Arsenal’s annual away fixture against Liverpool at the Anfield Stadium will be the standout match this weekend bearing in mind the end-to-end Premier League title race.
Liverpool were held to a goalless draw at Anfield against Manchester United. Despite having 34 shots in that match, the Reds were unable to find the back of the net. The Reds will look to narrow down the gap and get back to winning ways against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
On the other hand, The Gunners’ dominant display last match week against De Zerbi’s Brighton sealed a comfortable victory at home. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and in form Kai Havertz meant Arsenal leapfrog Liverpool and go one point clear at the top of the Premier League.
The winner between the two teams will claim the 3 points and would be in the driving seat in the title race. As we approach the festive period, both teams will be looking to secure all three points and build momentum heading into the new year.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date: 23rd December 2023, Saturday
Time: 23:00 HRS IST
Venue: Anfield Stadium
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Lee Betts
TEAM NEWS
Joel Matip, Thiago and Andy Robertson remain out for the fixture for Liverpool. Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota are also sidelined for the Reds. Ryan Gravenberch is a doubt for Klopp at the weekend.
For Arsenal, Jurien Timber is recovering from his long-term knee injury along with fellow defender Tomiyasu (calf). Fabio Viera (groin) and Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) are also unavailable. Thomas Partey has been spotted in full team training in recent weeks but a call is still to be made about his match fitness.
PRE-GAME TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Arteta’s boys travel to Anfield looking to win there for the first time since 2012, back when Arteta was still playing.
Arsenal would soar in confidence after their performance against Brighton the previous weekend where they showed great intensity and composure to win the match. Arsenal gets a midweek rest whereas Liverpool have a fixture against West Ham in the EFL Cup.
Mikel Arteta would most probably field the same lineup for the third time in a row.
Liverpool’s main aim facing Arsenal would be to be clinical in the final third and not waste the chances that they get. Given the quality of both sides in recent weeks we can guarantee that this will be a high-scoring fixture with both sides having one of the best attacking outlets up front.
Both teams heavily rely on their wide forwards (Saka and Salah), so it’ll be exciting to watch how they create chances, open defences and score goals. Arsenal have the chance to prove that they are not just contenders but also the frontrunners in the league, the players need to step up and deliver in a tasty encounter.
Generally speaking, we could expect Arsenal to dominate the game in different periods of the match but Liverpool could also have a narrow advantage and overwhelm them with the intensity at their fortress.
KEY PLAYERS
Gabriel Jesus
After suffering through setbacks this season Gabriel Jesus has finally started to make his name on the scoresheet. Gabriel Jesus has either scored or clamed an assist in his last 3 visits to the Anfield, including a goal and an assist last season. He has managed to score in the fixtures against Luton and Brighton in the previous weeks and will look to continue this fine form travelling to Anfield. Jesus’s holdup play is always one of the most reliable ways going forward to progress the ball; with Havertz right behind him, they can both combine to be a lethal threat in the game especially, aerially.
Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah has been Liverpool’s ever-present threat up top. Salah’s contributions extend beyond just scoring goals. He’s also an effective playmaker, providing crucial assists to his teammates. His vision and passing ability make him a well-rounded attacking force. His unpredictable nature and burst of pace can cause serious trouble to Arsenal’s backline. Moreover, to back it up with stats, Salah has scored in six of his last seven Premier League home matches against the Gunners. He loves facing Arsenal!
Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli has been a constant spark for Arsenal’s attack in recent times and one such team that he loves playing is Liverpool. The Brazilian has scored more goals against Liverpool than he has any other opponent (4). One of the league’s most awaited one-on-one duels will be revisited during the clash. Liverpool’s creative force, Trent Alexandar Arnold will face one of his biggest tests of the season in an Arsenal winger. Martinelli took full advantage of Liverpool and particularly Alexander-Arnold’s struggles last season by scoring and assisting in both of the Gunners’ Premier League games against the Reds. Although Martinelli has only 4 G/A this season, you can never write him off.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Liverpool XI vs Arsenal: Allison, Trent, Konate, Van Djk, Tsimikas, Endo, Szoboszla, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Arsenal XI vs Liverpool: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
