Liverpool v Arsenal Sunday 21st Dec 16.00 Anfield
After suffering defeat at the hands of arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday, further pressure was mounted onto the shoulders of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. This was followed on Wednesday with what appeared a tricky quarter-final tie away to high flying Championship side Bournemouth in the League Cup. The Reds comfortably won 3-1 making their way into the Semi-finals to face Chelsea.
This weekend Liverpool meet an Arsenal side who are experiencing an inconsistent run of form. The North London club has won three of their last six league matches but have lost the other three. However, the stats for each of the two sides over the first 16 games of the season weigh heavily in Arsenal’s favour.
Opta powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com have collated the data and the Gunners come out on top in all eight of the major criteria despite only leading the Reds by five points in the Premier League table. As a major importance to their style of play it is no surprise that Arsenal control almost 5% more of their games in possession. This would explain their added dominance in passing with an average of 75 more passes made per game, yet Arsenal only edge Liverpool for actual pass completion by just 1%.
In the final third of the pitch Arsenal excel further with more chances created, shots, accuracy and goals scored. Defensively, Arsenal have conceded three fewer goals than Liverpool.
It has been reported that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ‘almost certain’ to be passed fit to take on Liverpool, he was previously a doubt after aggravating a groin injury. The Reds are likely to be without right-back Glen Johnson after he suffered a groin injury of his own in the defeat to Manchester United.
Last season the sides met three times with Arsenal winning the league and FA Cup meetings at The Emirate’s Stadium and Liverpool coming out on top at Anfield 5-1.
This season’s stats suggest that Arsenal will start as the strong favourites, on paper at least.
I dont want a victory, i want revenge.
And revenge comes in the form of a victory. So you want a victory
When the teams take the field
statistics mean very little.
What happens on the day counts.
This game could go any which way.
If we play back 4
bellerin. Debuchy. Mert. Gibbs
I think bellerin is good but i think with anfield away there movement is okay considering the pace of sterling and coutinho. So i think you should play.
Chambers. Debuchy. Mert. Gibbs
Or
Debuchy. Chambers. Mert. Gibbs.
Some people might not like the third one because how chambers played cb awag to stoke and the help from mert was not really there.
I would go for the second back line. Kl?
OT:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXIS SANCHEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 26 today
May you continue to grow in good health, good form and please celebrate your birthday with a hatrick and 2 assists at Pool.
And a pirlo penalty just like santi
I’d give Podolski a start. He’s got a good record against Liverpool, doesn’t he?
As always, it depends on which Liverpool team and which Arsenal team turns up!
It is a shame that Balotelli is suspended as he has been rubbish so far. Also a shame that the keeper has been dropped too as he cost them the game against Man U.
That’s why statistics can paint a completely different picture to reality. They should have beaten Man U easily but were unlucky in attack and rubbish in defence.
This game could go either way, big time!
Balotelli is suspended? I didnt know that, how come?
Confident of a win. Will feel very disappointed with a loss ofcourse, but also very let down – this isn’t a game we ‘can’ win, it’s a game we ‘should’ win.
It is a game we must win!
13 points behind 1st place, GD 14 points behind 1st.
Spurs could leapfrog us with a win for them and loss for us.
West Ham should beat Leicester.
Southampton have Shinderlin back and have a good chance.
This is completely unacceptable for Arsenal to be in 6th place and so far off the leaders with teams above us looking set to consolidate leads.
Tell me again how much Southampton’s team cost or their club is worth…
Why do you want to mention how much the Southampton team cost? You want to use the “money spent” argument?? As at the end of last season Arsenal were 18th in PL league table showing net spend for the five years previous. Southampton were 7th.
it doesn’t matter who owns the aces..what matters is who owns the 3 points come sunday night