ARSENAL VS LIVERPOOL: Tactical Analysis, Expected Line Ups and Predictions

Written by Ziko Ezekiel

Week 11 of the Premier League season hosts one of the biggest fixtures of the season yet, as we see Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates. After 10 match weeks concluded both teams find themselves well in the top half of table with Liverpool only second to Man city on goal difference and are just four points above Arsenal who are fourth on the ranking. The visitors, Liverpool, come into this game unbeaten in the league, with 8 wins and 2 draws that came against fellow title rivals, Manchester City and Chelsea. Arsenal on the other hand, have only lost against these same opponents in the first 2 games of the season before they went unbeaten in the next 8 league matches, winning seven and drawing the most recent match away to Crystal Palace.

Going forward, Arsenal have been really firing, where only high flying defending champions, City (27) have more league goals than the Gunners (24). Defensively, it’s a different story for the North London side as they have conceded 13 in the first 10 matches, the highest conceded among the top seven placed teams at the moment. Their defensive stability haven’t been helped with injuries to a number of defenders especially in the left back position where Nacho Monreal, Kolasinac and even make-shift left back Maitland Niles all suffering with injuries this season, with midfielder Granit Xhaka playing the left back role in the last game. Club’s skipper Laurent Koscielny has been out since last season and just recently, in the last match against Palace, in form right back Hector Bellerin picked up an injury.

Liverpool on the other hand have also done well in attack, though a little less than expected from their fierce attack force. They have scored 20 goals (the least scored among the top 4) in the 10 league games averaging 2 goals per game as their main man in attack, Mo Salah, has not consistently been at his best. In defence, Liverpool has enormously improved as their defence which was normally their weak link in previous seasons has now become their strongest point. In the 10 league games played, the Merseyside side has conceded only 4 goals, only Manchester City have conceded fewer in the league. The recruitments of Virgil Van Djik in the winter transfer and Goalkeeper Allison last summer have been fruitful as they have brought solidity to the defence.

Emery’s Arsenal point to prove against a big opponent vs Liverpool title contenders point to prove

Arsenal turned their season around going 13 matches unbeaten after back to back losses in the first two matches. Those losses came against the two big opponents Arsenal have faced this season, Man city and Chelsea respectively. While Arsenal are doing well in beating the teams they are expected to win, they would need to win the big games too, as points won/loss in these big games could prove vital at the end of the season as all other big teams are also winning almost all the matches they are expected to win against smaller opponents. Before Arsenal’s draw against Palace (the first time they fail to win against a smaller side this season), Liverpool topped Arsenal with only two points and those two points were the difference between Liverpool’s result in big games against Man city and Chelsea and Arsenal’s result against those same opponents.

Also, while Arsenal losses can be understandably excused as a result of those tough fixtures coming too early for a team starting a new era and largely unaccustomed to the new style and philosophy, they won’t have that as an excuse coming into this match as they have gone 13 matches since then, gained form and momentum, played some good football and to a large extent gotten accustomed to the way Unai Emery wants them to play. Liverpool on the other hand will look to match Man city’s claim as title favourites by winning fixtures Man city will win or has won. Man city came to the Emirates in match week one and left as 2-0 winners and Liverpool will be looking to match or better that result to send a message that they are equally formidable against big teams. Man city have already matched Liverpool’s win against Spurs at Wembley with a win there in the last fixture, now it’s time for Liverpool to do same at the Emirates.

Goals promising fixture

In recent years, matches between Arsenal and Liverpool have been very exciting and with plenty goals to show. With 27 goals scored in their last five meetings, averaging 5.4 goals per game, it has proved to be a fixture to look forward to for the neutrals. Last season this fixture saw 6 goals, ending 3-3 in a very thrilling contest.

Although, in those past fixtures of goals, both teams have been praised of being strong in attack but criticized of being weak defensively, very much the reason why goals have been plenty when they meet. This season though, Liverpool’s defence has been their major strength even more than their firing attack while Arsenal’s defence remains in its usual unreliable state but their attack has been a super force. In other words, we’ll be seeing Liverpool’s deadly attack vs Arsenal’s suicidal defence and Arsenal high flying attack vs a solid Liverpool’s defence. On paper it promises goals for Liverpool, so Arsenal might need to score plenty themselves against a solid Liverpool defence to get something from this game.

Arsenal’s second half wake might come too late

This season Arsenal have shown to be slow starters as they have had to wait till the second half of matches to win games. In the last 8 EPL matches, Arsenal have scored 22 goals, with just 4 of them coming in the first half and 18 coming in the second half. In their seven league wins, they ended the first half levelled and won the games only in the second half. Not only have they failed to score in the first half but they also struggle to get on the front foot, as they have to absorb pressure from the opponents most of the half and look to their Goal keeper and luck to keep them in the game before their usual second half wake. Against a team like Liverpool, Arsenal cannot afford to continue their slow start as they could get punished beyond second half repair. Arsenal fans won’t want a repeat of the match against Liverpool at Anfield in 2014 where Liverpool were 4-0 up with just 20 minutes played.

Arsenal playing from the back vs Liverpool’s high press

Unai Emery has remained persistent with setting up his team to play from the back despite the occasional struggle shown by the players in its implementation. They have also had times were the Arsenal players have implemented it to perfection, most notably in the win against Leicester with beautiful team goals especially the third that started with uninterrupted passing right from the goal keeper. Klopp’s Liverpool on the other hand is known for their energetic pressing of the ball off opponents. How Arsenal will cope with Liverpool’s pressing will be a major feature in this match. Will Emery persist and risk playing from the back against a deadly Liverpool attack or will he alter his style to a more cautious approach against Liverpool?

Expected Line up and Predictions

The visitors come to the Emirate with only former Arsenal player, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the only long term absentee they have. Although midfielders Jordan Keita and Naby Keita are major doubts as they recover from hamstring issues. Their absence means new boy, Fabinho might get a chance to continue in the side after struggling for playing time earlier in the season. Also, Georginio Wijnaldum has been brilliant this season and hard worker James Milner will certainly get a place in the team. In defence, Lovren has fought his way back to the starting xi leaving Joe Gomez to contest the right back spot with Alexander-Arnold. Up front Liverpool will likely continue with their three wise men though new signing Shaqiri’s form might give Klopp a little selection head ache.

Arsenal’s line up remains unpredictable until it is out as several players are still doubt to play the match, especially in defence. Right back, Hector Bellerin is a doubt after he was subbed off at half time against Palace on Sunday and the left back position is not any better with both Monreal and Kolasinac still not sure of starting. If all three full backs end up not playing, Emery will be left with veteran Stephan Litchsteiner, the versatile Maitland-Niles and old boy Carl Jenkinson to pick from. Granit Xhaka played the left back role last time against Palace but will definitely move back to the midfield to partner Lucas Torreira followings Matteo Guendouzi’s red card in the Carabao cup match against Blackpool, which means he is suspended for this clash. Up front, Emery will most likely start both Lacazette and Aubameyang together. Leno looks likely to retain his place in goal as Cech was used in the Carabao cup against Blackpool.

Predicted Arsenal line up:

4-2-3-1 Leno, Bellerin (if fit), Sokratis, Holding, Monreal (if fit), Torreira, Xhaka, Iwobi Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Predicted Liverpool line up:

4-3-3 Allison, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Virgil Van Djik, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Salah, Mane, Firmino

Match Prediction: Expect another match with plenty of goals. A 3-2 score line, hard one picking which team will come out on top but I’ll go for Liverpool.

Based on this season form, give your Arsenal and Liverpool combine xi in the comment section. Here is ours:

4-3-3; Allison, Bellerin, Van Djik, Gomez, Robertson, Torreira, Wijnaldum, Ozil, Salah, Mane Aubameyang

Edited by aderinwaledavid