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Liverpool welcome defending champions Arsenal to Anfield for Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash, hoping to halve the six-point gap between the sides.
Liverpool welcome defending champions Arsenal to Anfield for Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash, hoping to halve the six-point gap between the sides.
Arsenal moved level on 21 points with Manchester City following a 2-0 victory over Everton at the Emirates, with both goals coming from their centre-backs. Ezri Konsa put the Gunners ahead after just seven minutes before Gabriel Magalhães doubled their lead with a second-half header.
Liverpool recorded a similar result in their latest Premier League outing, beating Brighton 2-0 at Anfield. Four minutes after Pascal Groß’s own goal, Alexander Isak turned home first time from Bradley Barcola’s cross. The Reds saw out the victory to clinch their first home league win of the season and keep their fourth league clean sheet.
Liverpool and Arsenal had very different nights in their midweek Carabao Cup ties, with both matches finishing 1-1 before going to penalties. Iraola’s side progressed to the quarter-finals after edging Chelsea 6-5 in the shootout. Arteta’s side, meanwhile, suffered a shock exit to League Two Fleetwood Town, losing 5-3 on penalties.
Despite their Carabao Cup elimination, Arsenal have made a strong start to their Premier League title defence. The Gunners have won seven of their opening eight league fixtures, conceding only five goals and keeping five clean sheets.
Since their heavy 3-0 home defeat to Man City, Liverpool have won five consecutive games across all competitions. Alexander Isak has also impressed in front of goal, sitting second in the top-flight scoring charts with six goals, behind Erling Haaland.
Arsenal haven’t beaten Liverpool on their home ground in the top flight since September 2012, with their subsequent 13 league visits producing five draws and eight defeats. Their last meeting at Anfield, on 31 August 2025, ended in a 1-0 victory for the hosts, while the return match at the Emirates on 8 January 2026 finished goalless. Liverpool remain the only club to have prevented the Gunners from scoring in both Premier League fixtures during the 2025/26 season.
Iraola’s side will be without Jeremie Frimpong, but Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Muñoz could return for Sunday’s clash.
As for the visitors, Bukayo Saka is still sidelined following an injury sustained against Bayern Munich, while Noni Madueke remains a doubt for the trip to Merseyside. However, Arteta could welcome back Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis, with all three back in training ahead of the game.
The hosts will be aiming to extend their unbeaten home run against Arsenal in the league, while the Gunners could go top of the Premier League with at least a draw after Man City’s defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
The match kicks off on Sunday, 1 November, at 16:30 GMT.