Arsenal arrive at Anfield this weekend knowing they are just one match away from an unwanted piece of club history.
The Gunners have failed to win any of their last 13 Premier League visits to Liverpool, drawing five and losing eight. Andoni Iraola’s side now have the opportunity to extend that miserable record when the two teams meet on Sunday.
According to Opta Analyst, Arsenal have never gone 14 consecutive league matches at Anfield without a victory.
That is quite some statistic, and it gives this weekend’s meeting another fascinating storyline.
Arsenal haven’t won at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012
You have to go back to September 2012 for Arsenal’s last Premier League victory at Anfield, when they secured a 2-0 win.
Since then, Liverpool have made life extremely difficult for the Gunners on Merseyside.
Five draws and eight defeats tell their own story. It doesn’t matter how good Arsenal have been during certain periods or how much quality they have had in their squad, Anfield has repeatedly proved a difficult place for them to get a result.
Even more interestingly, this isn’t the first time Arsenal have endured such a miserable run.
They also went 13 league visits without winning at Anfield between 1975-76 and 1987-88. That sequence was eventually ended by the famous 2-0 victory in 1989, when Michael Thomas scored that unforgettable goal to help Arsenal snatch the league title from Liverpool on the final day.
Liverpool supporters certainly won’t need reminding of that afternoon!
Iraola has the opportunity to make another statement
There is plenty riding on Sunday’s match for Liverpool.
Arsenal are the reigning Premier League champions and remain one of the strongest teams in the country. They have the quality to punish any defensive mistakes, and Liverpool will need to be at their best.
However, Iraola’s side have started to show signs of improvement.
The recent victories over Brentford and Brighton, followed by the penalty shootout success against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, have given Liverpool some momentum.
A victory over Arsenal would be another huge statement and could further strengthen the belief that Iraola is beginning to build something at Anfield.
But Liverpool cannot simply rely on history to get the job done.
They need to bring the intensity, aggression and quality that supporters expect when Arsenal come to town.
Anfield needs to play its part
These are the games that make Anfield special.
There is nothing better than seeing Liverpool take on one of their biggest rivals in front of a full house, with the supporters making life as uncomfortable as possible for the opposition.
Arsenal will know exactly what awaits them.
They have the opportunity to end their long wait for a league victory at Anfield, but Liverpool have every reason to make sure that record remains intact.
I would love to see the Reds get after Arsenal from the first whistle rather than allowing them to settle into their passing game.
The visitors have enough quality to hurt Liverpool if they are given too much time and space.
My verdict: Keep Arsenal’s Anfield hoodoo alive!
Statistics don’t win football matches, and Liverpool will have to earn the right to take all three points.
But there is no denying that Arsenal have a psychological hurdle to overcome.
Thirteen Premier League visits without a victory is a remarkable record, and the thought of making it 14 would be another welcome milestone for Liverpool supporters.
I want to see Iraola’s players approach this game with confidence, belief and the determination to show Arsenal exactly how difficult Anfield can be.
Arsenal are chasing history, but Liverpool should have only one objective: make sure they leave Anfield empty-handed and that their miserable record continues.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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