The State of Play
Following Liverpool’s impressive five-goal victory over West Ham in the EFL Cup quarter-finals earlier this week, Jurgen Klopp urged fans to generate a lively atmosphere at Anfield for Saturday evening’s showdown against Arsenal. The winner of this pivotal match will secure the top spot in the Premier League heading into Christmas.
Liverpool have experienced only one defeat in the Premier League this season, a contentious loss to Tottenham Hotspur in September. While their performances have occasionally lacked the conviction seen in their recent peak years, the Reds maintain their reputation as a formidable attacking force.
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Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal aim to lead the Premier League standings heading into the Christmas break. After a convincing 2-0 victory over Brighton last weekend, the Gunners reclaimed the top position from Liverpool. This triumph followed a setback against Aston Villa a couple of weeks earlier.
In their recent UEFA Champions League group stage finale, Arsenal, with a rotated squad, settled for a 1-1 draw against PSV. While they may not have consistently matched last season’s performance standards, there is a noticeable maturity in their play. Returning to Anfield for the first time since surrendering a two-goal lead in April, the Gunners will look to impose themselves in a difficult environment.
Team News
Liverpool have faced a considerable number of defensive injuries this season, with Joel Matip and Andrew Robertson enduring prolonged absences. Adding to the list, Pep Lijnders revealed earlier this week that Scottish attacker Ben Doak will also be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
While Diogo Jota’s recovery is going well, it remains uncertain whether he will participate in the upcoming clash against fellow title contenders Arsenal. On a more optimistic note, Ryan Gravenberch is expected to be available for selection.
Mikel Arteta has grappled with defensive injuries at Arsenal this season, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber sidelined for an extended period in that position. However, there are no recent updates on the defensive front.
In fact, the overall injury situation at Arsenal remains unchanged, with the absentees for the Anfield fixture comprising pre-existing injuries. The midfield quartet of Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Fabio Vieira continue to be unavailable for selection.
Expected Line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
What they Said
Jurgen Klopp on the Anfield atmosphere:
“I love it to bits. I am overly happy with everything. What I said is we need Anfield tomorrow and that’s 100% true. I can’t wait for the first whistle.”
Jürgen Klopp expects Ryan Gravenberch to be available for Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Saturday evening. ????️#LIVARS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 22, 2023
Mikel Arteta on what it would mean to be top of the league at Christmas:
“It’s always great to be in the highest position and we will try to maintain that, but we have to be intelligent to manage the game.”
When and How to Watch
Liverpool vs Arsenal will be televised live on Sky Sports, and can be streamed live on Sky Go.
Prediction
These two delivered an enthralling match in April as Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead, initiating a series of events that dashed their title aspirations. Although Liverpool were held to a goalless draw last weekend, the prospect of consecutive home matches without scoring seems improbable, especially following Klopp’s impassioned plea to the supporters. Arsenal, however, will believe in their ability to the Reds’ leaky defence. As a result, another entertaining encounter is anticipated, with Liverpool edging a match in which both teams score.
