The Big Match: Liverpool v Arsenal Premier League prediction and team news

Liverpool v Arsenal

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event, 5.30pm Saturday

Form guide

Liverpool made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 success at Southampton which was underwhelming at best.

Despite the Reds boasting almost 64 per cent possession, it was worrying how easily Southampton were able to get into Liverpool’s third and fire off shots. The Saints managed 14 efforts on goal.

In two matches the Reds boast an expected goals against rating of 1.4 - throughout the whole of last season it was just 0.7.

Arsenal are the only other side in the top division with two wins out of two, though neither team have been hugely convincing. The Gunners have beaten Newcastle 1-0 away and Burnley 2-1 at home. They have had 24 shots in those two games but given up 27.

Team news

First-choice keeper Alisson remains sidelined for Liverpool, so Adrian deputises. Naby Keita is missing from midfield while Nathaniel Clyne is also out and Dejan Lovren a doubt.

Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka have both been declared fit for Arsenal. That leaves Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin and Dinos Mavropanos still out.

Tactics

Liverpool’s famed high defensive line is winning its customary share of offside calls but it will be seriously tested by Arsenal.

The addition of Nicolas Pepe to the Gunners’ ranks means even more pace at the top end of their line-up and therefore trying to play tight and compact before launching their speedy stars is a tactic which makes sense.

And with full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson playing in the opposition half more than their own, it could mean even more space in behind to exploit, especially if Liverpool’s midfield behaves as disjointedly as it did at Southampton last Saturday when protection for the defence was poor.

On the flip side, of course, is that none of these Arsenal flyers are out-and-out wingers and if and when they start drifting inside that gives Robertson and Alexander-Arnold the invitations to bomb forward which they never decline.

Jurgen Klopp tends not to change tactics on a whim so the high line will presumably stay.

The other tactic which may or may not change is Arsenal’s desire to play out from the back which was exposed occasionally by both Newcastle and Burnley and could easily buckle under a counter-press from Liverpool’s far more gifted front men.

Verdict

This ought to be tight though Arsenal run the risk of sacrificing possession far too often for their own good in their defensive third. Both teams have scored in all four Liverpool games this term so a home win and both teams to score seems acceptable.

Stats centre

23-12 is the aggregate score, in Liverpool’s favour, in the last seven of these fixtures. That’s an average of exactly five goals per game.

Liverpool have scored at least two goals in each of their last 11 Premier League games, winning them all.

Since the start of last season, Arsenal have led at half-time in just 11 of 40 league matches.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Arsenal in all competitions (W4 D4).

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