Arsenal v Liverpool: Title Race Stakes in North-South Battle | OneFootball

Are Liverpool Title Favourites If They Beat Arsenal…?

It seems a very divisive statement to proclaim that Manchester City’s tenure as the Premier League’s overwhelming force is numbered. A day does not go by where I am not greeted with a story regarding which world class player they may sign (to replace the injured Rodri), or which elite level manager that will eventually arrive to displace Pep Guardiola. As the rumour mill roars away, I remain resolute in my opinion and belief, that the Etihad giants are in their final days at the pinnacle of the English top tier. In this very moment, they continue their fight to prove the current 115-charges levelled at them are nothing more than fabrication and that it is the CEO of the Premier League, Richard Masters, who is corrupt, not City.

I do not buy anything into what the sports washing entity (or their band of propaganda outlets) state and I fully expect the ongoing court battle to strip them of a plethora of silverware, before banishing them from where they currently stand with multiple relegations. Due to that, I place extreme significance on this Sunday’s titanic battle between Arsenal and Liverpool, as it could determine which team lifts the league title next May.

How Will This Game Play Out…?

Given that Mikel Arteta will be without the elite level pair of William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori, for Sunday afternoons North London encounter due to suspension and injury respectively, the bedrock of Arsenal’s dogmatic strategy will be potentially weakened by those that come in. At left back, Oleksandr Zinchenko, or Jakub Kiwior, will start ahead of the injured Italian, Riccardo Calafiori, whereas the so-called mercurial talents of the France international defender, William Saliba, will be replaced by either Ben White or Jurrien Timber. The latter of those two right sided defenders has been struggling with an injury, therefore, the promising academy graduate, Josh Noah Lynnford Robinson, may well have to come into the mix. The right back slot will be determined upon who starts in the centre of defence.

Based upon the availability situation and the fact that the gunners inspired captain, Martin Odegaard, is still injured, it creates even more problems for the hosts with a lack of creativity in midfield. In response to the loss of their Arsenal skipper, Mikel Arteta has apparently chosen brute force over ingenuity, as the trio of Declan Rice, Thomas Party, and summer signing, Mikel Merino, look likely to line up against Liverpool’s own middle ground group, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai. The on-ball endeavour of last season’s Premier League runners up, Arsenal, will also have uncertainty in the chosen front three, as England’s attacking sensation, Bukayo Saka, struggles to declare himself fit for battle. The question marks across all lines of the hosts formation will not be lost on Anfield’s new head coach, Arne Slot, which may well see him go for the kill at the Emirates.

The attacking assets that will start this game, will undoubtedly be Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Núñez. Only the left-hand side of the attack appears to be up for grabs, however, I suspect the form and imposing physicality of the current starter, Cody Gakpo, will be thrust back into that role and tasked with running at which ever fullback he is pitted against. The resolute nature of the hosts will not be at its peak, which makes a proactive and attacking approach by Liverpool a genuine possibility. The left back situation is the most intriguing for the former Everton player, Arteta, as a new starting asset (as such) will be tasked with keeping the reds record breaking forward, Mohamed Salah, under wraps for the duration of this game. Though the 42-year-old Arsenal managers men will undoubtedly show great character and are a continuing threat from set pieces, the 2024/25 performances of both Virgil van Dijk, and Ibrahima Konaté, should be enough to limit the genuine opportunities for the home team.

If Liverpool Win…?

Within my pre-game preview, I predicted a 1-1 draw for this top of the table clash, one that would surely satisfy each opposing manager. Though Manchester City will almost certainly be top of the Premier League by Sunday afternoon (they host Southampton on Saturday), I only see their involvement as a short-term issue, one that will be levelled out by the Premier League invoking sanctions this season. Arsenal still has the ability (and home advantage) to take all three points, however, I do sense that the absolute momentum could well lie with the 46-year-old, Arne Slot, as he arrives with a record of eleven wins from twelve games played since his arrival on Merseyside.

If Liverpool FC win this weekend’s tantalising encounter, I will immediately place them as early season title favourites and I cannot imagine anyone arguing how that is not warranted.