Paul Merson identifies crucial quality Liverpool has to challenge for Premier League title

Paul Merson is confident that Liverpool has the togetherness needed to challenge for the Premier League title with Arsenal and Manchester City this season.

The Reds are currently second in the table, one point off leaders Manchester City, having won four and lost one of their opening five top-flight games.

After falling to a surprise defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on match day four, Arne Slot's men bounced back with victories in the Champions League and the Premier League, scoring six goals in the process, to quickly recapture the feel-good factor from the opening three games of the season.

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And Merson believes Liverpool will be among the teams that challenge for the title this term. He told Sky Sports: “Arsenal have a togetherness and you have to have a togetherness to win leagues. They have got that in abundance and so do Manchester City. I think Liverpool have it as well but - and I don't want to pick on one team - I don't see that at Manchester United, for example.

“It's what you need to win league trophies, and Arsenal are firmly in the running this season. They are a huge threat to Man City and don't City know it. Pep Guardiola would have loved to have won that game on Sunday and put five points between them and the Gunners.

“It was a massive week for Arsenal and they have come through it with a win at Spurs and a point at City. Then there's the injury to Rodri. He's the best in the business, without a doubt. He will be missed. There's also Liverpool. With the draw at the Etihad and their win against Bournemouth, they are still right there.

“I think we'll see Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool fighting it out all season, all the way to the end. But the key will be Arsenal and Liverpool keeping all their players fit. Man City have proved they can have a couple of players missing and they will still have easy games where they rack up big wins. I'm not so sure it is as easy for Liverpool and Arsenal. That's the difference between them and everybody else.”