Big Match Focus: Arsenal v Liverpool
The Premier League leaders visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
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All eyes will be on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as Arsenal host Liverpool in a huge clash at the top of the Premier League.
With Manchester City not in action until Monday, when they take on Brentford, Liverpool would open up an eight-point lead should they come away from north London with a win.
On the flip side, victory for Mikel Arteta’s team would see them move into second place, two points behind the Reds.
These teams have met twice in recent weeks, drawing 1-1 at Anfield in the Premier League before Liverpool won 2-0 at the Emirates in the FA Cup third round.
While that victory was somewhat smash-and-grab, Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders are sure to turn in a more atypical display this time around.
With the second half of the campaign well underway, it’s time for both teams to make a statement.
STAT CENTRE
There’s really not much to give between these two, with the stats generally close across the board.
Liverpool have netted seven more goals, while conceding two fewer, though both teams have kept eight clean sheets and average around 60% possession.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
MIKEL ARTETA ON TAKING ON A TITLE RIVAL
“We have proven we can beat big teams, we come up against Liverpool now and we’re in a much better place. We talk about momentum. It’s been two wins and we want to make it three. It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere, we’re going to need that.
“I encourage people to play with us every single ball. We’re going to need that.”
JURGEN KLOPP PROVIDES AN INJURY UPDATE ON DARWIN NUNEZ
“I don’t know if Darwin will be available or not because after 20 minutes someone stepped on his foot (and it was) very painful after the game. He only took the boot the game off after the game because he didn’t want to see it before. He knew there was something.
“Nothing broken, X-ray clear but swollen. We have to see if he can get his foot back in a football boot or not. That takes time.”
ONES TO WATCH
Arsenal — Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal forward Martinelli has more contributed to six goals against Liverpool in all competitions, making the Reds his favorite opponent in that regard.
Indeed, in the corresponding fixture last season, the Brazilian opened the scoring inside a minute before then providing the assist a Bukayo Saka goal.
Liverpool — Diogo Jota
With Mohamed Salah and possibly Nunez out, even more onus will be on Jota to spearhead Liverpool’s attack.
In 287 minutes of action at the Emirates as a Liverpool player, Jota has played a part in seven goals — scoring five and setting up a further two.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Arsenal will want revenge for their FA Cup loss, in which they squandered a glut of first-half chances before succumbing late on.
That tie came just a couple of weeks after full-on tussle at Anfield, in which Gabriel’s early goal was cancelled out by Mohamed Salah’s effort, with Liverpool having been denied what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty and also hitting the crossbar late on.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
View the full head-to-head on Sofascore.
By Patric Ridge
Patric is a data journalist at Stats Perform and is a regular contributor to Toffee TV and Opta Analyst, while he has attended high-profile events including the UEFA Super Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup.
—(Follow: @PatricRidge)