This weekend, Arsenal and Liverpool renew their fierce rivalry at Anfield. A battle between last season’s top two, this is one of those clashes that feels destined to have major repercussions on the 2025/26 Premier League title race.
Whoever comes out on top will feel they have landed a psychological blow in the race for glory. While both sides will look to lean on their strengths, weaknesses will be ruthlessly exploited.
Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market, signing some of Europe’s finest talent. On paper, they have assembled a super team, but is there a weakness Arsenal can exploit? Jamie Carragher may have unknowingly pointed to one..
Kerkez’s struggles highlighted
“Kerkez has made a really poor start to his Liverpool career,” Carragher said live on Sky Sports.
“He found it really difficult against Bournemouth in the first game, he was a little bit nervous. He was up against Elanga today, not easy, but this isn’t enough.”
Despite being named in the 2024/25 PFA Team of the Year, Milos Kerkez has struggled to replicate that form.
Carragher’s comments followed Liverpool’s fortunate 3–2 win over Newcastle, a match in which the former Bournemouth man was repeatedly exposed, as reported by Rousing the Kop.
None of the left-back’s long passes found their target, and he failed to deliver a single accurate cross. He also made a costly error that led to a goal, prompting Carragher’s frustration with his defensive work:
“You’ve just got to go and head the ball. He’s almost trying to stop the player. That is really, really poor. He’s not the biggest, but you’ve got to jump, you’ve got to challenge in that situation.”
Madueke vs Kerkez: The key battle
Bukayo Saka would have been the ideal player to test Kerkez on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the Arsenal star boy is currently sidelined due to injury. But Andrea Berta’s £52 million transfer masterstroke gives Mikel Arteta another option in Noni Madueke.
Arteta has hinted that, on his day, Madueke can be a real threat. And on Sunday, his duel with Kerkez could be the battle that hands Arsenal a famous win at Anfield.
Your thoughts on Sunday’s game Gooners?
Daniel O
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The legendary Henry once said of all the grounds he has been to, there is none like Anfield, he went on, ‘ that place is electric ‘
But Carragher is right, I have spot a weakness, they are not strong defensively, there is a big hole in their defense but it is plastered over by their attacks.
If ever there is a time Arsenal is going to Anfield without fear it will be this weekend
Whatever Arsenal’s chances are, one thing is certain, Liverpool didn’t need to remove any plastic covering from the players tunnel to make the atmosphere more intimidating for visiting teams.
They may want to once the Arsenal gets done with them, lol.
Bertie,
Talking of the plastic covering, am I imagining it, or does Arteta his staff and the players sit in the left dugout now.
Watching the Leeds game, I’m sure I wasn’t seeing things. But can you confirm or deny my observation. 🤷♂️ Or anyone else for that matter. 👍
Derek
My starter for ten. I think you’re right. I’ve just looked at a short video of the match highlights and although there isn’t a lot of coverage of the two benches, it certainly seems Arteta, staff and players are in the left-hand dugout.
Thank you Bertie,
So I’m not going mad then. Well no madder than normal anyway. 😂👍
Arsenal are going to punch holes in the Liverpool defence. We know Van Dijk is slow on the turn and match Goykeres even on a straight. Their MF at the moment can’t match Arsenal’s technically and Zubimendi, Rice, Eze and Nwaneri should dominate possession. Salah is going to need special attention, double marking by the flank.
Just wish we had our full complement of attacking players with Saka and Havertz.
But, come on, let our new signings prove themselves
If you want to be the best then you may have to beat the best, simple!
Mageldou,
I nearly broke into the record breakers theme tune there. Anyone else tempted to do the same.😂
Eze should start over Martinelli he has that X factor and Nwaneri at the 10 role Noni for Saka initially with Dowman coming in at 60 minutes when legs start to get heavy !
Timber and Miles are shoe in starters to match up with Salah and Gapko plus the new Liverpool #9 is special but so are our 2 Center Backs so I’m thinking It could be a big night where Alison will have to be a super hero to keep Arsenal from overcoming Liverpool. and remember most of the losses recently have had the Trent Alexander assists involved and they don’t have that now!
I hope Pool will not do eze esque,i.e.,presenting Isak on Sunday. Leeds manager complained about Arsenal doing so with Eze before their match which agitated the Emirates fan. Also Guehi. Not jealousy but I wish for those two not to happen. Also for Frimpong not to return. We’ve suffered injuries so be with them. Last season they benefited from Arsenal injuries and that suffices. I wish to see Szbo v Martinelli. Is Szbo that good to contain the pacy Martinelli?
Well a lot will have to happen in two days for that to happen. And it doesn’t look good at the moment for them.
When Pool were in their heyday under Klopp, they used to beat Arsenal for fun at Emirates. If we want the title let’s do that at Anfield. This is our heyday. We shouldn’t be scavengers later waiting for other teams to beat Pool. Let us do it by ourselves! Yes we can thanks primarily to Kroenkes! On the pitch ….
If truth be told almost every Liverpool coach for quite a while beat Arsenal at Anfield (if not always for fun). No one of the “happy” hunting grounds generally.
So if not now, NEVER and EVER!
I’m a Liverpool fan, but Arsenal has a better chance of winning at Anfield this weekend. We have struggled in the last two games, primarily because of the midfield and the left flank. Arsenal has a strong squad now.