Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview

Match Preview: Liverpool v Arsenal

Written by James Akrong

Odds: Liverpool – 11/5 Draw – 9/4 Arsenal – 12/5 (SkyBet)

Anfield - Kick-off: 13:30 BST

Liverpool will play host to Arsenal in a high profile game between two clubs who haven’t had the best of starts. New boss Brendan Rodgers has only picked up one solitary point from his first two games in charge of the Merseyside club, a humiliating opening day defeat to minnows West Brom and a scintillating draw against champions Manchester City. Whereas, wily old manager Arsene Wenger has picked up two points from two goalless draws against Sunderland and Stoke respectively.

The closeness of the odds suggest that this will be a very tough game to call as both sides have been underperforming in their opening games. However, Liverpool will look to benefit from a home advantage and will be on a high after their solid performance against Manchester City whilst Arsenal will have to deal with a squad that is yet to gel properly. Both clubs experienced a bad season last year with the home side finishing 7th in the league and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal just scraping 3rd place after what can only be described after a shaky start. But both teams will be giving it their all, with Brendan Rodgers looking to prove he is the right man for the job and Arsenal’s new boys Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud yet to show critics that they are indeed cut out for life in the English game. Both sets of fans will be optimistic, Arsenal fans should be happy that their team is creating so many chances, courtesy of Santi Cazorla and Liverpool fans will be happy that they have opened their scoring account for the season with last week’s goals from Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez.

The last time they met... - Podolski and Sahin before they moved to Arsenal and Liverpool

Arsenal have not had the best of times in their 99 games at Anfield, only winning 26 matches to Liverpool’s 54, and scoring only 113 goals to Liverpool’s 190. Looking at these stats it’s fair to say that the home side have a good chance of taking all of the points today, but the Gunner’s new defensive concentration may prove to be a stumbling block to this prediction.

Theo Walcott’s contract situation may keep him out of the game on today unless. Nuri Sahin could make his Liverpool debut against Arsenal, the club that he could’ve gone to instead. New signing Oussama Assaidi could also make his debut for the Reds. The possible return of José Enrique could look to strengthen Liverpool, who have been reliant on Martin Kelly whereas Arsenal can look forward to the return of Koscielny, who may be more suited to dealing with the pace of Luis Suarez than Mertesacker, and Szcezsny – if he passes a fitness test - who will provide a much more solid goalkeeping performance then third choice Vito Mannone who was the only fit keeper available for last week’s game against Stoke. Andy Carroll will definitely not be playing for Liverpool against the Gunners after he sealed a loan move to West Ham on deadline day, making his debut for the Hammers yesterday against Fulham.

Will he be fit? - Szcezsny, the number one goalie at Arsenal

Team News

Liverpool

Out: Joe Cole (hamstring), Lucas Leiva (thigh)

Chance: José Enrique (knee)

Big Blow - Liverpool's Lucas injured last week against Man City 

Arsenal

Out: Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Bacary Sagna (broken leg)

Maybe: Wojciech Szcezsny (rib), Lukasz Fabianski (back), Laurent Koscielny (calf)

Come back Jack - Arsenal miss their talented youngster 

Possible Line-Ups

Liverpool (4-3-2-1): Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson, Allen, Gerrard, Sahin,
Downing, Borini, Suarez


Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szcezny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Vermalen, Jenkinson, Diaby,
Arteta, Cazorla, Podolski, Gervinho, Giroud




Who will come out on top today at Anfield?