Preview: Liverpool vs Arsenal – Prediction, Team News, Line-ups

Had Arsenal not put five past Leeds last weekend, it would be tempting to bill Sunday afternoon’s showdown at Anfield as a collision of immovable object and irresistible force.

While Mikel Arteta’s side have yet to concede a Premier League goal this season, Liverpool have banged in a total of seven across their two games against Bournemouth and Newcastle.

But the champions have also looked uncharacteristically vulnerable in defence, where a combination of summer personnel changes and the indifferent form of Ibrahima Konaté have instilled uncertainty. Arsenal will be cautiously optimistic about leaving Merseyside with all three points for the first time since 2012.

That said, Liverpool can point to mitigating circumstances for their defensive travails. The absence of deep-lying midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was keenly felt in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth, while an injury to summer arrival Jeremie Frimpong in that game meant Arne Slot was forced to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai as an ersatz right-back in Monday night’s combative 3-2 victory at Newcastle.

There is good news on both fronts for Liverpool ahead of Arsenal’s visit. Alexis Mac Allister is fit to resume his midfield partnership with Gravenberch while right-back Conor Bradley, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury, is pushing for a start after a 20-minute cameo at St James’ Park. That would free Szoboszlai, who turned in a magnificent performance against Newcastle, to return to midfield.

While those changes would add steel to Liverpool, Slot will be alert to the danger posed by Arsenal from set-pieces, an area that proved profitable for the Gunners against both Manchester United and Leeds. Gary Neville summed up the threat succinctly on The Overlap podcast this week – “I think Arsenal will score two from set pieces, Liverpool will score one, and it will be 2-1 to Arsenal,” the former Manchester United opined – and similar fears have been expressed by Anfield legend John Aldridge.

Yet there is a reason Arteta once played the Liverpool anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone to his players during training. Anfield is sure to be a cauldron for the visit of Liverpool’s closest challengers last season, and Arsenal are unlikely to be granted the freedom they enjoyed in their free-scoring display against Leeds. Premier League newcomers Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi will also be on unfamiliar ground, and their handling of the situation could have a significant bearing on the outcome.

Liverpool have not beaten Arsenal in the league since March 2022 – the teams’ past three meetings at Anfield have all been drawn – but they have found the net for 36 straight games, while only Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney have scored more goals against the Gunners than Mohamed Salah. A home win feels overdue.

Liverpool vs Arsenal team news

Despite Monday’s highly physical encounter with Newcastle, Liverpool have no new injury concerns. Bradley could return at right-back, while Mac Allister is pushing for a recall in midfield.  

It will be intriguing to see if Slot is tempted to give Andy Robertson a run out at left-back in place of Milos Kerkez, or whether Florian Wirtz is used from the bench.

Arsenal will be without the injured Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, while Gabriel Jesus remains a long-term absentee. There is also a doubt over Martin Odegaard after the club captain was withdrawn with a shoulder injury against Leeds. 

Ben White’s omission from that game was precautionary, while Arteta may also be able to call on summer signing Christian Norgaard for the first time following a minor injury. 

Eberechi Eze could be in line for his club debut after signing from Crystal Palace last week.

Liverpool vs Arsenal predicted lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitike.

Arsenal: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Magalhaes Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori;  Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli.