This weekend sees Arsenal travelling up to Anfield to face European champions Liverpool in the Premier League.

It’s a fascinating encounter for many reasons.

One, it has a rich history of producing wonderful match ups. The 4-4 draw in 2009 still lives on in the memory as being a wonderfully thrilling game.

Then there’s the fact that both sides are the only two left in the English top flight that haven’t dropped any points so far in the league, thus meaning the winner (if we get one) will top the table.

Plus this season sees both clubs boasting terrific forward line-ups.

Liverpool have the same trio that terrorised The Gunners last term in Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. They all scored in their 5-1 win back in December (PremierLeague.com Match Report).

Arsenal’s defence just couldn’t cope with The Reds firepower that day. The North London giants’ backline is still fragile, although they’ll hope David Luiz can improve things.

Up-top Unai Emery has his own fearsome threesome to call upon.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette produced a lethal partnership last season. They seem to have a telepathic way of working with each other on the pitch.

The Gunners can now add Nicolas Pépé to their right flank and the Ivorian has the pace and directness to trouble any defence. Last year at Lille OSC, the forward scored twenty-two Ligue 1 goals and created eleven assists.

The twenty-four year old has yet to make a start for Emery’s side but he has played 64 minutes in their opening two games. Throwing him in against Liverpool could help take the fight to Jurgen Klopp’s outfit and try and keep them on the back foot.

Emery has already hinted that the wide forward could be ready to make his full debut at Anfield:

“For example, in the first match, he played 15 minutes in Newcastle, then he played 45 minutes against Burnley. I think his individual performances are progressively getting better.”

“For Saturday, he is maybe ready to have more minutes. I am going to decide tomorrow, but really his progress has been positive and has been good for the team and for him.”

Via The Independent

Last season Liverpool had a very mean defence. Goalkeeper Alisson and centre-back Virgil van Dijk were colossuses at the back.

Yet the Merseysiders haven’t looked quite as assured at the start of this campaign.

The right-back spot hasn’t been defensively sound with Trent Alexander-Arnold all too often being caught on the wrong side of an attacker. Alisson’s injury has seen new signing Adrian start in goals and the Spaniard doesn’t offer the same reassuring presence.

Mistakes have crept into the defence at Liverpool. No doubt Klopp will hope is just ring rust and that it will soon settle down but Arsenal might fancy their chances if they attack from the get go on Saturday.

It really could turn into a real end to end slugfest this weekend, with both clubs fancying their attackers to produce the knockout blows!

Mane, Firmino and Salah have already started this term with a bang and will be confident that they can once again conquer Arsenal at Anfield.

While Lacazette, Aubameyang and Pépé will look at Liverpool’s start to the season and believe that they can get at their defence.

It could be a real thriller, maybe not a 4-4 game but a thriller nevertheless. it could come down to which attack is the most potent on the night!

Posted on August 23rd, 2019 by scott
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