Arsenal vs Liverpool: Premier League Preview & Potential Line-ups

Emirates Stadium forms the backdrop for Sunday's mammoth Premier League showdown between high-flying Arsenal and underperforming Liverpool. 

It's been a long time coming for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's meticulous work in North London has paid dividends early in the season, as the Gunners have a strong case for their first top-four finish since 2015/16.

While many thought the Londoners' 3-1 defeat at Manchester United on the eve of September's international break would initiate their fall from grace, Arteta's lads proved it was only a minor setback. 

Arsenal flew out of the traps since the resumption of club football, humbling fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in last weekend's North London derby to assure top-spot comforts ahead of this round. 

Having won seven of their opening eight Premier League fixtures, the Gunners have established themselves as genuine title candidates, let alone top-four hopefuls. 

In stark contrast to their hosts' eye-catching league showings, last season's runners-up Liverpool have experienced a faltering top-flight start. 

Jurgen Klopp's side overhauled a 2-0 deficit against surprise package Brighton & Hove Albion, only to be held to an enthralling 3-3 draw at Anfield last time out.

The Reds' sub-par season start featuring a mere two victories from seven league outings (D4, L2) locks them in mid-table lethargy, a whopping 11 points adrift of Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. 

Match Preview

Arsenal

Arsenal followed the abovementioned thumping of Spurs with an overwhelming 3-0 home triumph over Bodo/Glimt in midweek Europa League action to bolster their spirits ahead of this encounter. 

Indeed, Arteta has turned the Emirates into a fortress again, guiding the Gunners to seven consecutive Premier League home wins, spanning back to the tail-end of last season. 

Despite orchestrating Arsenal's longest winning home league streak since 2018/19, the Spaniard will be all too aware of his team's growing defensive woes that's seen them go 13 top-flight games without a clean sheet. 

Plugging the Gunners' defensive holes will top Arteta's assignment list as he's about to take on a Liverpool side that put six unanswered goals past his men in two of last season's Premier League H2Hs.

Liverpool 

Faced with the prospect of dropping out of the title race as early as October, visiting Liverpool will be out to post their first Premier League away win of the season (D2, L1). 

However, if they fail to extend their two-match winning league streak at the Emirates, the Reds could start a new top-flight season winless on their opening four travels for the first time since 2010/11.

Luckily for the Merseyside faithful, Klopp seemingly has Arteta's number, as witnessed by Liverpool's jaw-dropping run of six H2H shutouts across all competitions on the trot. 

But something needs to be done about the Reds' propensity for sloppy entries that's seen them concede the opening goal in nine of their last 11 Premier League contests. 

Arsenal vs Liverpool Potential Line-ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierny; Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Konstantinos Tsimikas, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson; Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah.