Two of the giants of the English game lock horns on Merseyside this Saturday! Who will claim the spoils and the bragging rights?
One of the biggest fixtures of the English Premier League (EPL) season will take place in Saturday’s late kick-off, when Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield.
Just one place and two points separate the two teams in the EPL table, with Liverpool in fourth and Arsenal fifth, after 11 games this term.
Liverpool suffered a horrendous international break, as regulars, Sadio Mané, Andrew Robertson, and Jordan Henderson all picked up injuries.
Jürgen Klopp has since confirmed that Mané will be fit for Arsenal’s visit, while Robertson is also expected to be in contention. However, Henderson is a bigger doubt and will need to be assessed ahead of kick-off.
Divock Origi suffered a dead leg for Belgium but might also recover in time, although Liverpool will still have to manage without at least six first-team players.
Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, all remain sidelined through injury.
Mohamed Salah, the EPL’s top-scorer is expected to start again, though, and he will look to add to his fantastic record of seven goals and two assists, in nine top-flight meetings with the Gunners.
Arsenal have been handed a major boost with the news that Thomas Partey should be fit for selection, with the midfielder expected to come straight back into the middle for the North Londoners.
Folarin Balogun is also available, leaving Granit Xhaka and Sead Kolašinac as the only players unavailable for Mikel Arteta this weekend.
The Spanish coach is unlikely to make many changes to his starting XI from the win over Watford in the last game. This means that Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should start again from the first whistle.
Liverpool’s injury concerns don’t look as bad as first thought. Therefore, we are backing Klopp’s team to win 3-1 against Arsenal, with victories in both halves.
