As Liverpool prepares for a clash with Arsenal at Anfield this weekend, the conversation of the Premier League title race and its potential contenders has arisen once again

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has stated that it is too early to draw up contenders for the Premier League title race ahead of his side's upcoming blockbuster clash with current champions Arsenal.

It's a match that has the Reds coming into the weekend sitting just six points behind the league leaders, knowing that a win could blow the top of the table wide open by the second international break of the campaign.

The signs for the Merseyside outfit under Andoni Iraola have been particularly positive, with the manager dealing well with the balancing of competitions and the rotation of his side throughout some busy weeks.

With Liverpool's big-money forwards starting to fire in front of goal, and a team that seems to be taking on board the tactical principles of the head coach, there is plenty of hope that the team can continue to find positive results while backing them up with even better performances.

That has led to some early questions about whether Liverpool could be in the title race, with Jamie Carragher among those to prompt the discussion ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Sunday.

Iraola believes that talk may be a bit early in the campaign, however, as he looks to focus on the months ahead with a greater idea of the team's position at the halfway stage.

When asked about Carragher's question in the pre-Arsenal press conference, the Liverpool boss responded: "It is too early to look at the standings. It is about preparing ourselves for a very difficult game. We know how dangerous Arsenal is with very good players. We have to be ready for that challenge.

"It is October. It is still very early. We take it one game at a time. The first reference is usually when we play against each other. We need to keep improving.

"It will be a very difficult game so we have to be ready. We trust ourselves and I hope we can be at the level to win this game. It is good for the fans to have expectations and think that we can win and do things this season. But if you ask me, it is still very early. Arsenal is in a good place. It is the champions for a reason."

It is yet another match for Iraola in which he will face off against a childhood friend, having grown up in the same region as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. The Reds boss already got the better of several close friends this season, such as Xabi Alonso and Inigo Perez, with there being some hope that he can land another victory this time around.

"It's a privilege," Arteta said in his own press conference about facing off with Iraola. "To share so many beautiful moments together when we younger, it's a blessing to face each other now."

While the Gunners remain favorites for the title, having won it last year and standing up as one of the standout sides of the season so far, there are some frailties in the team. That much was recently present in Arsenal's defeats to Brighton and Fleetwood.

With Iraola holding a good record against Arsenal from his time at Bournemouth, he will certainly be looking to translate that over to another clash with the Gunners. While it may be early to discuss title contention, a win for Liverpool would certainly do no harm in putting the side in the picture.