Arsenal v Liverpool: Match Preview & Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

By Aaron Conlan

This Sunday’s fixture comes as a big test away at the Emirates with matches starting to come thick and fast. Following midweek’s 1-0 win away in Leipzig thanks to a Darwin Nunez goal and last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, Arne Slot will be hoping to continue his fantastic start at The Reds and extend his current record of 11 wins out of 12, leaving Liverpool at the top of the league table and undefeated in all cup competitions.

However, Arsenal will certainly come as a major test, with the Gooners lying 3rd in the table and losing only once so far this season which came away at Bournemouth last weekend. Arsenal will possibly be without some big names in the clash however, with Bukayo Saka, Ricardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber not spotted in training on Friday morning. William Saliba will miss out due to a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Bournemouth, as well as Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu are guaranteed to miss out.

In terms of fitness for The Reds, Arne Slot revealed on Friday that Federico Chiesa, Conor Bradley and Diogo Jota will definitely miss out, as well as long-term absentees Alisson and Harvey Elliot missing.  James Pearce writing for the Athletic also revealed news of Trent Alexander Arnold and his recent battle against injury, revealing “He has played through the discomfort of a muscle strain, sustained towards the end of England’s second international against Finland two weeks ago,” Pearce writes. “Scans revealed a minor issue that could be managed.”

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Pressure will be mounting on Arsenal following last week’s 2-0 loss away at Bournemouth and this season’s poor start compared to last, being 5 points worse off this season at this point than last, Arteta will be desperate to beat Liverpool.

From Liverpool’s perspective, confidence will be flowing with the only points dropped this season coming against Nottingham Forrest, a surprise result which the Reds seemed to have bounced back from well. A key battle to keep an eye on on Sunday will be Mo Salah versus either Zinchenko or Kiwior, whoever Arteta prefers will be a player who has played little football so far this season. Zinchenko has played only 79 minutes so far this campaign, with one appearance coming from the start. Kiwior has played more with 195 minutes so far, however also only appears once from the offset. With Mo Salah in fine form, contributing to 9 goals in his last 8 appearances for club and country, it is certainly a promising sign.

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Predicted Lineup

XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Alister, Curtis Jones; Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz.

With Liverpool’s rock-solid defence being the best in the league by a substantial margin, no change there should be expected. With Curtis Jones’s statement performance against Chelsea and Dominik Szoboszlai’s activity under Slot, there is a possibility for a straight swap between the two. With Diogo Jota’s injury against Chelsea, it provides the perfect landscape for Darwin Nunez to prove himself to Arne Slot.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool

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