'Never know' - Stephen Warnock makes shock Liverpool claim ahead of Arsenal clash

Stephen Warnock is not ready to rule Liverpool out of title contention – but admits he is ‘worried’ about his former side ahead of Thursday’s visit to Arsenal .

After a miserable start to their Premier League title defence, Liverpool find themselves back in the top four and unbeaten in eight league matches.

Arne Slot ’s side are still some way off the levels seen last campaign, though, with back-to-back draws against Leeds United and Fulham leaving them a distant 14 points behind leaders Arsenal.

The Reds have an opportunity to eat into that deficit when they travel to face Mikel Arteta ’s side at the Emirates , and Warnock believes an upset win may have some Liverpool fans starting to dream about an unlikely title charge over the second half of the season.

‘I think a title charge is very ambitious, but then if you can claw the deficit back and then other teams, if they start to stutter a little bit, you just never know,’ he told Metro via NewBettingSites.uk .

‘Especially when Liverpool have got players to come back.’

Liverpool are already without Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah for Thursday’s game, while Hugo Ekitike remains a doubt with a minor hamstring injury.

And having to do without those options in attack has Warnock concerned about Liverpool’s chances, particularly given the Gunners are unbeaten in their ten home games this season.

‘My only concern with that is that Liverpool don’t have pace and athleticism in the team to counter-attack,’ he said.

‘They don’t have the players. If they had Isak fit and Ekitike fit and you had Salah available, then maybe you’d look at it.

‘Wirtz isn’t quick enough to run beyond players. Gakpo isn’t quick enough to run beyond players. Szsobozlai, Mac Allister, the midfielder, they’re not dynamic enough at the moment to be able to do that.

‘So it’s going to be very, very interesting how this game plays out. I’m quite worried about it if I’m being completely honest.

‘They will need to change the style, be a bit more defensive-minded. It’s not ideal, but you’ve got to stop throwing your players beyond the ball and leaving yourself vulnerable at the back, which Liverpool do far too often.’

Speaking before the game, even Slot conceded that it is hard to pinpoint any real vulnerabilities in this current Arsenal side.

‘Maybe their main strength is they have so many strengths,’ the Dutchman said. ‘Or their main strength is they hardly have something that is weak.

‘So, they hardly concede goals. They can score from open play, they can score from set-pieces, very good ideas about build-up, can play a long ball.

‘They have the complete package and for that reason they, in my opinion, deserve to be on top this season.’