Liverpool Vs Arsenal

Sunday 27/08/17 – 1600hrs GMT










These two sides were separated by the finest of margins in the Premier League table last season, but that tiny difference saw the Reds claim the last Champions League spot, and it left Arsenal scratching around in fifth spot after finally succumbing to their awful spell from January to April.

Our fall from Europe’s elite competition was utterly deserved, and hopefully it was the wake-up call we needed, although after last week’s loss to Stoke – it may seem we have hit the snooze button again.

Last week saw some awful refereeing decisions which cost our side in a big way, but ultimately it was two familiar enemies that were our undoing. Our profligacy in front of goal and a lack of concentration at a crucial time saw the Potters once again take the points when facing us at their home. Old habits die hard it seems.

This match though, couldn’t be more different to last week.

Games against Liverpool guarantee goals. Goalless draws are as rare as a clean Paul Scholes challenge in this fixture, and even though our last win at Anfield was in 2012, we have a great chance to take the points away from Merseyside. 


We must first buck the awful trend of some dire results against bigger teams on the road first, and then concentrate on the fact we have one win – home and away – in the last six matches. 

Both teams are considered weak at the back, so it is a huge boost that we can include Laurent Koscielny back in our side. The Frenchman was suspended for our first two games, but can now come straight back into the team, which will make us far stronger.

Another name due to be recalled is Chilean marvel Alexis Sanchez. An injured abdomen has meant Sanchez has missed out against Leicester and Stoke, and we could really do with a firing Alexis in this game. Wenger in his latest press conference has intimated that he is fit to start, but the forward may not last the entire 90 minutes, so we must give him the ball early and put the Reds on the back foot from the first minute.

Jurgen Klopp isn’t able to include Philippe Coutinho in his side, and he will have the fact his men played in midweek in the back of his mind as he selects his eleven. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will stretch any team, and with Arsenal likely to maintain a 3-5-2 formation, so much focus will go on who is picked for wing-back.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will vie with Hector Bellerin for the right spot, although both have played on the left side occasionally. Sead Kolasinac has impressed so far and should be included, but will Wenger switch things up?

One thing is for sure, our away record against our rivals is nothing short of abysmal. If Arsene Wenger wants to send a message to say his squad is strong enough to challenge, the first port of call to convince us would be a win in a big game.

Start here Arsene. Show us all what you see.

Predicted Lineup – Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Lacazette.

Predicted Scoreline – 3-1 Arsenal 

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