Gameweek nine of the 2024-25 Premier League season concludes with a tussle of titanic proportions at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, when title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool butt heads.
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Both English behemoths were unconvincing winners in their midweek Champions League affairs, as the Gunners edged out Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 before the Reds conquered RB Leipzig by the same scoreline.
Arsenal’s Recent Performance
Prior to last weekend’s trip to the South Coast, Arsenal fans had to go back to New Year’s Eve 2023 for the last time their side was bested in a Premier League away fixture. More alarming indiscipline from Mikel Arteta’s men cost them dear against Bournemouth.
William Saliba‘s first-half sending-off did not mean that the tie was a foregone conclusion. Arsenal had held out for draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City with 10 men.
However, a well-worked goal from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert‘s penalty ended the Gunners’ wonderful 12-game unbeaten road run in the Premier League.
Not only that, defeat at the Vitality Stadium was Arsenal’s first in half a year. This statistic that a bullish Arteta emphasized in his press conference as his side missed the opportunity to spend Saturday evening at the top of the rankings.
They go into the weekend third and four points adrift of the leading visitors.
Struggles in Attack
A Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka-less side lacked ingenuity again when Shakhtar came to visit in the Champions League. Only an unfortunate own goal from Dmytro Riznyk got Arteta’s men over the line, but that one-goal triumph does mean that the hosts are on a five-game winning streak at the Emirates.
All in all, nine of Arsenal’s last 10 competitive matches at their North London home have ended in victory. However, Gooners may travel in trepidation rather than optimism; Arsenal have won just 45% of their Premier League games without the banned Saliba compared to 74% with him in the team.
Liverpool’s Recent Form
A Liverpool side with no disciplinary concerns head to the Emirates with an Arne Slot spring in their step. The Dutchman continues to send Merseyside records tumbling since stepping into the mammoth shoes of Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds passed one of the toughest challenges of their title credentials yet on October 20, when Chelsea rocked up to Anfield and gave Liverpool a terrific run for their money.
However, Mohamed Salah‘s penalty and Curtis Jones‘s toe-poke kept the Reds at the summit after Manchester City’s dramatic beating of Wolverhampton Wanderers just hours before.
While Liverpool are one point better off than the holders, they will drop to second if City beats lowly Southampton on Saturday. Their victory in Leipzig on Wednesday did not come without several scares.
However, Die Roten Bullen’s own wastefulness also helped the Reds make it eight victories in a row across all competitions.
Title Rivalry
Success on Sunday would move Liverpool onto 24 points from their first nine games. Only once before have the Reds managed as many points at this stage of a Premier League campaign, taking 25 from nine in their triumphant 2019-20 year.
Liverpool’s powers in this fixture have waned over the past couple of terms, though. Arsenal have prevailed in their last two top-flight games at the Emirates and are unbeaten in four against the Reds in the Premier League.
However, they did come up short in January’s FA Cup third-round tie on home soil.
Team News
With Saliba banned, Kieran Tierney out of the picture, and Takehiro Tomiyasu sustaining a fresh knee setback, the last thing that Arteta needed was to lose another defender to injury. Riccardo Calafiori was forced off in the second half after an awkward fall.
Arteta immediately admitted that the Italian’s condition was “not great.” There is a chance that Jurrien Timber (muscle) could make a crucial comeback, where he or Ben White could fill in for Saliba.
Captain Ødegaard will watch from the sidelines, and Arteta said after the Shakhtar game that Saka was “unlikely” to be back from his hamstring issue in time for the weekend. However, reports suggest that Saka is hopeful of being fit for the visit of the Reds.
Liverpool’s Injury Concerns
Liverpool’s number one Alisson Becker remains out with a thigh injury. Caoimhin Kelleher earned his keep in midweek with several top saves to keep Leipzig out.
Alisson is joined in the infirmary by Harvey Elliott (foot) and Diogo Jota (abdominal). The latter’s absence guarantees another start up front for Darwin Nunez. Both Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley are uncertain.
Tactical Considerations
Slot has a better kind of dilemma to solve on the left flank, where Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo are both vying for a start. However, Jones’s winner against Chelsea should not be enough to see him break up the established midfield order of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and a rejuvenated Ryan Gravenberch.
The prospective return of Saka will aid Arsenal on the creativity front. However, Arteta’s crop are now welcoming the meanest defense that the Premier League has to offer, having given up just three goals thus far.
Liverpool also rode their luck against Leipzig, and Arsenal can still put out a fearsome rearguard even without the influential Saliba. Avoiding defeat should be priority number one for the hosts on Sunday, where a dull draw is not beyond the realm of possibility.
