Arsenal vs Liverpool preview, how to watch, team news and predicted score

• Tweet
• Pin It

Arsenal will be looking to get back to winning ways when we take on Liverpool in the 4th round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

It’s been a painful week for Arsenal as we’ve seen our Premier League title push derailed by two shocking results. We sat top of the table on Christmas Day after a more than credible 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on December 23rd. It looked like we were primed to head into the New Year in terrific shape with very winnable games against West Ham and Fulham up next.

However, despite creating over 30 shots, Arsenal slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat to West Ham at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday night. Mikel Arteta rued our lack of cutting edge after the game as we did more than enough to win the game. Arsenal were aiming to bounce back when we travelled to Craven Cottage on New Year’s Eve and got off to a flying start when Bukayo Saka gave us an early lead. However, we crumbled and slipped to a second consecutive defeat after Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid either side of half-time.

While we were unfortunate to lose against West Ham, we can have little to complain about from the Fulham defeat. We were extremely poor throughout the game and it was arguably our worst performance of the season. The back-to-back defeats have left Arsenal sitting fourth in the table and five points adrift of leaders Liverpool, so we have a lot of work to do to get back in the mix for the title.

Arteta will be desperate to get our campaign back on track and put together a good run in the FA Cup. However, we’ve been handed a nightmare draw after being pitted against league leaders Liverpool. The good news is the game will be played at the Emirates Stadium, but it’s still going to be an extremely difficult match.

I’ve seen some Arsenal fans suggest that it could be a blessing in disguise if we went out. We don’t have a deep enough squad to compete in three competitions, so I understand the idea that we could do without more games. However, I’m sure Arteta will disagree as he won’t want us to suffer a third consecutive loss, so I expect us to go all out this weekend.

Liverpool head into the game off the back of a 4-2 win over Newcastle that maintained their advantage at the top of the table having previously won at Burnley on Boxing Day. They’ve won both their games since the draw with Arsenal last month so they come into the match in good form.

How to watch

The game is free to air as it will be broadcast live on the BBC at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Match going supporters can buy Arsenal vs Liverpool tickets through the usual club channels but this match is almost certainly going to be sold out. Therefore, fans may need to use trusted reseller sites such as seatsnet.com to get hold of a ticket.

Team news

Arsenal still have plenty of injury concerns to worry about. Thomas Partey has been left out of the Ghana squad for the AFCON as he’s still not fully fit. The midfielder is working his way back to fitness from a serious hamstring injury but he’s not ready just yet so won’t be in contention to face Liverpool.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is edging closer to making his comeback from a calf problem that’s hampered him in recent weeks. The defender is back in training but he is expected to head off to the Asian Cup with Japan so won’t be available this weekend.

Oleksandr Zinchenko missed the defeat to Fulham with a calf issue and he remains a doubt to face Liverpool. The Ukrainian international will be assessed ahead of the game but Arteta is unlikely to take any risks.

Fabio Vieira is still missing as he’s recovering from groin surgery while Jurrien Timber is also working his way back from a serious ACL injury that he suffered on the opening weekend of the season.

Mohamed Elneny will be another absentee for Arsenal as he’s off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.

As for Liverpool, they have a number of players missing for the trip to North London. They’ll be without talisman Mohamed Salah as he’s also part of the Egypt squad while Wataru Endo is off to the Asian Cup with Japan.

Joel Matip is out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury while Andrew Robertson is still recovering from a shoulder injury that’s kept him on the sidelines for the past two months.

Kostas Tsimikas is also ruled out with a shoulder problem that he sustained in the league game against Arsenal. Thiago Alcantara is still working his way back from a troublesome groin injury, and Dominik Szoboszlai is struggling with a thigh issue.

Likely line-up

I think Arteta is going to name a strong side as we won’t have another game until January 20th but we should still see some changes. Aaron Ramsdale will hope to be recalled in the cup with David Raya making way.

We’re unlikely to see any changes in defence if Zinchenko is out so Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jacub Kiwior should all start.

Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard should keep their places in midfield. If Arteta wants to freshen things up, Jorginho and Emile Smith Rowe are options but I expect Kai Havertz to start once again.

Bukayo Saka should keep his place but we may see changes in attack with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard coming in for Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Jesus

Predicted score

It was an intense game at Anfield two weeks ago and this promises to be another interesting match-up. Arsenal will have to play a lot better than we did at Fulham if we want to beat Liverpool but I’m expecting a response from the players on Sunday.

Arteta will want to make a statement against our title rivals and it would be a psychological boost if we were to win this weekend. Obviously Liverpool are a top side and this should be another close game. However, I hope home advantage will be the difference and we edge it. Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

• Tweet
• Pin It