Gary Lineker has been speaking about the title race after the latest twist.

Arsenal lost more ground in the title race over the weekend, slipping back to six points behind Liverpool having played a game more. The Gunners gave up a two-goal lead against Aston Villa to draw, while Liverpool struck late to defeat a resolute Brentford side away from home.

Mikel Arteta’s men can’t seem to close the gap, with every gain followed by a misstep, although the Gunners are not helped by a number of key injuries, including the absence of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri.

There is still plenty of time still remaining in the title race, with 16 games remaining for Arsenal and 17 for Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s men have only failed to win six games all season, with just one of those being a defeat. Arsenal need them to start slipping up more consistently, but their bigger problem is taking advantage of any slip-ups, unable to remain consistent themselves.

The differing levels of consistency between the two teams is one of the reasons Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker believes the current leaders are in total control of the title race. “We know things can happen, things can change,” he said on The Rest is Football podcast. “But they’ve got a big, very strong squad, with replacements in every position.

“They’ve got a belief, a momentum and a coach who really knows what he’s doing. It’s hard to see really because who is going to come from behind and win almost every game which you would probably have to do now? I’d be incredibly surprised if they don’t go all the way now. Arsenal have got a few key players out and Man City are too far behind even if Liverpool were to slip up a bit. It’s early to say the title race is done – of course it’s not – but it’s Liverpool’s to lose.”

Arteta was asked after the Villa game what he made of his side dropping points from winning positions. He said: “I think every situation is very different. As well we have come back from situations more than probably before as well.

“Today, you have to give credit to the opposition, Digne puts in an unbelievable ball, and Tielemans arrives in there. The second one is not at the standards we require and overall again, what the game showed and how we performed, the scoreline and reflection is nowhere near.”