Liverpool-Arsenal is a match valid for the 30th day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 17:30: TV, predictions.
The final rush has begun. Yes, there are still ten days to go until the end of the Premier League but it is time to start making the first calculations. The fight for the title, it is now established, is between Arsenal and Manchester City. The Gunners, who have been able to concentrate exclusively on the league for a few weeks now, having dropped out of all the cups, continue to be (slight) favourites over the reigning English champions.
And it couldn’t be any other way: the current standings see them at a comforting +8 over Pep Guardiola’s team, who still have a game to make up. This, however, has the makings of a crucial day for the fate of the tournament. The Londoners will take to the pitch one day after the match between bottom-of-the-table Southampton and Manchester City, which should, in theory, be little more than a formality for Haaland and his team-mates. Arsenal, on the other hand, are on the scene at Anfield Road, against a Liverpool team that is decidedly less competitive than in recent seasons and that seriously risks missing out on qualification for the next Champions League. But the Reds are still the Reds and Anfield is still Anfield. For Mikel Arteta’s line-up, which has won the league uninterruptedly since February – the last defeat came against City – it is perhaps one of the most complicated exams between now and 28 May. As well, of course, as the third direct clash of the season against the Citizens at Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal haven’t eviscerated Anfield for nine games
Arsenal have won seven Premier League games in a row and in their last two home matches they have beaten both Crystal Palace and Leeds by the same scoreline (4-1). Arteta has just got Gabriel Jesus back – the Brazilian returned with a brace after a long lay-off – the missing piece to a sensational team, which has not scored fewer than three goals per game for five rounds.
Klopp and Nunez
An impressive continuity that is what Liverpool, too inconsistent in terms of both performance and results, have lacked so far. In the last seven days Salah and his teammates have played two big matches: in the first one they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester City in a match with no history; in the second, the midweek recovery, they respected the ‘tradition’ of draws with Chelsea, returning with a 0-0 from London. A draw that did not help either side: the Reds are eighth, with 10 points to make up on fourth place, currently occupied by Newcastle. In order to try to trip Arsenal, they will count on the Anfield factor. Only three teams (Arsenal, City and United) have done better than Liverpool at home. Suffice it to say that in the past few months, out of 18 available points, Klopp and his men have taken home sixteen. Anfield, then, is almost a taboo for Arsenal, who have never won in their last nine away matches in the port city. Compared to the London game, Gakpo, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson should be back, while Luis Diaz, Bajcetic, Ramsay and Keita will be out. On the other side Arteta recovers Saka, who with Odegaard and Martinelli will support Gabriel Jesus. Saliba out in defence.
The prediction
Liverpool are in disarray, providing few guarantees, but at Anfield Klopp’s men have a different pace and this is a fact that cannot be overlooked. It is a match open to any kind of result, full of pitfalls for Arsenal, who will have to make almost no mistakes to return to London with the three points in their pocket. There should be no shortage of goals in any case, bearing in mind that the Gunners are scoring with impressive continuity.
Liverpool-Arsenal matchday squad
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin Nunez.
- ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-3
