THE DETAILS
Venue – Anfield, Liverpool
Referee – Anthony Taylor
Date & Time – Saturday, August 24th @ 17:30
Current Odds – Liverpool 9/20, Draw 4/1, Arsenal 19/4
Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield in the evening game this Saturday as the only remaining sides with 100% records in this season’s Premier League go head-to-head.
With 30 goals in the last six meetings between these two at Anfield, it’s likely to be another eventful night under the lights on Merseyside.
FORM
Liverpool Form
Liverpool have struggled through a gruelling opening period to their 2019/20 campaign. Yet, they’ve managed to win their opening two league games as well as bringing home the UEFA Super Cup trophy from Istanbul after beating Chelsea on penalties.
Much like in the early stages of last season, Liverpool are doing enough to win their games, just about.
If they can continue that trend on Saturday evening then Reds fans everywhere will be delighted as the first international break of the season quickly approaches (after the Burnley game).
Arsenal Form
Unai Emery’s side has started its season in solid fashion. A 1-0 win at Newcastle on the opening weekend was followed up by a 2-1 home win over Burnley last time out.
Arsenal haven’t won a league game at Anfield since 2012 but this side, with Dani Ceballos already looking the part and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already in-form, will certainly give Jurgen Klopp’s team plenty to think about this Saturday.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool Team News
Nathaniel Clyne is Liverpool’s only current long-term injury absentee. The right-back suffered an ACL injury over the summer and is not due back until February at the earliest.
Alisson is also missing through injury and it’s still unclear just how long is calf issue is likely to keep him out for.
Naby Keita is unavailable having suffered an injury training for the UEFA Super Cup match in Turkey last week.
Jurgen Klopp will stick with Adrian in goals while Joel Matip will probably keep his place in central defence, alongside Virgil van Dijk.
In midfield, I think Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will return to the starting lineup, with Gini Wijnaldum making up the midfield trio.
It should be full strength for The Reds in attack with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané all fit to start.
Arsenal Team News
Hector Bellerin and Konstantinos Mavropanos are both ruled out while Kieran Tierney is not fit enough yet to make his debut for Arsenal after signing from Celtic.
Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Rob Holding are all doubts for The Gunners.
Dani Ceballos will be the main playmaker to watch in the centre for Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should start as the out-and-out striker in place of Alexandre Lacazette.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1) – Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Ceballos, Nelson; Aubameyang
WHEN THEY LAST MET
Last December, Liverpool beat Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield on a day when Roberto Firmino turned on the afterburners and left The Gunners for dead with a hat-trick. Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah also scored for The Reds as they overturned Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ early strike to hammer Arsenal.
PREDICTION
Liverpool 3 – 2 Arsenal
It should be a case of goals galore again on Saturday with both sides in top form and neither defence looking anything resembling rock-solid thus far.
I would back Roberto Firmino to score again to continue his impressive scoring record against Unai Emery’s side (8 goals in 8 games since he arrived at Liverpool).
