The league's only two 100% records are on the line at Anfield as the top two battle it out for early supremacy. With both teams having won two from two, someone's (or maybe even both) perfect record ends here.
The Gunners head into this one with all short term injured players back in contention as Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka returned to full training this week. The (presumed soon to be announced as club captain) Xhaka has only missed a game so could return quite easily to Unai Emery's squad and maybe even the starting XI. Ozil on the other hand is yet to feature this season, for various reasons, so is likely to start this one from the bench at best.
The Head Coach has been speaking this week about record signing Nicolas Pepe and his readiness for more minutes. His transition to the Premier League so far looks to be seamless and is clearly chomping at the bit for more action. So could we finally see our three deadly forwards start in tandem?
History tells us that regardless of personnel, shape and form, our scouse hosts with score. They score for fun, especially at home so to come away with anything tomorrow, Arsenal are going to have to score or most likely outscore Liverpool. A clean sheet is so unlikely that efforts should be pumped into creating and scoring goals rather than trying to keep them out.
With whispers still surrounding Mustafi and Elneny departures, both are unlikely to be involved, as with longer term absentees Bellerin, Holding, Mavropanos and new recruit Tierney. Should Xhaka return however, Emery has a big decision to make regarding his midfield engine room. Does he go with experience? Can he drop Guendouzi after doing very little wrong? We have no one like Torreira, surely he plays? Is there any real reason to drop young Joe Willock who's been great so far? There are some real questions that need addressing with the only certainty right now being the in form Dani Ceballos. The young Spaniard has to play, regardless of anything else.
Liverpool welcome the Gunners having carried on from where they left off last season; winning football games. By hook or by crook, they bag goals and get results but without the very reliable Alisson between the sticks, is there a sniff for Arsenal tomorrow? Although their defence will be as solid as ever on paper, the absence of a world class goalkeeper could be the opening Arsenal need. Alongside Alisson, midfielder Naby Keita remains unavailable through injury whilst captain Henderson and Fabinho are likely to come back into the side.
This fixture is the most scored game in Premier League history and I expect this to continue tomorrow. With 155 goals in 54 games, Liverpool v Arsenal is a shoe-in for goals and action. Let's hope it goes the Gunners' way tomorrow but above anything else, Emery's need to work hard and put a shift in. Fans can accept a tight loss or a tough draw if their boys have put the leg work in. So often in these big games, away from home, we get caught like a rabbit in headlights - this cannot happen again. To take big steps, Arsenal need to show they are still a big club and put up a fight and battle for a performance in games like these. Over to you Emery and co...
Expected Lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: A hard fought 2-2 draw.
@craigbennett10
The Gunners head into this one with all short term injured players back in contention as Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka returned to full training this week. The (presumed soon to be announced as club captain) Xhaka has only missed a game so could return quite easily to Unai Emery's squad and maybe even the starting XI. Ozil on the other hand is yet to feature this season, for various reasons, so is likely to start this one from the bench at best.
The Head Coach has been speaking this week about record signing Nicolas Pepe and his readiness for more minutes. His transition to the Premier League so far looks to be seamless and is clearly chomping at the bit for more action. So could we finally see our three deadly forwards start in tandem?
History tells us that regardless of personnel, shape and form, our scouse hosts with score. They score for fun, especially at home so to come away with anything tomorrow, Arsenal are going to have to score or most likely outscore Liverpool. A clean sheet is so unlikely that efforts should be pumped into creating and scoring goals rather than trying to keep them out.
With whispers still surrounding Mustafi and Elneny departures, both are unlikely to be involved, as with longer term absentees Bellerin, Holding, Mavropanos and new recruit Tierney. Should Xhaka return however, Emery has a big decision to make regarding his midfield engine room. Does he go with experience? Can he drop Guendouzi after doing very little wrong? We have no one like Torreira, surely he plays? Is there any real reason to drop young Joe Willock who's been great so far? There are some real questions that need addressing with the only certainty right now being the in form Dani Ceballos. The young Spaniard has to play, regardless of anything else.
Liverpool welcome the Gunners having carried on from where they left off last season; winning football games. By hook or by crook, they bag goals and get results but without the very reliable Alisson between the sticks, is there a sniff for Arsenal tomorrow? Although their defence will be as solid as ever on paper, the absence of a world class goalkeeper could be the opening Arsenal need. Alongside Alisson, midfielder Naby Keita remains unavailable through injury whilst captain Henderson and Fabinho are likely to come back into the side.
This fixture is the most scored game in Premier League history and I expect this to continue tomorrow. With 155 goals in 54 games, Liverpool v Arsenal is a shoe-in for goals and action. Let's hope it goes the Gunners' way tomorrow but above anything else, Emery's need to work hard and put a shift in. Fans can accept a tight loss or a tough draw if their boys have put the leg work in. So often in these big games, away from home, we get caught like a rabbit in headlights - this cannot happen again. To take big steps, Arsenal need to show they are still a big club and put up a fight and battle for a performance in games like these. Over to you Emery and co...
Expected Lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: A hard fought 2-2 draw.
@craigbennett10
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