Some early team news for the Gunners..
After a little bit of dip in the form over the last four games, Arsenal will take on Liverpool at Anfield in what might promise to be a captivating contest. The hosts are undefeated in the league, whereas Gunners have tasted three defeats against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Southampton.
In the reverse fixture, Unai Emery’s side had control for most parts of the game, but their sloppiness at the back could have paid the price. Sadio Mane’s goal was wrongly ruled out offside, and Van Dijk hit the post twice in the first half which made the Gunners gain a point at the Emirates.
Liverpool opened the scoring through James Milner in the second half, but Alexandre Lacazette’s exquisite finish nine minutes before the full time made sure that Unai Emery doesn’t walk away with zero points.
It has been a contrast with one team fighting for the title, and the other side wanting to reclaim Champions League football again next season.
Hector Bellerin, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Danny Welbeck, and Rob Holding will not be available for the game. Besides, it is understood that Mesut Ozil is also ruled out after suffering a knee injury when he was in action against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
Although it has been reported that the German has not made the squad, Emery said that he was substituted during half-time to tweak his tactics.
During the pre-match press conference, the Spaniard said “It is one decision tactically, and also the decision is because we have [done] it before because we have a lot of matches away when it tactically changes something, not for the player but for the team. A lot of the matches when we play in the second half, for example Iwobi, it helps us with a different situation tactically and helps us to win the matches.”
With all these injury concerns, it is likely to see the Gunners shifting to the back three. Bernd Leno is expected to keep his place despite being shaky between the sticks in recent weeks.
The rumours are tumbling that Unai Emery’s back three with Sokratis, Laurent Koscielny, and Granit Xhaka. Shkodran Mustafi is not fully fit yet. Ainsley Maitland Niles and Sead Kolasinac are expected to start as wing backs through the flanks.
The midfield consists of Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, and Aaron Ramsey. The duo strikers Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette should start unless something dramatic happens.
Stephen Leichsteiner and Mesut Ozil are expected to drop out from the team.
PREDICTED XI: Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny, Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland Niles, Sead Kolasinac, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Aaron Ramsey, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette.
Unai Emery’s side have shown their defensive vulnerability at the back, making it easy for the attackers to run behind them. But, their counter-attacking play is something the hosts should be wary of. With the pace of Aubameyang and Lacazette, they have lighting pace up front.
It will be a tough game with both sides looking to add three points in the bag to carry on the momentum. Anfield could prove to be a decisive factor for Jurgen Klopp and Co, but Unai Emery will have a plan to nullify the hosts.
