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Premier league: Arsenal vs. Liverpool: When third-place Arsenal plays Liverpool for the third time in two months, all eyes will be on the Emirates for what looks to be an exciting Premier League match on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams strengthened their title chances in midweek, with the Gunners defeating Nottingham Forest 2-1 and Jurgen Klopp’s ruthless crop crushing Chelsea 4-1.
During Tuesday’s match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, where they had lost their previous three meetings, Arsenal temporarily reverted to their old attacking ways as Mikel Arteta’s team struggled for more than an hour against a compact Reds defence.
But two mistakes eventually undid Forest’s hard work in defence. First, former Gunners goalkeeper Matt Turner let a Gabriel Jesus strike squirm through his legs at his near post, and then World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel carelessly gave away the ball and was unable to stop Bukayo Saka from finishing off the counterattack.
After crushing Crystal Palace 5-0 when they returned from the Dubai sun, the yellow-clad Arsenal held on to record their second straight Premier League victory since a much-needed winter vacation. The bulldozing Taiwo Awoniyi did set up a suspenseful end.
After Arsenal’s incredible victory, the Gunners briefly moved up to the silver medal position in the table. However, Manchester City, who are only ahead on goal difference but have a game in hand, have since moved up to third place, and Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are still riding high on the heels of last year’s runners-up.
With six victories from their previous seven top-flight games at the Emirates Stadium (a 2-0 loss to West Ham United being the lone exception), vengeance will be the featured dish on the North London menu this weekend as Arteta’s team looks to exact revenge for an identical FA Cup loss to their Merseyside rivals.
Liverpool has started their legendary manager’s farewell parade with a customary glut of Anfield goals, putting five past Norwich City in the FA Cup before outclassing, outfighting, and outwitting Chelsea on Wednesday night.
This is Liverpool’s first road trip since Jurgen Klopp‘s unexpected departure announcement.
Conor Bradley put on an incredible show, scoring his first senior goal for the Reds and setting up goals for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai. Bradley became the youngest Liverpool player to set up multiple goals in a Premier League match in five years. Luis Diaz also participated in the Anfield act.
Chelsea did have a chance thanks to Christopher Nkunku’s well-executed finish, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team was clearly second best the entire game and could have had an even worse goal differential had Darwin Nunez not struck the woodwork an incredible four times. Chelsea had every right to feel hard done by after having two strong penalty calls waved away.
In the end, the Uruguayan’s unfavourable record didn’t really matter. Liverpool, who have won their last eight games across all competitions, will lead Arsenal by eight points if they triumph at the Emirates, where they have the potential to seriously undermine the Gunners’ title hopes.
Only a few weeks ago, Klopp orchestrated an incredible 2-0 FA Cup victory on Arsenal’s home field—a match in which Arteta’s team was left to lament a plethora of wasted opportunities.
However, by emerging from Anfield with a point in a 1-1 December draw, the Gunners made it three Premier League games without a loss against the Reds ahead of Sunday’s historic 200th league encounter.
Read More: Kobbie Mainoo’s Heroics in Manchester United’s Thrilling Win Against Wolves
Arsenal Premier League form:
W D L L W W
Arsenal form (all competitions):
D L L L W W
Liverpool Premier League form:
D D W W W W
Liverpool form (all competitions):
W W W D W W
Prior to Arsenal’s success at the City Ground, Thomas Partey made a return to full training after three months on the sidelines with a thigh problem, but he did not come into contention for the win over Forest and will only be considered for a place on the bench if Arteta deems him match-ready this time around.
Although Takehiro Tomiyasu is still pushing Japan for Asian Cup gold, Fabio Vieira (groyne) and Jurrien Timber (ACL) are still recovering, and Mohamed Elneny is scheduled to return to domestic duty after Egypt’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jesus is still being monitored closely due to a persistent knee issue, but there is no indication that the Brazilian will not be able to start against Liverpool. Emile Smith Rowe, Kai Havertz, and Jorginho are Arteta’s options in midfield after the latter was given an unexpected start at the City Ground.
But Trent Alexander-Arnold’s experience and fresh legs may force the Northern Irishman to settle for a spot on the Emirates bench. Arteta’s midfield dilemma is nothing compared to Jurgen Klopp’s right-back dilemma, as Bradley supported the Germans choice to start him over the midweek.
Klopp is hopeful that Alexis Mac Allister, who suffered a knock to the knee in the final moments of the victory over Chelsea, will be fit despite the absence of Wataru Endo (international), Mohamed Salah (muscle), Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), and Thiago Alcantara (hip).
An undisturbed engine room and offensive trident should be used in North London, but Klopp also has to make the intriguing decision of whether to stick with Joe Gomez or elevate Andrew Robertson back to the first XI.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
Our prediction for this match 2-1 won by Liverpool
