The Premier League concludes for the international break with a mouthwatering clash as last season\u2019s top two meet at Anfield on Sunday (4.30pm), both putting their 100% starts on the line as they seek to strike an early-season psychological blow.<\/p>\n
You have to go back to September 2012 for our last triumph at Anfield when Mikel Arteta was patrolling our midfield, but there are many reasons for Gooners to feel optimistic. We are unbeaten in our last six games against the Reds, haven\u2019t suffered a league defeat on the road since November and are unbeaten against the \u2018Big Six\u2019 in our last 22 matches.<\/p>\n
All that, coupled with the momentum built following our victories against Manchester United and Leeds United mean we head to the home of the champions filled with confidence and looking to make a statement regarding our own title ambitions this time around.<\/p>\n
Champions\u2019 challenging start<\/p>\n
While ourselves and Liverpool are the only two sides with a perfect record after two games, the Reds have had to do it the hard way. They have conceded twice in all of their three competitive matches so far, letting leads slip in all of them, starting with their penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield which came after a 2-2 draw.<\/p>\n
They then let a 2-0 advantage slip against Bournemouth at Anfield in the first defence of their crown, but late strikes from Enrico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah salvaged a 4-2 win, and on Monday night a two-goal lead disappeared again at 10-man Newcastle, before 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha got them out of jail in the 100th minute to clinch a 3-2 success.<\/p>\n
Hugo Ekitike scored all three of those games and could become the first player to net in each of his first three Premier League appearances for the Reds, and he\u2019s been part of a near-\u00a3300 million recruitment drive that includes Florian Wirtz, who broke the British transfer record of \u00a3105 million, as well as Milos Kerkez, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili.<\/p>\n
What the managers say<\/p>\n
Arteta: “They are champions for a reason, because they deserve to be champions. They were the better team last year, the most consistent one, the one that found ways to win in many different ways and we want to be that team this year. We need to go to Anfield with that spirit and that conviction.<\/p>\n
“It’s a very important one and we want to continue building the momentum that we are in right now. Going to those grounds, those stadiums, against this kind of opposition is what we want and coming away from those big games, winning in a really convincing way. That’s the objective.” – every word from Mikel\u2019s pre-match press conference<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n Read more Every word from Arteta’s pre-Liverpool presser <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Slot: “In the beginning of the season, normally teams don’t play their best game unless you keep the same squad completely and you add three, four, five, six or seven players, then you can maybe expect the team is growing even further. If you look at our situation, we have lost a few and we have added a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It is not starting all the way new again, but I think it is normal that we play even better \u2013 even better, not better but even better \u2013 in a few weeks than we do now. In the meantime, you can lose ground. Not a lot, although I would be surprised if there would be a points record this season in the Premier League.”<\/p>\n Team news<\/p>\n Kai Havertz has undergone minor knee surgery for an issue he picked up on the opening weekend and will be out for at least the next few weeks, as will Bukayo Saka who sustained a hamstring injury against Leeds and is out until the end of the international break at least.<\/p>\n Martin Odegaard was forced off at Emirates Stadium last week and hadn’t trained before Saturday, but hasn’t been ruled out by Arteta. The same goes for Christian Norgaard and Ben White who sat out the Leeds game with minor issues, while Gabriel Jesus is out longer-term with his ACL injury.<\/p>\n Alexis Mac Allister was missing from the Liverpool side that won at Newcastle on Monday night but could be back in contention after training this week, however Frimpong is definitely unavailable after picking up a hamstring injury against Bournemouth.<\/p>\n TALKING TACTICS<\/p>\n Adrian Clarke: We must try to avoid allowing this contest to become an end-to-end thriller. Liverpool\u2019s attack is in scintillating form, and they always look at their most dangerous when there is space to run into. Ekitike has impressed me greatly. Aside from his smart finishing, the young Frenchman\u2019s movement is also very intelligent. He has scored in both games from moves that he started by knitting things together in midfield. When he goes short, we must keep our eyes on Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Wirtz.<\/p>\n From a tactical standpoint, the most interesting aspect of this encounter could be how we go about shackling Salah. He has a brilliant record against us, so we must respect his threat. Yet, Riccardo Calafiori is also impressing as an attack-minded left-back, causing rival sides problems with his dashing, adventurous style. The key to success will be selecting the right moments to attack, and for teammates to make sure someone slides across to protect that left back zone. If we get the balance right, it could be the key to claiming a great result.<\/p>\n Facing opponents who will want to come onto us, Viktor Gyokeres may also have greater opportunities to use his pace and power with runs in beyond the last defender. Liverpool may start their third different right-back in as many games, so the left-sided channel might be a fruitful domain.<\/p>\n Slot\u2019s side have been carved open on fast breaks and not looked confident dealing with crosses either. So, if we take a positive approach and regularly get into the final third, our players can get success.<\/p>\n Facts and stats<\/p>\n Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 18 Premier League games at Anfield since a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last September.<\/p>\n We are unbeaten in our last 15 Premier League away games, stretching back to last November. Only between April 2003 – September 2004 (27) and August 2001 – September 2002 (23) have we enjoyed longer runs without defeat on the road in the competition.<\/p>\n Since the start of 2022\/23, we haven\u2019t lost a single Premier League game in August (W11 D2).<\/p>\n Only Liverpool vs Spurs (206) has seen more goals of all Premier League fixtures than Arsenal vs Liverpool (198). Since the 2015\/16 campaign, it has seen the most goals of any fixture (78 in 20 games).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n Read more 198 goals! The mad stats from Arsenal v Liverpool <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n We have won our first two Premier League games without conceding \u2013 in only one of our last 20 seasons have we won their first three games, doing so in 2022\/23. The last time we won our first three matches without conceding in a league season was 1924\/25.<\/p>\n Liverpool need to score in this game to set a new club record for consecutive scoring games in the top-flight \u2013 their current run stands at 36. They\u2019ve scored in 98% of their games under Arne Slot (39\/40), the highest percentage by any manager in Premier League history.<\/p>\n Since the start of 2023\/24, we have scored 33 corner goals in the Premier League, more than any other side in Europe\u2019s big-five leagues in that timeframe. We have scored from a corner in our last three games \u2013 we\u2019ve never done so in four games in a row before.<\/p>\n Gabriel Martinelli has had a hand in eight goals across his 10 starts against Liverpool in all competitions (6 goals, 2 assists), netting four goals in five appearances at Anfield.<\/p>\n Mohamed Salah has netted 11 Premier League goals against us, with only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) netting more.<\/p>\n Jurrien Timber has had a hand in five goals in his last five Premier League starts (2 goals, 3 assists).<\/p>\n Match officials<\/p>\n Chris Kavanagh\u2019s appointment could be a good option for us seeing as we\u2019ve not lost any of the last 11 of our games he\u2019s been handed, stretching back to February 2021. That run includes a 1-1 draw at Anfield in December 2023, while our last two matches brought wins against Chelsea and Ipswich Town, but he did dismiss Declan Rice in controversial circumstances against Brighton 12 months ago.<\/p>\n The Manchester official has already refereed the Reds this season in their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, while they also lost on their last league outing with Kavanagh in charge – a 3-2 defeat at Fulham in April. He has awarded penalties in all three of his domestic matches this term already, including one against Liverpool at Wembley.<\/p>\n Referee: Chris Kavanagh Recent trips to Anfield<\/p>\n It\u2019s been nearly 13 years since we last tasted victory at Anfield, but our last three league trips there have seen us return to north London with a share of the spoils as part of our eight-match unbeaten run against the Reds.<\/p>\n Back in April we took on the newly-crowned champions and despite falling 2-0 behind thanks to quickfire goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, Gabriel Martinelli headed us back in contention before Mikel Merino grabbed an equaliser, and although the Spaniard was later sent off, we hung onto a point.<\/p>\n December 2023 saw us take an early lead through Gabiel\u2019s header but were pegged back by Mohamed Salah in a 1-1 draw, while the previous April we seemed set to claim a big win when Martinelli and Jesus netted, but Roberto Firmino salvaged a point with an equaliser three minutes from time after Salah scored again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n Read more From the vault: Five classic matches at Anfield <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \nLive coverage<\/p>\n Once again this season, Live From N5 is the place to be for live commentary of all our men\u2019s first-team games across 2025\/26.<\/p>\n Tune in from just before kick-off on Sunday, when Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke will once again be behind the mics to guide you through the on-field action.<\/p>\n You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live<\/a> wherever you are in the world.<\/p>\n
Assistants: Dan Cook, Wade Smith
Fourth official: Sam Barrott
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis<\/p>\n