This is it, isn’t it? The first real test of our season. The game that will give us a little glimpse of what we could achieve this season. Games between Liverpool and Arsenal have served us thrillers over the years. I have no doubt this would give us more of the same.
This is a game that features the first two teams in the league and it promises to be mouthwatering. Both are the only teams left with 100% record this season and they’d be doing everything to preserve that.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Arsenal.
- The Gunners are without a win in their last six league games at Anfield, and have conceded at least two goals in each of those matches (22 in total).
- This is the highest-scoring Premier League fixture with 155 goals across 54 games. It has also seen a record six hat-tricks.
- There have been 53 goals scored in the last 12 matches between the sides in all competitions, at an average of 4.4 goals per game.
Liverpool
- Liverpool have not lost a Premier League match at Anfield for 41 matches, since a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in April 2017.
- Their only loss in their last 42 games in all competitions was a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in January (W33, D8).
- Roberto Firmino has scored eight league goals in eight games against Arsenal, more than he has against any other side. He is one goal away from becoming the first Brazilian player to score 50 times in the Premier League.
Arsenal
- Arsenal are aiming to win the first three games of a top-flight season for only the ninth time in their history and for the first time since 2004-05, when they finished second behind Chelsea.
- The Gunners are without a win in their last 22 Premier League away fixtures against other ‘big six’ teams, since a 2-0 victory at Manchester City in January 2015.
- They have lost only one of their past 26 league games when scoring first, winning 21 of them.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored nine goals in his last seven games in all competitions. However, he has scored just three goals in 13 league matches against fellow ‘big six’ sides, averaging a goal every 356 minutes. In games against other sides, he has scored 31 times in 38 matches, averaging a goal every 94 minutes.
Stats Courtesy: BBC
Team News and Potential Line Up
Ozil and Xhaka are back in training but whether they will feature in this game is still unknown. Read the rest of the team news here.
Arsenal have had two victories on the bounce this season but if we are going to be sincere, both are hardly convincing. But who cares! Right? Now is the time to care because Liverpool is neither Newcastle nor Burnley. This is the kind of game where we have to show ambition and prove that we can be counted among the elites.
We have one of the best offensive forces in the league but our defence is still suspect. I still have my reservations over David Luiz and I’ve never been a fan of Sokratis. One can only hope they don’t have a ‘brain fart’. Against the trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino, our defenders have to be at their best.
Liverpool might have been a rock at home but they are beatable. Aubameyang is a guaranteed starter in the team. It remains to be seen whether we will be seeing him start alongside Pepe and Lacazette for the first time.
Unai Emery needs to be bold with his selection – he mustn’t be too cautious or too offensive. Seeing as Liverpool struggled against Southampton last week, I can say categorically they are there for the taking.
There will be goals at both ends and I think we might nick it. My heart is going for an Arsenal win while my head is predicting a scored draw.
Match Details
Kick Off: 5:30PM
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Where To Watch: The match would be available on Cable TV but you can watch right here on this website, on our streaming platform, the 9jagooners Mobile and on MatchDay Live apps.