"I think Liverpool will go there fancying their chances with an Arsenal side currently feeling a little bit shell-shocked by everything. I'm a City fan so I'm biased, but I do feel there's a little bit of a head-loss at Arsenal going on right now.
"I think they are panicking a little bit, because they aren't creating chances. Even before the sending off (against Bournemouth) they weren't that great, they were lacking ideas. I [also] think [Mikel] Merino has got a lot on him to step into Odegaard's shoes and it's just too much I think right now.
"I would not be surprised if it's a draw. I do feel that's the most likely scenario. Arsenal will lean on their defence big time for this one. They'll do what they do best - they'll sit back and they'll defend and they'll hope [Leandro] Trossard or [Raheem] Sterling, or someone like that, can pull something out the bag for them. I'd say probably a draw is most likely."
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McInerney explains why Liverpool should not be written off in PL title race
McInerney has also shared his views on Gary Neville's comments about Arsenal being the only team who can challenge the 'ominous' Man City, with Liverpool - as things stand - predicted to come up short by the ex-Manchester United defender.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Liverpool's 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend, Neville said: "Would these two teams [at Anfield] win the title? I don't think so. What Liverpool are doing defensively at the moment is interesting. I'd like to assess it at Christmas. I still think they're short.
"Chelsea are short, they're not going to win the league. I think Arsenal are the only team that can take on City. But you can't afford to fall too many points behind."
In response to those comments from Neville, McIenrney said: "I'm amazed by that. I think he, of all people, should understand what experience does for a team. You look at that Liverpool side and there's so many winners, there's Champions League winners and there's Premier League winners there.
"As a City fan - I'm not saying this is to get under Arsenal's skin - but Liverpool are the side that I truly fear more than Arsenal, they really are. If they find their best form, Salah is one of the best to ever do it, Van Dijk is one of the best to ever do it, Trent and Robertson are one of the best-ever full-back partnerships in Premier League history.
"Alisson [Becker] is out [injured] right now, but Caoimhin [Kelleher] is a more than good enough backup, and they've found a midfield balance with Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, [Alexis] McAllister, [Dominik] Szoboszlai - it's really good. [Cody] Gakpo has got goals in him, [Diogo] Jota has got goals in him, [Darwin] Nunez is, you know, Nunes, he's useful.
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Liverpool have got "genuine world-class talent", Arsenal lack "true goalscorers"
"I'd be amazed if Neville has forgotten how much experience and know-how can lead into [a team's pursuit of the title]. Liverpool do not fear anyone because people like Neville are playing them down.
"They're not scared of losing the league because they've done it before. I feel Arsenal have still got so much more to prove. Neville is right that Arsenal have been better for the last couple of years, but you can't deny that Liverpool have got genuine world-class talent.
"They've probably got, I would argue, more world-class players in their starting 11 than Arsenal. That doesn't mean they've got a better side, but in terms of individual quality, I would argue one thing that Arsenal lack are true goalscorers.
"Liverpool have got two proper goalscorers in Salah and Jota. I know Saka can score goals and [Kai] Havertz can get one and you can always rely on someone like [Gabriel] Martinelli or Trossard to pop up, but it's not the same level.
"I [also] think that one thing Arsenal lack compared to City and Liverpool is real game-changing brilliance. You think of City at the very best, [they have Kevin] De Bruyne, the greatest playmaker in Premier League history in my personal opinion. Salah [for Liverpool is] an all-timer. He's just about to match [Thierry] Henry in terms of goals and assists in the Premier League. I don't think Arsenal have that.
"It doesn't mean Arsenal can't win the league. Arsenal's brilliance is mainly back towards their own goal and that's not to downplay Saka and so on, but I'm amazed that Neville's written Liverpool off so quickly because he knows just how much experience matters, given his time at Man United."
Man City can climb above Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table if they beat Southampton on Saturday, but Slot's side will return to the summit if they come away from the Emirates with maximum points.
Oliver Thomas
