Alan Shearer thinks Liverpool can be considered genuine Premier League title challengers if they are to beat Arsenal on Sunday.

Andoni Iraola’s side have bounced back impressively from their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, winning five straight games in all competitions.

The Reds impressively beat third-place Brighton last weekend and will look to further close the gap on the top two when they host defending champions Arsenal at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s thunderous free-kick helped Liverpool claim a narrow 1-0 win when the two sides met on Merseyside last season.

And former Newcastle United striker Shearer believes that Liverpool can throw their name into the title mix if they extend their impressive home record against the Gunners this weekend.

‘They’re just little signs of Liverpool getting into stride,’ Shearer told Betfair.

‘I worked their game against Villarreal and for half an hour, they were really poor but after that there was a big improvement. They got a brilliant result against Brighton. Not many people thought that they could get that result.

‘It just feels as if there’s a little bit of momentum happening at Liverpool. It seems as if the players are buying into his ideas and they’re getting results.

‘Whether you like it or not Liverpool could become title challengers with a win on Sunday, you have to look at it that way.

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‘Now, whatever happens with Man City, whenever it happens, I guess the team in third position would also have to think, well, if that does happen to City, then we’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to be ready to mount a challenge, you know?

‘So, I think it’s a big opportunity for Liverpool to throw themselves into that talk if they get the right result this weekend.’

Arsenal, meanwhile, come into this fixture off the back of a shock Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Fleetwood Town, and Shearer is not confident of a positive outcome for Mikel Arteta’s side.

‘Arsenal need to bounce back on Sunday,’ he added.

‘They got a good result last weekend which was pretty straightforward against Everton but I guess the criticism after Tuesday is warranted.

‘I know Arteta put a different team out, but still you’re representing Arsenal and it was an embarrassing result.

‘Arsenal now have got the chance to bounce back, but I guess the game you wouldn’t want would be going to Anfield as Liverpool just feel as if they’ve got a bit of form going, a bit of momentum going.

‘It doesn’t come much tougher than going to Anfield for Arsenal. I don’t think they’ve got the best record there either. I don’t think they’ve won there in a while.’