The headline fixture in the Premier League this weekend sees European champions, Liverpool, do battle with UEFA Europa League finalists, Arsenal.
Two colossal football names fighting for contrasting fortunes with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool fighting for the title, while Unai Emery’s Arsenal will just be happy to get back into the UEFA Champions League.
A home trip against the Gunners has always been a fixture that the Reds favour, although with this being the season of transformation, perhaps Arsenal will be looking to take advantage of Liverpool’s recent errors in defence and give them a game to remember.
English Premier League
Saturday 24 August
Anfield
18:30
To Win
Liverpool 5/10
Draw 37/10
Arsenal 5/1
Liverpool
Liverpool head into this weekend’s action being one of two teams with a 100 percent record so far, the other side being their opponents, Arsenal. The fixture list has been relatively kind to Liverpool with the Reds facing Norwich and Southampton in their opening two games, two sides expected to fight for survival.
Nevertheless, Liverpool did what Liverpool usually do, collecting maximum points against the league’s minnows, giving them the confidence needed to host Arsenal this Saturday without any hiccups. In between those two ties, Klopp’s men did go the distance with Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup, netting all five penalties to win the tournament via a shootout.
As previously mentioned, Liverpool love a home tie against Arsenal in the league. At Anfield, the Reds have won 5-1 and 4-0 in the last two ties against the Gunners. Its not just against the North London club where Liverpool have a fantastic record, few teams have been able to walk away from Anfield with positives to take.
You’d have to flip the calendar two years back to date to the last time Liverpool lost a league game at their fortress ground, back when Crystal Palace upset the applecart in April 2017.
Liverpool are a completely different side now and have one of the best attacking trios in world football at their disposal. The Reds also have undoubtedly the best defender on the planet in Virgil Van Dijk.
Now, the only grey area on the pitch seems to be the midfield, although former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has taken the onus upon him to make his marker and claim a place in Klopp’s best line-up.
They’re much more complete this season in comparison to the last, but question marks hinder over Adrian in goals, who is yet to keep a clean sheet while the Spanish shot-stopper is proving to be error-prone in the absence of Alisson Becker.
The Reds have to do everything in their power to ensure that Adrian has very little to do.
Arsenal
Arsenal won their opening two games for the first time since the 2009/10 season after wins over Newcastle and Burnley. Like Liverpool, the fixture list has been kind to the Gunners, but this is the big test.
In recent times, Arsenal have gone away to the big grounds and have got absolutely smashed. In the last two trips to Anfield, the aggregate scoreline is 9-1 in favour to Liverpool. In fact, Arsenal’s away form has been well-documented as being their Achilles heel, losing eight times on the road last season.
After a superb transfer window, the Gunners now feel that they have the squad to reach their targets, which is to get back into the Champions League. Arsenal have lacked defenders with leadership, but have acquired the services of David Luiz who fits the bill, while further forward, Unai Emery’s men are spoilt for choice.
Dani Ceballos made his first start last weekend, providing two assists, while Nicolas Pepe showed glimpses of what’s to come in Arsenal colours, dominating in attack.
It may be the season of transformation for the Gunners, but nothing seemed to have changed in terms of who gets the goals, with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both finding the back of the net last weekend.
Everything has gone according to plan for Emery so far this season, but what the Spanish tactician now needs to do is make his mind up on whether to stick with the young midfielders, Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi, or does he opt for a bit more experience in Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka?
Time will surely tell.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: 4-3-3
Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Arsenal: 4-3-3
Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Monreal; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Verdict: Firmino To Score Anytime & Liverpool To Win (29/20)
At Anfield, even the mighty have fallen. Arsenal are far from mighty and should crumble yet again. Roberto Firmino has an excellent record against Arsenal and even scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season. At 29/20, back the Brazilian to Score First and Liverpool to win.
Jesse Nagel
