Arsenal will take on Liverpool later today in a game that has the potential to be season defining for both sides. The pair will likely be the closest challengers for the Premier League title again this season and following what happened last season, Arsenal will want to lay down an early marker in the title race. Both sides head into the encounter off the back of consecutive wins in the league.
The Gunners started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United before dismantling Leeds United 5-0. While Arsenal are yet to concede a single goal, Liverpool have shipped four goals in their opening two games despite winning on both occasions. Arsenal are winless at Anfield since 2012, but will take encouragement from their recent unbeaten four game run in all competitions which all ended in draws.
Kick off: 4:30 PM (UK time)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Competition: Premier League – Round 3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Team news
Arsenal find themselves in a relatively familiar position this season. Injuries have been a recurring theme again and during his pre match presser, Mikel Arteta gave updates on the fitness of a number of players. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard picked up respective injuries against Leeds United. On the former, Mikel confirmed he will be out for a “few weeks” due to a hamstring injury, while Martin Ødegaard faces a race against time to be fit for the encounter.
Kai Havertz underwent a small procedure on his knee and will be out for a few weeks or months, while Ben White and Christian Nørgaard remain injury worries ahead of the encounter.
Predicted lineup
The absence of Bukayo Saka almost certainly guarantees a place for Noni Madueke in the starting eleven, but the involvement of another Arsenal new boy remains a doubt. More specifically, Eberechi Eze will likely feature against the Reds in some capacity, but in which position?
Due to the fitness of Martin Ødegaard, I expect the England international to start the game in his preferred number ten role. With that said, here is my full predicted lineup:
David Raya
Riccardo Calafiori
Gabriel (c)
William Saliba
Jurrien Timber
Martin Zubimendi
Declan Rice
Eberechi Eze
Gabriel Martinelli
Viktor Gyökeres
Noni Madueke
Score prediction: 1-1
Benjamin Kenneth
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Arsenal is Winning this One. Liverpool don’t have the defense to draw Arsenal this time.
Arsenal will win today because they are in the ascendancey.
—-‘——————Raya
—Timber—-Saliba—-Maghalse—–Calafiori
———-Zubmindi—–Eze——Rice
———-Madueke—Gyokers—Martinelli
This got to be the line up, Calafiori loves these away big games, Martineli has to start to keep the champions high press in check.
That line up looks about right
If Ode hasn’t had any training this week then surely common sense says he starts on the bench if fit.
Eze would be raring to go anyway though only thing is I don’t know what he is like tracking back which Ode does well
Yes he tracks back well, that’s part of his style
It pains me when we don’t have all our best and complete players for big matches like this but it’s a test of the quality of our squad depth.
I think Arteta will go for this your line up that you’ve predicted.
Gyokeres.
Martinelli. Eze. Madueke.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Don’t think Eze will start, more likely Merino. I hope though that he starts Nwaneri, he looked good once he came in the last game.
I prefer this line up –
Gyokeres.
Eze. Nwaneri. Madueke.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
I fear because of opposition he might go Merino you know instead of Odegarrd
Will be interesting to see what line up Arteta pulls up for the game! Should he choose Eze from the onset? Does he go for Nwaneri or Risk half fit Odegaard!!?
Martinelli gyokeres madueke
Rice zubbimendi eze
CalaFiori Gabriel saliba timber
O O O
O O O
O O O O
Multiple potentially very effective choices all over the pitch – What a wonderful thing!
Front three of Eze, Gyokeres, Mdueke, BOOM.