Premier League
Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview
All eyes will be on Anfield this weekend as Liverpool host Arsenal in what is the standout Premier League fixture in Gameweek Three.
- Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019
- Time: 12:30 p.m. (EST)
- Network: NBCSN
- Location: Liverpool, England, UK
- Venue: Anfield
- Capacity: 54,074
Both Liverpool and Arsenal come into the fixture on the back of two successive victories in the Premier League. Liverpool will look to go one better this season and clinch the title and thus would have their sights set at the three points on offer.
Both teams had less comfortable wins than they would have liked last week, Arsenal seeing off visitors Burnley 2-1 while Liverpool won by the same scoreline at Southampton.
Arsenal have invested heavily in the transfer market and are expected to put up a fight compared to their limp showing in a 5-1 mauling at the historic stadium last year.
They will be gunning for a third successive win which would see them pip Liverpool to first place. Unai Emery will be hoping that the Gunners put in a strong showing, which would also send a message to the rest of the top six.
Previous Encounters:
Liverpool vs Arsenal in the past has been something of a goals galore.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Arsenal in all competitions (W4 D4).
- Arsenal are without a win in their last six visits to Anfield (W0 D2 L4), having conceded two or more goals in each match (22 in total).
Team News:
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are likely to return to midfield.
Naby Keita remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a muscle strain.
Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil could play a part for Arsenal this weekend. The duo are back in training, which gives Unai Emery more options in midfield.
Emile Smith Rowe, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Dinos Mavropanos all remain sidelined.
Predicted Lineups:
Liverpool (4-3-3): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe, Ceballos, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Match Prediction for Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview
The omens at Anfield are not promising for the Gunners. Liverpool’s strike-force is certain to cause problems for a defence that was notoriously rickety last season.
Only the most pessimistic of Arsenal travellers would fear a defeat as dispiriting as that trouncing at the end of last year. Their enhanced squad depth gives them the potential to build on a reasonable run of form against the top six.
The additions of Pepe and Ceballos give Liverpool extra reasons to be wary. The Reds however are expected to remain as the only side with a perfect record this season by extending their run against opponents they enjoy playing at Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Written by Adithya Narayan
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Photo credit to Timilehin Adeyemi from Flickr
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