'Even if Arsenal win every game, it's still Liverpool’s title' - Joe Cole on Premier League race

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TNT Sports pundits Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch all believe the Premier League title race is over. Liverpool have opened up an 11 point lead over Arsenal thanks to their 2-0 win against Manchester City at the weekend. Mikel Arteta says the Gunners will give up on first place "over my dead body," but Cole believes even winning each of their remaining 12 games will not be enough.

‘Over my dead body’ – Arteta refuses to give up on Premier League title

Video credit: SNTV

Joe Cole thinks Arsenal's Premier League title challenge is dead and buried, even if they win each of their final 12 Premier League matches of the season.

The Gunners, who face Nottingham Forest live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Wednesday, are seeking to win the English crown for the first time since 2003/04.

However, they have slipped 11 points behind leaders Liverpool after a 1-0 defeat to West Ham at the weekend - with Arne Slot's side continuing their domestic dominance with a 2-0 victory over champions Manchester City.

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How to watch Forest v Arsenal on TNT Sports and discovery+

10/09/2025 at 16:42

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is refusing to give in, insisting they will only surrender "over my dead body."

And although Cole cannot fault the Spaniard's fighting spirit, with less than a third of the season remaining, he thinks it will be impossible to close that gap.

"That's the right attitude," the former England international said ahead of Chelsea v Southampton on TNT Sports on Tuesday. "When you've got that squad there, you can go on a run.

Arteta ‘very disappointed’ as Arsenal slip to defeat against West Ham

Video credit: SNTV

"Unfortunately for them, even if they win every game, I still think it won't be enough. I think Liverpool are that good.

"There are performances on the positive side, where you think 'that's where we want it'.

"I think that West Ham game at the weekend as well, that would have been a game where everyone turning up at Arsenal would have been thinking 'we're going to walk these over'.

"It didn't happen, and that can really take the wind out of your sails.

"They're still in the Champions League. They have an outside chance of the league, but even if they win every game, I still think it's Liverpool's."

Liverpool's routine victory over City on Sunday was the first time the Reds had tasted success in the league at the Etihad Stadium since 2015.

TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand feels it sent a message out to their title contenders.

"Everyone's looking up at the table and looking up at Liverpool, unfortunately," he joked.

"I think there are games in the season where you look back and go 'that was the one, that set the tone and put a nail in the coffin of all the opponents and took the confidence and life out of all the people chasing'.

"I think that was the game. I think that will go down as a poignant game in the season."

Liverpool are chasing their second Premier League crown, with their last title coming in the 2019/20 campaign under Jurgen Klopp.

Slot on Salah contract, Ballon d’Or bid and comparisons with Messi and Ronaldo

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They have finished top of the English pyramid on 19 occasions in total though, one fewer than Manchester United.

They look set to draw level with the Red Devils this summer, which will provide much joy for supporters.

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said that Slot will not let his players believe the race for first place is over - but cannot see how they can be toppled.

"All the noises coming out of Liverpool will say it's not over," he said. "But I think we all believe that they are not going to get caught.

"I don't think they will drop enough points and I don't think the teams around them; City, Arsenal, Chelsea, all the teams notoriously up there, are going to gain those points.

"I still think they're going to drop points."

How to watch bumper week of Premier League action

Arsenal will look to close the 11-point gap, while Liverpool aim to extend their lead at the top, as every Premier League side takes to the field this week - with each match live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

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