Liverpool vs Arsenal preview, team news, line-ups and prediction

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Arsenal can cement their place at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening.

We head into the weekend action sitting one point clear of the Merseysiders at the top of the table. Liverpool briefly sat at the summit following our defeat to Aston Villa two weeks ago but we regained top spot after beating Brighton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Jurgen Klopp’s men could only manage a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Anfield later in the day so Arsenal retain their slender one-point advantage heading into a crucial clash at Anfield on Saturday.

Arsenal produced one of their best performances of the season against Brighton last time out. We totally dominated a very good Brighton side throughout the entire game and fully deserved the 2-0 win. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz got the goals but we wasted several other opportunities to make the scoreline more comfortable. It was impressive stuff from Mikel Arteta’s side, but we’ll need to be far more clinical if we’re to get a result at Anfield.

It was vital we got back to winning ways after the frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Aston Villa. Arsenal played very well in that game and didn’t deserve to lose, but a lack of cutting edge cost us on that occasion. It’s been something of a theme this season as Arsenal have squandered numerous chances to put games to bed, and that’s something Arteta is going to have to fix if we’re to go all the way and lift the title this year.

On the face of it, Arsenal should be right in the mix for the title once again. We dominate games and have tightened things up defensively. If the forwards could be more clinical, we would be hard to stop this campaign. However, if we continue to waste golden opportunities in front of goal, you get the feeling it will cost us more than once and that could be the difference in the title race.

Manchester City don’t look as strong as they did this season so this could be a great chance to win our first Premier League since 2004. However, it appears Arsenal will also have to battle a rejuvenated Liverpool side. After finishing fifth last season, Klopp overhauled his midfield in the summer and it seems to have worked as the Reds are churning out good results this season.

The good news for Arsenal is Liverpool have perhaps been fortunate to amass 38 points from their 17 league games so far. They’ve had to come from behind on numerous occasions and have won more points from losing positions than any other team in the division. In the last three games alone, they’ve needed late stoppage time goals to beat Fulham and Crystal Palace, and that can’t continue over the course of a 38 games campaign.

Liverpool also struggled to break down a poor Man Utd team last weekend, so there are signs that Klopp’s men aren’t the full package just yet. If Arsenal can get a positive result at Anfield on Saturday, it would put us in a terrific position to win the league.

How to watch

Unsurprisingly, the top-of-the-table clash has been chosen for live broadcast on Sky Sports. It will kick-off at 5.30pm, and subscribers can follow all the action on TV or via the Sky Go app on mobile or tablet devices.

For match-going fans, this highly-anticipated game will no-doubt be a sell-out at Anfield. All official channels would have sold out weeks ago, however, fans can still buy Liverpool vs Arsenal tickets at trusted reseller sites such as seatsnet.com.

Team news

Arsenal didn’t suffer any fresh injury concerns against Brighton but they’ll continue to be without the services of Takehiro Tomiyasu as the defender is still working his way back from a calf injury.

Thomas Partey is edging closer to making his return after stepping-up his rehabilitation from a thigh injury but the trip to Anfield could come too soon. Jorginho is also a doubt with an ankle injury while Mohamed Elneny is struggling with a hamstring issue.

Fabio Vieira is facing a few weeks out following groin surgery and Jurrien Timber is still working his way back from an ACL injury.

For Liverpool, they’ve lost Joel Matip for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Diogo Jota is still out with a thigh injury while Andrew Robertson is still recovering from a should problem.

Alexis MacAllister isn’t expected to be back until the New Year due to a knee injury, Thiago Alcantara is back in training following a groin issue but isn’t likely to be in the squad this weekend.

Likely line-ups

Arteta is unlikely to make any changes from the side that beat Brighton. Jorginho could be an option in midfield if the Gunners boss wants to tighten things up but it will be difficult to drop Havertz right now as he’s in good form.

Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe will probably have to make do with a place on the bench again with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus keeping their places in attack.

Klopp should recall some of his big-guns after making changes for Wednesday night’s 5-1 win over West Ham in the Carabao Cup. Alisson will return in goal while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah should also come back into the Liverpool eleven this weekend.

Curtis Jones could keep his place in midfield after putting in a MOTM display in midweek.

Likely Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Likely Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Prediction

This is promising to be a titanic clash between the top two and whoever comes out on top will fancy their chances of going all the way this season. Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at Anfield last season and were fortunate to leave with a 2-2 draw in the end. Hopefully the players have learned their lesson from that day but I still think it will be difficult to leave with all three points on Saturday.

Liverpool are a better team than last year and have everything to play for on Saturday. They’ll want to prove they are back in the title conversation so I’m expecting an extremely tough game. In the end, I think the two clubs will play out an entertaining 1-1 draw – which would be a decent result for Arsenal, but a very good one for Man City.

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

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