The claim that Liverpool ‘have yet to play anyone’ so far this season is becoming increasingly redundant by the week. Having already been able to count a 3-0 smiting of Manchester United as part of their 100% away record, a rejuvenated Chelsea were also sent packing at Anfield last Sunday.
For a team who have yet to truly be tested, we’re told, six points against United and Chelsea is not to be sniffed at, but while suggestions that the Premier League leaders have had it easy so far don’t quite stack up to scrutiny of the actual evidence, the reality is Sunday’s visit to Arsenal is a different kettle of fish for Arne Slot as head coach
Visits to that area of north London have been chastening experiences in recent years, in the Premier League at least. Liverpool have conceded six times in their last two league games at the Emirates and they haven’t finished above Mikel Arteta’s men since 2022.
And yet still, there is plenty of justification for believing Sunday’s game represents a much more important afternoon for the hosts. Having seen the league leaders make the most of the Gunners’ slip up at Bournemouth last week, Arteta is suddenly facing up to the prospect of going seven point behind Slot’s men if they lose.
An inopportune time, then, for Arteta to be dealing with something of an injury crisis, particularly when his best centre-back, William Saliba, is also suspended. The Gunners boss was keen to keep his cards close to his chest on Friday but he could be without Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori when the Reds visit this weekend. Throw in the fact Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also sidelined and the problems are piling up high for Arteta just now.
Having developed a reputation, rightly or wrongly, as a club who have been able to ride their luck over injury absences over the last couple of years, it will be fascinating to see how Arsenal cope without so many key performers in what is the Premier League’s standout fixture of the weekend. Defeat is unthinkable for the Gunners, particularly with champions Manchester City in action to struggling Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
It’s a team that has been competing for nine years at the highest level,” Arteta said of Liverpool on Friday. “They know how to compete, how to threaten you when the ball is really far, when the ball is in the outside units especially.
They have the quality to damage you. For nine years consistently it’s been there. That means they’re really good at what they do. They are in a really good moment, a great run. You can see the touch that he’s put on them, to a team that was already very strong. You can see [Slot’s] fingerprints there on that team.”
