Liverpool will host Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
This is going to be a mouth-watering fixture for football fans as the first-placed team will face off against the second-placed team in the English top-flight.
The Merseyside club were at the top of the table but after failing to beat Manchester United last weekend, they have now slipped down to the second position. However, they are currently only one point behind the Gunners so they have an opportunity to beat the North London club in this game and regain their spot at the summit.
After failing to win back-to-back games, Liverpool returned to winning ways by defeating West Ham United in the Carabao Cup midweek. So, they will be looking to keep their winning run this weekend.
Arsenal will be coming into this game after comfortably beating Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend and they will be hoping to continue their winning run in this fixture.
However, defeating Liverpool at Anfield won’t be easy for the Emirates club. Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently unbeaten at home this season, winning seven out of eight league games.
Previous meetings
Arsenal don’t have a good record against Liverpool in recent years as they are currently winless at Anfield in the last 10 Premier League games, losing seven of those occasions.
The North London club had a great opportunity to snap their winless streak at Anfield in their last season’s encounter versus Liverpool as they found themselves ahead by two goals. But, The Merseyside club fought back brilliantly and eventually managed to draw the game.
How to watch
The match will begin at 5:30 pm UK time and the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event in the UK.
Supporters can also buy Liverpool tickets for the game via official club channels and through trusted reseller sites online.
Team news
Liverpool currently have a long list of injury absentees as Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, Diogo Jota and Ben Doak have been sidelined with their respective issues in recent times and are set to be unavailable for selection in this fixture.
Ryan Gravenberch sustained an injury in the previous game against Manchester United so he is in doubt ahead of this weekend’s game.
As for Arsenal, they will be without Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Fabio Vieira for this fixture owing to their respective problems. Mohamed Elneny is also set to remain sidelined due to a hamstring injury, while Jorginho has been ruled out of the game owing to a foot issue.
Predicted line-up
Klopp will continue with his preferred 4-3-3 formation with Alisson set to be in goal for the Merseyside club. Ibrahima Konate should return to the starting eleven alongside Virgil van Dijk. So, Jarell Quansah will have to settle for a place on the bench. Joe Gomes could be in the right-back position, while Konstantinos Tsimikas might be on the opposite side.
Trent Alexander-Arnold could start in the deep-lying playmaker position and on either side of the Englishman, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones should start. Jones scored twice in midweek win over West Ham so he is expected to be awarded with a start in this crucial fixture. So, Wataru Endo will return to the bench.
Luiz Diaz could be in the left-wing position, while Mohamed Salah is guaranteed to be in his preferred right flank. Cody Gakpo may lead the line for Liverpool in this encounter so Darwin Nunez is expected to be among the substitutes.
Expected Liverpool line-up vs Arsenal
Alisson; Gomes, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Alexander-Arnold, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is also likely to go with the same 4-3-3 formation. David Raya should be in goal for the Gunners and in front of him, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be the back four.
Declan Rice is expected to be in the holding midfield position with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz set to complete the midfield trio for the North London club.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka should be on the flanks, while Gabriel Jesus is likely to be the number nine for Arsenal in this fixture.
Expected Arsenal line-up vs Liverpool
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka
Key players
Salah has been the main goal-scorer for Liverpool over the last few years. He has enjoyed a stellar campaign this term but has managed to score only once in the last five league games so he will be desperate to find the back of the net in this fixture.
Diaz has had a tough time this season due to some off-field issues. But, the Liverpool fans will be hoping that the South American will be able to put his name on the score-sheet and help his side win the game this weekend.
Gakpo is likely to start ahead of Nunez, he managed to score in midweek and the Netherlands international will be keen to continue his goal-scoring form against Arsenal.
Liverpool have struggled to keep clean-sheets this season so the responsibility will be on Van Dijk and Konate to stop Arsenal from scoring and help Liverpool come away with all three points from this fixture.
For Arsenal, their front three Saka, Martinelli and Jesus have struggled to replicate last season’s form this term. But, they will be hoping to find their form in this crucial fixture and guide Arsenal to victory versus Liverpool. Arsenal transfer rumours continue to link the Gunners with new forwards, but the current front three will hope to show a new striker isn’t needed by getting among the goals this weekend.
Odegaard needs to be at his very best and the onus will be on him to create opportunities for attackers and finish those off if he gets any. Rice also needs to display his best performance in this encounter in order to help Arsenal win the game.
Arsenal’s backline have been excellent this season and the North Londoners will be hoping that they will be able to keep a clean-sheet on Saturday to help Arsenal come away with a positive result from this fixture.
Prediction
Both sides like to play an attacking style of football so it’s expected to be an exciting fixture. Liverpool will definitely go for a win in this game by taking the home advantage, but the Gunners could take a conservative approach as a point from this game wouldn’t be a bad result for them.
However, they would be hoping to show the world that they are ready to challenge for the title and winning this fixture will certainly put them as one of the favourites to win the league this season.
But, it’s going to be extremely tough for them to defeat Liverpool at Anfield. The Gunners have been excellent this season so it is going to be tough for Liverpool as well to beat the league leader so the game may eventually end in a stalemate. Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
