Match Preview: Arsenal vs Liverpool

Written by Jacob Burt

For the third time in 2024, we face Liverpool as we aim to recover from our disheartening performance by the sea.

The unbeaten start to the season ended after 8 games following our defeat at Bournemouth. This was followed by a slightly unconvincing 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek but may be just the refresher we needed ahead of our crunch match against Liverpool.

Arne Slot's men have taken maximum points in every game bar one. This came after a surprising home defeat to Nottingham Forest. The reigning Carabao Cup holders will be looking to provide a statement to the rest of the league as they look to record their second-best-ever start to a Premier League season after nine games. Nevertheless, the reds face their toughest away test so far at the Emirates on Sunday.

Stubborn Reds

Liverpool have only conceded 3 goals in the Premier League so far this season, making them the toughest team to score against. Arsenal, who have been known for their mean defence in recent years, have conceded five more goals in the same amount of games. This clearly highlights the extremely impressive start Arne Slot has made to his Liverpool reign.

Liverpool will head to North London with a spring in their step having won their opening six away games across all competitions, which makes them just the seventh top-flight side to do so. Slot continues to send Merseyside records tumbling since replacing the mammoth shoes of Jürgen Klopp.

The Dutchman passed what was seen to be his first 'real' Premier League test when they faced Chelsea last weekend which ended in a 2-1 win at Anfield.

Last season at the Emirates

We made it back-to-back home victories against Liverpool last season for the first time since 2015. After two wins from two to start 2024, we faced Liverpool in a pivotal title encounter.

Bukayo Saka gave us the lead in the 14th minute, but an unfortunate own goal from Gabriel Magalhães levelled the match with the last kick of the first half.

After an end-to-end start to the second half, a mix-up between Liverpool skipper Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson allowed Gabriel Martinelli to roll the ball into an empty net to regain the lead.

The game was all but sealed after a second yellow card was shown to Liverpool centre back Ibrahima Konate in the 88th minute.

Substitute Leandro Trossard stole the show with a 92nd minute winner which sent the Emirates into a frenzy and continued Arsenal's fight for the title.

What the managers say

Mikel Arteta:

On the match against Liverpool on Sunday: "We're all excited about it, it's a big opportunity. We love these kinds of matches at the Emirates. We know what our fans are going to generate and the team is really looking forward to it."

On what can give us the edge over Liverpool: "That we play the game we want to play. That we play with dominance."

"We've done it in the past, we've done it recently, and playing with that belief, energy and commitment is necessary in a big match like this."

On what he's seen from Arne Slot: "Yes very good. They're obviously in a really good moment, they're on a great run and you can see the touch he's given to a team that was already very strong."

Arne Slot:

On the toughness of the test he expects against Arsenal on Sunday: "Because it's an away game, this one is even more difficult than Chelsea at home, and we all saw how difficult Chelsea at home was."

On it being a 'statement' if Liverpool were to win this weekend's game: "It's difficult to win an away leg against Arsenal, City or all the other ones but it's something we are trying on Sunday definitely."

Team news:

Arteta confirmed that Arsenal will do their "very best to somehow" have Saka, Calafiori and Timber available ahead of the clash against Liverpool this Sunday.

It was revealed that Calafiori has been having tests after the injury he suffered in the Champions League encounter versus Shakhtar Donetsk. This leaves us incredibly short in the defensive department with Saliba suspended and Tierney and Tomiyasu out for extended periods.

However, it was hinted that Jurriën Timber may have some involvement in training before the Liverpool game after suffering an injury after the victory against PSG in the Champions League.

Some positive news about Saka was revealed as he has "done a bit of training on the grass" but Arteta stated it was a "different question to have him ready for Sunday"

The Liverpool quartet of Alisson, Bradley, Jota and Chiesa all look set to miss out on the game this Sunday, though Bradley and Chiesa could be in line for a return to training tomorrow.
 
Statistics and Facts

This will be the 65th time Arsenal and Liverpool have met in the Premier League. Both teams have been ever-present since the inaugural season in 1992-93.

If Arsenal were to beat Liverpool this Sunday, it would be their 2,000th in the top division of football. Coincidentally, only Liverpool (2,065) have reached this milestone before.

Leandro Trossard has scored 6 goals in 10 matches against Liverpool.

Gabriel Martinelli has scored five goals against Liverpool, his joint-most against an opponent for Arsenal (level with Crystal Palace)

Kai Havertz has scored 7 goals in his last 8 games at the Emirates.

The highest scoring fixture in Premier League History is Arsenal v Liverpool (81 for Arsenal, 109 for Liverpool)

Liverpool have not beaten Arsenal in the Premier League since March 2022 (2 draws, 2 losses)

Match Officials

This will be Anthony Taylor's first time officiating an Arsenal match this season and the 45th time he has officiated us in his refereeing career. It will already be his third time overlooking a Liverpool game this season out of the nine games due to be played after this weekend.

Liverpool have won both of the matches ( vMan Utd, v Wolves) he has overseen.

Taylor officiated this exact fixture last season in which Arsenal won 3-1 and Liverpool received a red card.

In the 7 games Anthony Taylor has officiated so far this season, he has an average of 5.14 cards shown per game.

This includes the game between Bournemouth and Chelsea which resulted in a record-breaking 14 yellow cards shown.

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn

Fourth official: Sam Barrott

VAR: Michael Salisbury

Assistant VAR: Darren Cann