Arsenal-Liverpool is a match of the twenty-third day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
The challenge that arouses the most interest this weekend is undoubtedly the top clash between Arsenal and Liverpool, two of the main candidates for the title along with Manchester City. We can’t call it decisive, being only in February, but certainly an eventual victory for the Reds would send Jurgen Klopp’s men on the run. More importantly, it would make the Gunners, currently third in the standings, slip to -7.
Mikel Arteta wants a rematch of the FA Cup match, staged last Jan. 7, again at the Emirates Stadium and ended 2-0 for Liverpool, unleashed in the last minutes: after unblocking the game with an own goal by former spezzino Kiwior, van Dijk and his teammates doubled through Luis Diaz, ousting the Londoners from the second most important national competition. Arsenal, however, reacted as best they could to that defeat and more generally to the negative period experienced between mid-December and early January. In the last two days the Gunners beat Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, smashing five goals off the Eagles (5-0) and folding the Tricky Trees 2-1 at the City Ground. In doing so, Arteta’s men have revived their title ambitions even if the real litmus test is the one with the leaders.
Liverpool unbeaten since September
Liverpool, on the other hand, is no longer standing still, able to do without even its best player, Momo Salah, who returned injured from the African Cup of Nations. The Egyptian will have it for a while yet.
Despite absences, Klopp’s battleship continues to grind out victories: it was all too easy this week with Chelsea, scrambled 4-1 at Anfield Road. No Salah, no problem: dragging the Reds, unbeaten in the league since September, was Conor Bradley, class of ’03, author of another great performance and already ready to contend for Alexander-Arnold’s place on the right lane. Against Arsenal, Klopp will also have to do without striker Nunez, who was injured in the challenge with the Blues. As for the Londoners, however, the alarm about the forfeit of Gabriel Jesus, who is struggling with a knee problem, seems to have subsided.
The prediction
The farewell announced by Klopp-the German coach will leave Liverpool in the summer-does not seem to have had any negative effects on the Reds, who also shined against Chelsea. The feeling is that we will witness a very hard-fought match like the one in the FA Cup, but this time Arsenal, which certainly deserved more in that match, should manage to score at least one goal. A draw is not to be ruled out.
The probable lineups of Arsenal-Liverpool
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Diogo Jota, Gakpo, Luis Diaz.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
