Paul Merson reckons Manchester City's 5-3 win over Sunderland has killed their title chances. The bookmakers, it seems, were watching a different game.

The Sky Sports pundit, who backed his former club Arsenal to finish top before a ball was kicked, sat down to watch Enzo Maresca's side at the Etihad on Sunday expecting a statement. What he got, in his view, confirmed the opposite.

"I sat there watching the game thinking, if Manchester City put on a show and beat Sunderland convincingly, there could be a big momentum swing," Merson said.

That momentum swing never arrived. Not in his reading of it, anyway. Arsenal had been "ripped to shreds" by Brighton earlier in the weekend — a result Merson described as fully deserved — and the door looked ajar for City to make a statement. Instead, the pundit closed it himself.

"Arsenal had been ripped to shred[s against Brighton], fully deserved. I was thinking they'd win the league quite comfortably and not lose too many football matches. Have I got this wrong? Then I saw City against Sunderland and go, no. There's no way Manchester City win the league."

It is a bold call, even by Merson's standards. City put five past Sunderland. Whatever defensive frailties were on show — and three goals conceded suggests there were a few — the attacking output was hardly the stuff of also-rans.

Perhaps the bookies took note of the five rather than the three. Despite Merson's remarks, the odds on Maresca's team finishing top have shortened. Betting firms are now pricing City between 5/4 and 13/8.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have drifted. Up until the weekend, the Gunners were odds-on to retain their crown. That has moved to evens, with some bookmakers placing them very close to City at 11/10. A heavy defeat to Brighton will do that to a price.

None of which means the title race is over, or that Merson is wrong. It means the market sees something the pundit does not.

Anfield looms

City's credentials face a proper examination on October 11th, when they travel to Anfield. Liverpool may not have looked entirely convincing under new head coach Andoni Iraola, but they remain unbeaten in all competitions since the Spaniard's appointment. That is not a record to be waved away.

Arsenal, for their part, host Leeds the day before. It is an early kick-off right after the international break, which can be tricky for players returning late from trips abroad. Daniel Farke's team are also unbeaten, so it is by no means a guaranteed three points for the Gunners.

Merson, of course, has form for this sort of thing. He backed Arsenal before the season began, watched them get dismantled by Brighton, and still found a way to conclude that City are the ones with the problem. There is a certain logic to it, if you squint hard enough and ignore the league table.

City's response will come on the pitch. Starting at Anfield.