Paul Merson believes Arsenal could run away with the Premier League title race, but it has a hard run of fixtures coming up, including facing Liverpool at Anfield this weekend

Paul Merson has claimed that Arsenal could have the Premier League title next to wrapped up before Christmas because it has an easy run of fixtures coming down the line.

Before the end of the year, Arsenal will take on Liverpool at Anfield, and it has the likes of Newcastle, Manchester City, Brentford and Tottenham away, as well as Real Madrid, Bournemouth and Manchester United at home.

"What a November Arsenal have, by the way," Merson said. "They’ve got a hard month, including the start of December. You’ll know by December 13 if Arsenal will win the Premier League. Because there’s a saying: after the hard games, come the easy games."

While easier matches will follow that spell, Arsenal has some significant injury worries at the moment.

"If Bukayo Saka is injured for this period, he’s going to be missed," Merson said. "People say he isn’t playing well, but I think he’s a decision-maker — he constantly makes those right decisions week in, week out.

"Now there’s Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze coming in and playing in his place.

"It's all well and good them coming in and playing for a couple, then sitting out for a couple — but when you’re asking them to play six to eight weeks on the trot, that’s a real tester."

Mikel Arteta has already declared himself "convinced" that Arsenal will beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 2012, but Merson says anything other than a home victory would not be enough to put the Reds in title contention.

"Liverpool are starting to cook a little bit, but they have got to win this Sunday if they want to be in the Premier League title race," the pundit, speaking to Sky Sports, added.

"If they don’t win, they stay six points behind at least and still have to go to the Emirates. You’re then asking Arsenal to lose two football matches without you losing one.

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"And given Liverpool will lose more games this season, you’re then asking Arsenal to lose three or four games for the rest of the season. That’s a lot of games."

After hosting Arsenal this weekend, Liverpool travels to Fenerbahce in the Champions League. It concludes the period before the November internationals with a trip to struggling Crystal Palace.

Liverpool.com says: The Reds should still be viewed as an outsider for the title, for a number of reasons. The chatter will only increase, though, if they win tomorrow against Arsenal.

As for Arsenal, while there are question marks over Manchester City for obvious reasons, the Gunners are not perfect. Without a marquee attacking player, it doesn't have the same star quality as Liverpool.