ARSENAL host Premier League leaders Liverpool in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash on Super Sunday.
The Gunners are in need of a huge win to boost their title hopes while an away victory for the Reds may catapult them into favourites to lift the trophy and give Jurgen Klopp his dream farewell.
Arsenal go into the game 3rd in the Premier League table five points behind Liverpool in 1st.
Fans can expect goals this afternoon as top-flight meetings between the two teams have produced a record 186 goals.
- Kick off time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: NOW/Sky Sports app
- Arsenal team: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
- Liverpool team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Gakpo, Diaz, Jota
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Huge opportunity for Jurgen’s Reds
Sitting five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table, albeit a difficult trip this afternoon, it presents a huge chance.
Victory today would see Liverpool move eight points clear of both Arsenal and Man City.
It would be a big statement by Klopp’s side, even more so if done in convincing fashion.
Arsenal’s starboy
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is often the man to break down stubborn defences.
With Andrew Robertson fit again, the two could have a brilliant battle down the Gunners’ right flank.
Liverpool team news
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp would have been delighted to come out of the Chelsea win with no fresh injury concerns.
But Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago (hip) and Kostas Tsmimikas (broken collarbone) all remain unavailable.
While talisman Mohamed Salah continues to nurse his hamstring strain.
Views from SunSport’s Jordan Davies at the Emirates
Arsenal face their biggest test of the season, a defining one that could make or break their title charge, and Gabriel Jesus is NOT in the squad.
The Brazilian played through a knee injury at the City Ground, scoring the opener as the Gunners beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, but it has come at a cost.
Mikel Arteta revealed post-match that Jesus had some fluid on his knee two days before the Forest clash yet the medics were fine to see him start and play for 78 minutes.
It means Kai Havertz leads the line for Arsenal for the first time in the Premier League and the third time this season in all competitions – the other occasions coming in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool on January 7 and the Community Shield in August.
Eddie Nketiah is on the bench – a decision that will leave the young Englishman questioning his own future in North London. If he does not get a start now, then when?
Elsewhere, Jorginho is in midfield to bring some control to proceedings, while Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko start at full-back having had their spat on the pitch at Forest.
Subs
- Arsenal – Ramsdale, Cedric, Walters, Kiwior, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah
- Liverpool – Adrian, Kelleher, Thiago, Nunez, Elliott, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Quansah
Liverpool XI to play Arsenal
And Darwin Nunez ISN’T in the squad for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
- Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Gakpo, Diaz, Jota
Arsenal XI to play Liverpool
Big news from the Emirates as Jesus is NOT in the squad and Havertz starts.
- Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Liverpool team news
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp would have been delighted to come out of the Chelsea win with no fresh injury concerns.
But Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago (hip) and Kostas Tsmimikas (broken collarbone) all remain unavailable.
While talisman Mohamed Salah continues to nurse his hamstring strain.
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta will be hoping that he can finally reintroduce Thomas Partey to the squad after the midfielder returned to full training last week.
But the Arsenal boss is expected to continue without Jurrien Timber (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (Asian Cup).
Gunners’ bogey team come to town
Arsenal have only won two of the last seventeen games against Liverpool.
Both of these wins came at The Emirates in July 2020 and October 2022.
The Gunners have not kept a clean sheet in any of the previous 16 top-flight meetings, conceding 44 goals in the process.
Chance for Liverpool to make statement
After their midweek mauling of Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp’s side could make it a London double in the space of seven days.
Coming away from North London with three points would put some clear daylight between the sides, opening up an eight point gap.
It would be a severe blow to Arsenal’s hopes of being in a title race this season.
Credit: Alamy Gunners still not finding clinical edge
A constant issue for Mikel Arteta’s side has been dominating games, in terms of possession, but not being able to create clear-cut goalscoring chances.
It was very much the case when Liverpool won here recently in the FA Cup.
With the visitors thriving playing counter-attacking football, they offer a very tricky proposition for Arsenal this afternoon.
Welcome to Arsenal vs Liverpool
Arsenal welcome Liverpool to The Emirates this afternoon as the two sides go head-to-head for the third time in a matter of months.
Prior to their last game, Thomas Partey made a return to full training after three months on the sidelines with a thigh problem, however he will not be available this weekend after suffering a fresh setback.
The Gunners will be without Fabio Viera and Jurrien Timber due to injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is returning from the Asian Cup after Japan were eliminated from the tournament.
Mohamed Elneny is also returning to domestic duty after Egypt were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations.
A lingering knee problem for Jesus is being carefully managed by Mikel Arteta, it is rumoured that the Brazilian is not going to be fit enough to start against Liverpool today.
Jurgen Klopp has an embarrassment of riches at the moment as many of his big names return from injury but he has players already performing well in those positions.
Liverpool will be without Waturo Endo, Mohamed Salah, Kostas Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak or Joel Matip for today’s game.
Thiago Alcantara is finally back in training for The Reds and Jurgen Klopp is optimistic about the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister who took a knock to the knee in the closing stages of the win over Chelsea.
Rumours are circulating that Darwin Nunez is a fresh doubt after sustaining a foot injury in the midweek encounter and Dominik Szoboszlai was not seen with the squad.
If this is true, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch could be given the nod as replacements.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
