LIVE ON TS Liverpool vs Arsenal: Premier League match preview, latest team news, manager quotes and predicted line-ups
Jurgen Klopp's side face a stern test of their title credentials when the Gunners head to Anfield on Saturday evening
By Daniel Sandford
29th December 2018, 8:42 am
Updated: 29th December 2018, 8:58 am
Premier League leaders Liverpool host Arsenal on Saturday at 17:30 – LIVE on talkSPORT.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are six points clear at the top and are looking to extend their unbeaten league run to 20 games this season against a Gunners side sitting fifth in the table.
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Liverpool have yet to be beaten in the Premier League this season
In their most recent matches, Liverpool beat struggling Newcastle United 4-0, while Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.
In the reverse fixture last season, in August 2017, Liverpool were dominant as they beat the Gunners 4-0.
What the managers are saying
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool): “They are strong, good with the ball and very lively. Their counter-attacks are crazy quick – Aubameyang and Lacazette are an outstanding striker couple up front. It will be difficult.â€
Unai Emery (Arsenal): “They created this team. I remember three years ago they had a problem in their defensive moments and bought some people – for example Virgil van Dijk – with a good investment and the result is we are looking today at their progress. They are a very big team.â€
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Unai Emery will hope to dent Liverpool’s title chargeTeam news
Liverpool could opt to freshen up their side, with Fabinho and Naby Keita among those in line for a recall to the starting line-up.
James Milner will miss out for the hosts with a minor muscular injury,
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Fabinho scored in the win over Newcastle on Boxing Day and could return to the starting line-up
Arsenal again remain short of defensive options, with Hector Bellerin, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding all ruled out.
Shkodran Mustafi is nearing a return from a hamstring injury but this match is likely to come too soon, while captain Laurent Koscielny should be fine despite suffering a minor foot issue in the draw at the Amex Stadium.
Mesut Ozil has not travelled with the squad after picking up a knee injury in training.
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Henderson, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Arsenal: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Ramsey, Aubameyang.
Match statsThis will be the 227th meeting between these two teams in all competitions, with Liverpool winning 86 times to Arsenal’s 79 (61 draws).Arsenal are without a win in their last five trips to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League (D2 L3), conceding two or more goals in each match (17 in total).Liverpool have gone seven games unbeaten against Arsenal in all competitions (W3 D4) – they last embarked upon a longer such run in February 2000 (14 games).There have been 149 goals in Premier League matches between Liverpool and Arsenal – only four fixtures have reached 150+ goals in the competition (Arsenal/Everton, Liverpool/Spurs, Chelsea/Spurs and Arsenal/Spurs).Arsenal have scored more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League side this season (9), while Liverpool are the only team yet to concede such a goal in 2018-19.Arsenal have won just one of their last 12 Premier League away games against sides starting the day top of the table (2-1 vs Chelsea in November 2008), losing the last six in a row by an aggregate score of 2-17.Liverpool have conceded just seven goals in their 19 Premier League games this season, and a clean sheet here will see a record for fewest goals conceded after 20 English top-flight games.Liverpool are unbeaten in 30 Premier League home games, their longest such run since a run of 31 between December 2007 and August 2009.
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