The festive football keeps on coming as the Gunners travel to Anfield for the first time under Unai Emery, off the back of a disappointing draw with Brighton on Boxing Day. Having a seen his side play fairly well in recent big games but equally disappoint in the smaller games, Emery will be hoping his players are well up for it again when they take on the league leaders this evening.
Arsenal
Form: W W L L W D
League Position: 5th
Goals Scored: 58
Goals Conceded: 31
Liverpool
Form: W W W W W W
League Position: 1st
Goals Scored: 53
Goals Conceded: 16
Shkodran Mustafi looks to be fit enough to return to first team action, whilst question marks remain over Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac. Captain Laurent Koscielny is also rated 50/50 with two appearances in three days potentially too much now. With Maitland-Niles and Lichtsteiner as deputies in defence, there are still options but Mustafi's fitness is likely to hold the key to Emery's starting shape. Hector Bellerin is also in contention following a calf strain as he is being assessed ahead of the game.
In midfield, rumours are that Mesut Ozil hasn't been seen travelling to Liverpool with the squad. Ramsey entered the fray late on at Brighton, and the creative baton is likely to fall to him should Ozil miss out. However, both were pretty average earlier this week and failed to leave their mark on the South coast. With Mkhitaryan also out, Iwobi could also feature again which could also mean Lacazette and Aubameyang starting together again. The link up is there as is the desire but we are yet to see any real results from the two as a partnership.
The hosts will again be without Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and James Milner. Former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a long term abesentee also, whilst fellow midfielders Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson and Shaqiri will be fighting it out for Klopp's starting spots. Dangerman Mo Salah has been cleared of any simulation last time out and is fully available to play. Fellow forwards Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino both remain huge threats to Arsenal's back line. The Gunners' full backs or wing backs will certainly have their hands full. Liverpool's pacey and dynamic style of play will threaten throughout the game and based on results of late, Emery's men will need to score at least twice to get anything from the game.
Liverpool at the Emirates was a totally different affair and although Arsenal were the better team then, and derserved all three points, Liverpool were never just going to hand it over. A dogged but tactful 1-1 there, would be ideal again. But with Liverpool's attack on their own turf, it will be a completely different game.
GK: Bernd Leno
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Laurent Koscielny
CB: Sokratis
RWB: Stephan Lichtsteiner
CDM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Aaron Ramsey
LWB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
ST: Alex Lacazette
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-2
@craigbennett10
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