Premier League
Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview
Anfield, Liverpool – Jurgen Klopp’s side face a stern test of their title credentials when the Gunners head to Anfield on Saturday evening in the Premier League.
The Reds sit six points clear at the top of the table with half of the season gone, while opponents Arsenal are in fifth place, two points adrift of the Champions League spots.
In their most recent fixtures, Liverpool beat struggling Newcastle United 4-0, while Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.
With Pep Guardiola’s men not facing Southampton until Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s side can take a further grip on the title race if they can overcome the Gunners
Previous Encounters:
- This will be the 227th meeting between these two teams in all competitions, with Liverpool winning 86 times to Arsenal’s 79 (61 draws).
- Arsenal are without a win in their last five trips to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League (D2 L3).
View From Both Camps:
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool):
“That is not how I know Unai Emery, who doesn’t play mind games. I don’t think they will have the white flag and say ‘no chance’. It will be really tough game, really tough because they are good.”
“That is all I am interested in and all the rest is a nice little game where people respond to your questions and you make stories of the answers. We are focused on ourselves and that is all.”
“They are a strong team with a great attitude and I’m sure they will try to trouble us. We have to focused and go for the three points.”
Unai Emery (Arsenal):
“At the moment they are doing it and they can do it, they can do that because they are doing it at the moment.”
“We played against Liverpool three years ago with Sevilla in the final of the Europa League and I look at this progress and they are a very good example.”
“This progress is also one example for us, now, in our moment. But we need to be very, very demanding of ourselves to do this step quickly in our way. But we need also time and sometimes the patience is very important for us.”
Team News:
Alberto Moreno is available for selection for Liverpool after missing the Boxing Day win against Newcastle, although Dominic Solanke (muscle), Joe Gomez and Joel Matip will not feature.
Arsenal are unlikely to be able to welcome back any of their injured players when they travel to Anfield. Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Hector Bellerin (calf), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) are all out.
Shkodran Mustafi is the only man with a slight chance of being involved but his return from a hamstring problem is not expected to come this weekend, while Laurent Koscielny should be fine following a foot issue in the draw at Brighton.
Predicted Lineups:
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita; Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane; Salah.
Arsenal (4-2-3-2): Leno; Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Sokratis, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Iwobi, Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Match Prediction:
Liverpool are in brilliant form at the moment and have a formidable record against Arsenal at Anfield too. The Gunners should put up more of a fight than they have on some of their recent visits to Merseyside, but it would be a surprise if they came away with anything to show for it. Liverpool are heavy favorites to win this one, given the form they’re in.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Photo credit to Soi kèo Ngon via Flickr
