Arsenal take on Liverpool in the Premier League at the Emirates with the visitors in need of a win to keep their top four ambitions alive.
Arsenal form
Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a tough season and are ninth in the Premier League. The Gunners have improved in the second half of the season after a dreadful opening that saw the club take just 14 points from their first 14 games. Since they beat Chelsea on Boxing Day, they have collected the fourth most points in the League.
The north London side are unpredictable and can lurch from defensive mishaps to brilliance in minutes. This was encapsulated in the game against West Ham before the international break. They trailed 3-0 after 32 minutes but dominated the second half and deserved drew 3-3 in a remarkable game.
Youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have been shining lights but both players are injury doubts.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last eight home Premier League games (W4, D3).
It doesn’t look like Arsenal can qualify for Europe through their league position, with their hopes resting on the Europa League, but a win here would put them just a point behind Liverpool.
Liverpool form
Liverpool’s title defence has been hugely disappointing to say the least and no one could have anticipated their demise this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are seventh and five points off the top four with nine games to go. Their Anfield form has been dismal but it has been better away from home with back-to-back wins against Wolves and Sheffield United.
An unheralded duo of Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips have impressed in recent weeks but they’ll come under greater pressure against Arsenal’s dangerous front-line.
It is a must-win game for Liverpool, but a trip to Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League might see Klopp rotate his side.
Head-to-head
Arsenal won this exact fixture 2-1 last season, although Liverpool had already secured the Premier League title. No fixture in Premier League history has seen more goals scored than Arsenal vs Liverpool (166).
Featured image: Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates with team mate Sadio Mane after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux. (Photo by Paul Ellis – Pool/Getty Images)
