Liverpool\u2019s disastrous title defence means they\u2019re significant underdogs heading to the Emirates but Champions League qualification and pride are both on the line midweek. An unbeaten run of nine matches has hardly been convincing but the Reds cannot be dismissed entirely.<\/p>\n
Mikel Arteta\u2019s side have shown the necessary composure when facing up the Premier League<\/a>\u2019s big-hitters this season and their recent 4\u20131 demolition of Aston Villa<\/a> serves as a warning to Liverpool. Rearguard organisation and an improvement in set-piece defending are essential for the Reds to walk away from the capital with their dignity intact. <\/p>\n Liverpool may no longer be contesting the title fight, but Arsenal can land another blow to their chasers on Thursday night. <\/p>\n Here is Sports Illustrated\u2019s guide to an exciting affair in north London.<\/p>\n dark. FREE NEWSLETTER. New SI FC Newsletter Global Embed. Sign Up to Get Informed With SI FC<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Arsenal vs. Liverpool Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)Current Form (All Competitions)<\/p>\n Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n Bournemouth 2\u20133 Arsenal – 03\/01\/26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Fulham 2\u20132 Liverpool – 04\/01\/26 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Arsenal 4\u20131 Aston Villa – 30\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Liverpool 0\u20130 Leeds – 01\/01\/26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Arsenal 2\u20131 Brighton – 27\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Liverpool 2\u20131 Wolves – 27\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Arsenal 1\u20131 (8\u20137p) Crystal Palace – 23\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Tottenham 1\u20132 Liverpool – 20\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Everton 0\u20131 Arsenal – 20\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Liverpool 2\u20130 Brighton – 13\/12\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Country<\/strong><\/p>\n TV channel\/live stream<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n United Kingdom<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n United States<\/p>\n<\/td>\n NBCSN, Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Canada<\/p>\n<\/td>\n DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mexico<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Max Mexico, TNT Sports, TNT Go<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Cristhian Mosquera (left) and Riccardo Calafiori are both injured. \/ David Price\/Arsenal FC\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Injuries are clearing up at the perfect moment for Arsenal, who currently have just three players in the treatment room. One of those is teenager Max Dowman, alongside defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori on the absentee list. <\/p>\n Arteta will continue with previously mooted Liverpool transfer target Piero Hincapi\u00e9 at left back but will otherwise select his strongest available back four as Gabriel partners William Saliba and Jurri\u00ebn Timbers starts at right back.<\/p>\n Declan Rice was passed fit for the weekend win over Bournemouth and scored twice in the fixture. The Englishman will start again and is certain to be joined in the XI by compatriot Bukayo Saka after he was benched at the Vitality Stadium. <\/p>\n Arsenal will recall Saka at right wing. \/ FotMob<\/p>\n Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (4-3-3)<\/strong>: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapi\u00e9; \u00d8degaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gy\u00f6keres, Trossard.<\/p>\n Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 is a doubt through injury. \/ Liverpool FC\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Slot has <\/a>cast doubt over the involvement of Hugo Ekitik\u00e9<\/a> on Thursday, revealing the striker, who missed the Fulham match, hadn\u2019t trained as of Wednesday. He appears touch-and-go for the clash with the Gunners and will be a sizeable miss if unavailable given Alexander Isak\u2019s long-term absence. <\/p>\n Mohamed Salah is still representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and further limits Slot\u2019s attacking options, while Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are also sidelined at present. <\/p>\n Slot\u2019s team selection hinges on Ekitik\u00e9\u2019s availability but he\u2019s unlikely to make any changes from the side that drew with Fulham if the France international is absent. Jeremie Frimpong is the only potential alteration, with the Dutchman possibly lining up at right wing. <\/p>\n Slot will be desperate to have Ekitik\u00e9 involved. \/ FotMob<\/p>\n Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1)<\/strong>: Alisson; Bradley, Konat\u00e9, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Gakpo. <\/p>\n Much has changed since Liverpool narrowly beat Arsenal back in August courtesy Szoboszlai\u2019s stunner. The Reds have slumped to unexpected lows and have looked a shadow of their former selves, while Arsenal have gone from strength to strength. <\/p>\n The Gunners boast home advantage, superior confidence and greater squad depth for the midweek battle, with the most likely outcome a convincing Arsenal win. <\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s inability to defend set pieces could haunt them against a team great at exploiting them, while their general defensive sloppiness may well be punished emphatically. With attacking options limited, they look unlikely to even test the division\u2019s sternest defence. <\/p>\n This looks a straightforward Arsenal win. <\/p>\n Prediction: Arsenal 3\u20130 LiverpoolREAD THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS AND GOSSIP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal take on reigning champions Liverpool in a tantalising battle at the Emirates Stadium…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":681615,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,4884,179,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-681614","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-liverpool","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115858067071600491","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=681614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/681615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=681614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=681614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=681614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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