After suggesting there is still ample time for Liverpool's Premier League title charge to implode, Paul Merson has since warned of the one thing that would truly settle his belief. His former side Arsenal are six points behind the Reds.

After wrapping up midweek Champions League duties, Arne Slot's rested Reds prepare for a Premier League trip to the South Coast to face Bournemouth. They do so holding a healthy advantage over Arsenal, who play Manchester City at home, with also a game in hand.

But Bournemouth are no pushovers, and the Gunners remain determined to win a title after challenging for three consecutive seasons. A former hero of the London club, Merson has made the fresh warning that Liverpool's silverware hopes rest solely on captain Virgil van Dijk.

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"February will be a defining month in the Premier League for Liverpool," he told Sportskeeda. "In addition to their upcoming trip to Bournemouth, they face both Everton and Manchester City away from home this month. If Liverpool get seven points from these three fixtures, they will win the Premier League!

"But then again, you look at these fixtures and think, 'Bournemouth are bang in form, Everton are a different beast under Moyes and well, Manchester City can beat anyone on their day'.

"Even though Liverpool have been incredible in the Premier League this season, these games will be tricky to navigate. I don’t see Liverpool beating Bournemouth this weekend! It’s one of the toughest stadiums to visit in the Premier League and Bournemouth are absolutely flying at the moment."

Comparing it to the recent 2-0 win at Brentford, in which Slot's side had 37 shots at goal to 11, he added: "We saw how Brentford troubled Liverpool and I think Bournemouth can do the same here.

"They are still favourites to win the league. The only problem they could face would be with Virgil van Dijk. If he gets injured, what do they do?

"Arne Slot has enough options as cover everywhere else but not at centre-back. Van Dijk has played every minute of every single Premier League game this season and that shows how important he is to this team."

This latest assessment of Merson's comes after the pundit got into a heated argument about the Reds live on Sky Sports.

There, he blasted: "You have got to remember Liverpool were top of the league last season with six games to go. They lost at home to Crystal Palace. They lost at home. What happened? They've got it in them. Everybody forgets.

"Nobody said a word when they did that. They got beat by Palace, they melted and nobody said a dickie bird. Arsenal go to the penultimate game of the season against Man City and everyone called Arsenal bottle jobs. No one says a word when it's Liverpool."