Merson: Brighton are one million per cent title contenders – if they win next two

Sky Sports' Paul Merson says Brighton will enter the Premier League title race if they win their next two games.

The Seagulls currently sit third in the table, behind only Man City and Arsenal, and have won each of their last four league games.

Next up is a clash with Liverpool, live on Sky Sports Premier League on Super Sunday.

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Brighton have not won at Anfield in their last six visits in all competitions, but they face a Reds side who are yet to record their first league win there this season.

Then they face Man City at the Etihad on October 31 - three days after the same fixture in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

"That is it in a nutshell: we'll see where they are after the next two games," said Merson.

"If they go and win their next two games, I don't care how long has gone in the season, they are one million per cent title contenders. Then it's a different game. Then they are going to places expecting to win.

"Liverpool are not playing really well. They are not setting the world alight at the moment. But it will be headline news if they get beaten by Brighton.

"And Brighton, at the moment, you would probably say are a better team than Liverpool. But it's the big team mentality. The pressure's different.

"If Brighton go and get beaten by those two teams, no one will say a word.

"If they drew both, that would be amazing, but you'd rather win one and lose one. It's funny how people look at it and think the two draws would look better because they haven't lost. You've got to win football matches.

"For me, it's about going out and putting on a show and making sure they give a good account of themselves.

"At the moment, you're looking and thinking they shouldn't get beaten in those two games, the way they are playing.

"I like what Brighton are doing. I think they've been outstanding. I watched them against Arsenal. They close you down, they play at a tempo, they suffocate you. It doesn't matter how good a footballer you are, if you get people's heads down, they can't do anything. It's as simple as that.

"They've got a lot of games coming up, but they're good testers. If I'm Man City and Liverpool, I don't really want to be playing Brighton."

Carra: Hurzeler's Brighton remind me of Klopp's Liverpool

Speaking on Sky Sports News earlier this week, Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher gave Hurzeler's side a glowing endorsement.

"Right now, they are the story of the season. I just love the way they play," he said.

"They remind me a little bit of watching a Jurgen Klopp Liverpool team; really aggressive, really fast, really direct.

"If you're asking me or most football fans to describe how you want your team to play, how you'd like to watch them, I think it's that. It's fast, aggressive, direct football. All-action with quality.

"Klopp's Liverpool team are one of the greatest teams we've seen in the Premier League era and this team right now are posting similar sorts of numbers in terms of goals scored and all those metrics we used to look at with Klopp."

On Monday Night Football, he added: "I think the style of football Brighton play now is better [than what they played under De Zerbi] or certainly something I'd want to watch more.

"The best way to describe the football is aggressive, forward, vertical, intensity.

"It reminds me of the debates we used to have about Klopp and Pep Guardiola. Two very successful managers, great managers, great teams, but I think most people in this country would almost plump for a Jurgen Klopp style of football, and that's what I think we're watching here."

However, he stopped short of agreeing with Merson's suggestion.

"I'm not sure about title contenders, but I do look at them and think they are where they should be. It's not the case they've had a bit of fortune; they thoroughly deserve to be where they [are]," he added.

"It's very early in the season, but watching them play this early, I think they should be disappointed if they don't make the Champions League, especially if it goes down to fifth.

"They've got to be looking to be around fifth or sixth, maybe even better with the way they've started the season.

"There are a lot of question marks about a lot of teams this season: Liverpool being one, Aston Villa another, Man Utd, Tottenham. Teams you would associate with being around the Champions League positions are not at their absolute best, so I think there's a great opportunity for Brighton to get Champions League football."

Watch Liverpool vs Brighton live on Sky Sports Premier League on Super Sunday; kick-off 2pm