This match could make or break Arsenal’s season. Off the back of a demoralising defeat at Bournemouth and an underwhelming victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side now have to beat the league leaders to ensure they do not lose too much ground in the title race. A win for Liverpool and, even as early as October, Arsenal supporters could be forgiven for wondering if the title might be beyond them for another season.
The bad news for the hosts is that they will have to do without the services of a number of key men. Arsenal are still without injured captain Martin Odegaard, and William Saliba is suspended after a red card last weekend at Bournemouth. Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are also unlikely to feature as a result of injuries. The upshot of all this is that Arteta will almost certainly have to experiment with players filling positions they’re not accustomed to, a far from ideal situation in a game of this magnitude.
Things couldn’t be going much better for Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot. They have won 11 of their 12 games thus far under his stewardship, something not many expected when he was announced as Jurgen Klopp’s successor. The visitors do have some injury problems of their own since Diogo Jota missed the European trip in the week, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Harvey Elliott are definitely out of this crunch fixture. Federico Chiesa may be heading back to Italy in a loan move at the earliest possible opportunity, so he is unlikely to feature, while Conor Bradley’s availability is, once again, in doubt.
Arsenal’s performance in the week against Shakhtar (1-0 at the Emirates) was lacklustre enough for some observers to suggest they had one eye on Sunday’s game. A win for the hosts would make things very interesting at the top of the table and keep all three frontrunners, Manchester City included, in contention.
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Arsenal vs Liverpool odds
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
Time: 4:30 p.m. GMT (12:30 p.m. ET), Sunday
Form guide (league only)
Arsenal: 5-2-1, 17 points (3rd); L-W-W-D-W
Liverpool: 7-0-1, 21 points (1st); W-W-W-W-L
Match prediction
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
It might seem strange to describe a game in October as season-defining, but Arsenal simply must not lose this one if they are serious about finally getting over the line and winning the Premier League under Arteta. Slot’s Liverpool have yet to actually draw a game, but this feels like the day that record finally comes to an end.
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(Photo of Jorginho: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
