A game involving two sides with massive history in English football but contrasting fortunes this current campaign sees Arsenal travel to Merseyside to test their resolve against Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool in recent years were in top gear form under Jurgen Klopp but it seems that midas touch is now with Arsenal who have been immense this season under Mikel Arteta.
Jurgen Klopp’s side lost embarrassingly to Manchester City last weekend in the English Premier League when they visited the Etihad before playing another uninspiring 0-0 draw against Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta’s boys have waved a magic wand this term which has seen them rise beyond expectations and in a domineering position of possibly winning the Premier League.
The Reds from Merseyside have picked up just one win from eight available matches across all competitions and this rubber stamps the drop in quality, desire and result that the side has experienced this season.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 9 games across all competitions. They have picked up 21 points from the available 21 in 7 Premier League matches and they look like they are on full throttle to continue in that manner.
Liverpool would be hoping that their attacking assets come to the party on Sunday by imposing themselves right from the first whistle.
The Reds Will Be banking on their attacking threat
Cody Gakpo, Mohammed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are the names Klopp would be hoping guides him to victory at home alongside his other players.
Arsenal are a highly spirited side who play with so much determination to win and they have shown that they are a side with not just selected names but a resilient team.
Captain Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Aron Ramsdale alongside Marinelli, Jesus, Saka and Leandro Trossard are players Arteta can trust in to help guide the side to victory on Sunday.
Anyway, it’s going to be a keenly contested affair involving the two sides. Liverpool are languishing in 8th position on the Premier League log with a miniature 43 points gathered so far this campaign.
The away side sit at the summit of the Premier League table with 72 massive points and 8 points ahead of nearest challenger Manchester City who have a game in hand.
The Gunners in their 31 meetings with Liverpool have defeated Liverpool 7 times, sharing the spoils on 12 occasions and losing 12 times to The Reds.
Teams News for Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara is back in full training after being unavailable for 10 matches due to an hip problem.
Virgil Van Dijk also looks to have fully recovered from the illness that made him not play any minute in the game against Chelsea.
Luis Dias is still fine-tuning his fitness but Klopp doesn’t look assured that he would play any action against Arsenal.
Stefan Bajcetic, Calvin Ramsey and Naby Keita still remain out due to injury. Jurgen Klopp is expected to return Salah, Arnold, Gakpo and Robertson to the starting XI this weekend as they play a massive opposition in Arsenal.
Team News for Arsenal
The Gunners still continue to fret over the fitness of William Saliba as he strives to overcome a back problem while Eddie Nketiah, Tomiyasu and Elneny remain sidelined due to injury.
Leandro Trossard netted a Hat-trick in the first leg of the Premier League showdown involving his former side Brighton against Liverpool in October but he might be benched for this game due to the availability of Bukayo Saka.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alison, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Prediction:
This game would be fiercely contested between the two sides and it is also an encounter with huge consequences and a big pointer to where the title might be headed.
Gary Neville over the week stated that if Arsenal manage to win against Liverpool, “they would win the Premier League title!” Well there are several games before the end of this season but this game should be a show-stopper.
I expect Liverpool not to leave Anfield without a point on Sunday but Arsenal are a confident bunch.
Scoreline predictions: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal or Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
