The Premier League’s first heavyweight encounter of the season takes centre stage on Sunday, as reigning champions Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield in a fixture that could shape the early course of the title race.
Following their dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday, Arne Slot’s side are aiming to extend their perfect start to the season as they bid to defend their Premier League crown.
Arsenal will not simply roll over for Liverpool, however, eyeing a statement win of their own, as they seek an end to their long title drought.
Mikel Arteta’s men dispatched Manchester United and Leeds in their first two games, and will be hoping to return to London with another three points to his team’s name and having broken their manager’s Anfield duck.
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Slot expecting a familiar challenge
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expects Arsenal to play with a similar style to the one they showcased in last season’s 2-2 draw at Anfield.
However, he acknowledged that the addition of striker Viktor Gyokeres brings a new dimension to their frontline.
“The number nine they have now Gyokeres is different to Havertz for example. That is more a false nine you could say, where I think Gyokeres is more a target man,” Slot explained.
“So that’s maybe a small difference, where we have to know he maybe makes more runs in behind than the other number nines did.
“But in general, I see a lot of similarities between last season and this season with the style of play they have, and I think it’s the same with us,” he added.
Slot’s comments point to Arsenal’s tactical continuity, with their transfer activity aimed more at evolution than revolution.
Liverpool, in contrast, have undergone significant transformation.
Having sold key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz, the Reds have ushered in a new era with the big signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.
Despite their recent struggles with the Gunners – with no league win in six (D4, L2) – Liverpool will hope their refreshed squad can finally make the difference against the North Londoners.
Arsenal aiming for the title
After finishing runners-up three seasons in a row, Arsenal are hoping to finally put their doubters to rest by winning the Premier League.
They haven’t won at Anfield since 2012 – a 2-0 win in which Arteta featured – but the manager knows a win on Sunday would send a strong signal to the rest of the league.
“The favourite is always the one that won the previous year,” Arteta said.
“Somebody has to come and take that crown away from them so that is what we will try to do. The aim is to be better than them.”
Arsenal have strengthened their squad considerably this season, spending nearly £300 million.
The arrival of Viktor Gyokeres has helped fill their need for a striker, while the near-completion of defender Pierro Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen only adds to their squad depth.
With a sizable outlay and no more excuses to rely on, the pressure is squarely on Arteta to finally deliver on the Premier League title for the Gunners.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool’s only major absentee is Jeremie Frimpong, who is out until after the international break with a hamstring injury.
Conor Bradley has returned to full team training after making a cameo against Newcastle from the bench, and is in contention to start at right-back.
Alexis Mac Allister is also back after missing the game against Newcastle.
If selected, this would be the first time Liverpool’s midfield pivot has consisted of Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister since their title-clinching 5-1 win over Tottenham last season, and could go a long way to stabilising Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Mohamed Salah will be looking to add to his impressive goal tally against Arsenal, having netted eleven times against the Gunners over his career.
Arsenal team news
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus are set to miss out, all sidelined due to injury.
Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Ben White, and Christian Norgaard are also doubts for the game ahead, but Arteta has suggested that Odegaard could recover in time to feature.
These injuries set the stage for Noni Madueke and new signing Eberechi Eze to enter the team.
Jakub Kiwior is close to sealing a move to Porto, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is exploring a late-window exit, both of which likely rule them out of the squad.
The unstoppable force vs the immovable object
Sunday’s encounter promises a fascinating match up between Liverpool’s explosive attack against Arsenal’s formidable defensive unit.
Despite their attacking success, Liverpool’s defence looks fragile, having blown two-goal leads in each of their last three matches (vs Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Newcastle).
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been as defensively sturdy as ever, keeping clean sheets in both of their opening fixtures.
Arsenal’s physical presence and set-piece threat could pose a serious problem for Liverpool, particularly given the Reds’ lack of height and aerial dominance.
While players like Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez bring technical quality, they don’t offer much in terms of physicality in the box, which Arsenal would be wise to exploit.
Newcastle bombarded Liverpool with long throws and set-pieces, which led directly to their two goals on Monday, something Arsenal could look to replicate.
With Eze’s vision and ability to exploit space, the Gunners may also find joy against a Liverpool side that often leaves space behind when committing bodies forward.
However, Arteta’s men struggled to convert similar opportunities against Manchester United, where they lacked the cutting edge to punish the Red Devils.
That said, Liverpool’s attacking firepower, combined with a potent Anfield atmosphere, could swing the balance in their favour.
If Slot’s side can sustain pressure and tempo, they may force Arsenal onto the back foot and tilt the contest their way.
A match that could set the tone for the season
While neither side has fully hit top gear yet, both have shown glimpses of their title-winning potential.
Arne Slot has had another week to fine-tune the balance of his evolving squad, but Mikel Arteta will be hoping that the Dutchman’s conundrum remains unsolved for one more match so his Gunners can steal a march on this season’s title race.
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SportJustSport writers