Anfield plays host to one of the biggest Premier League games of the season so far as Liverpool take on Arsenal in a massive clash this afternoon. The reigning top-flight champions head to Merseyside reeling from their Carabao Cup embarrassment at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood, eager to quickly reassert some authority and move back to the top of the table after leaders Manchester City lost again yesterday.
But to do so they will need to end their hoodoo at this famous old ground, where they have remarkably not won in the league since 2012. Arsenal are likely to face a stern test from an in-form Liverpool team who sit fifth and will be harbouring title ambitions of their own under Andoni Iraola after winning their last five matches across all competitions, including holding their nerve in a penalty shootout against Chelsea in midweek.
The Reds could get both Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz back from injury today, while Mikel Arteta should be able to call upon the key trio of Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis, though Noni Madueke’s status remains uncertain ahead of a late fitness test. Follow Liverpool vs Arsenal live below!
There were no surprises as to the main topic of conversation at Mikel Arteta’s pre-Liverpool press conference.
The Arsenal boss faced several questions on Max Dowman, and particularly his visibly furious reaction to the youngster’s late dismissal at Fleetwood.
Arteta passionately doubled down on it despite the criticism he has received since in some quarters, insisting - “This is the Premier League, not Disneyland”.
Arteta said he was “very disappointed” that the FA had rejected Arsenal’s appeal against the red card, feeling that Dowman’s retaliation had been minimal after a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal - one that Arteta felt could have left him with a broken foot.
Arteta’s anger at Dowman stemmed from the conversations they had pre-match, in which he warned him not to react to any rough treatment after also being sent off for England’s Under-19s earlier in October.
"The reaction when I don't win, you know what the reaction is? I'm p****d off, big time. So we need to be ready for that,” Arteta said.
“This is the environment and this is the reality. Otherwise, we are in Disneyland. We are not in Disneyland.
"We are in the Premier League at this level and we look after him so much that you cannot imagine.
“But at the same time, we're going to demand him like to anybody else because he needs to earn the right to play.
Andoni Iraola vs Mikel Arteta - battle of childhood friends
There are so many intriguing subplots to today’s massive game, from Arsenal’s Anfield hoodoo, to a potential title battle between these sides, to Arsenal potentially going top above Manchester City or Liverpool maybe moving just three points behind.
There is also the fact that Andoni Iraola won three of his last four matches against Arsenal while in charge at former club Bournemouth.
The game also pits together childhood friends Iraola and Mikel Arteta, who both hail from the Basque Country and each learned their trade at amateur club Antiguoko in San Sebastian before moving on to Athletic Club and Barcelona respectively.
“Last week we were against Inigo [Perez], against Xabi [Alonso], now it’s going to be against Mikel, so a lot of friends on the opposition bench,” Iraola said of coming up against Arteta.
“I think it’s a good thing in terms of spending at least five, 10 minutes after the games normally with them. But I know that he will give us a very difficult game so we will have to be at our very best.”
Arteta said of facing Iraola: "It's a privilege. I've discussed that many, many times.
“Someone that has been your team-mate, that you spend so many beautiful moments together when we were younger, to be facing each other, to be close, massive clubs in this country, in Europe, in a big match like this. It's just, it's a blessing.”
Close mates: Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta
How can Arsenal end Anfield hoodoo?
Arsenal have lost eight of the subsequent 13 Premier League meetings at Anfield since September 2012, drawing five.
Liverpool would set a new club record if they avoided losing at home to Arsenal again today.
Asked how he can translate his success as a player with Arsenal at Anfield into management, Mikel Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on Friday: "Well, going there with full conviction, that's number one.
“We've been very, very close in the last few years to win, but something is missed and that we've been discussing the last few days, to go there with a real purpose to help them and get away from there with a victory.”
Who played when Arsenal last won at Anfield?
As mentioned already, Mikel Arteta was part of the last Arsenal team to have won at Anfield in the Premier League.
Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla both grabbed their first Gunners goals either side of half-time in an Abou Diaby-inspired 2-0 triumph on Merseyside back in September 2012.
It was a first win of that season and third successive clean sheet for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, condemning Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool to their worst start to a campaign for 50 years after he had succeeded Kenny Dalglish that summer.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Gerrard, Allen, Sahin, Borini, Suarez, Sterling
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction
This promises to be a truly fascinating contest between two teams who, depending on the result of Manchester City’s appeal and the consistency shown by the likes of Chelsea and Brighton, could well end up being the closest title rivals in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool are full of confidence after really picking up momentum under Andoni Iraola and putting together five successive wins across all competitions, including his first at home in the league against the high-flying Seagulls last weekend.
Arsenal’s modern record at Anfield is putrid, with 14 years having now passed since their last league win there - when Mikel Arteta was part of the midfield under Arsene Wenger.
However, it would be shocking if the champions did not deliver a strong and swift response to their Carabao Cup humiliation.
We expect a thriller that hopefully won’t be short on drama, goals and big talking points, but that ultimately ends all square.
Arsenal team news
Rice and Calafiori both missed the embarrassing midweek penalty loss at Fleetwood with minor knocks, while Tzolis has not been involved since before the international break after injuring his hamstring playing for Greece.
However, all three players took full part in training at Colney on Friday, and Mikel Arteta said they would each be involved in the game if they did so again on Saturday.
That appears to have happened, with Rice, Calafiori and Tzolis all part of the squad that have travelled to Merseyside.
Also present is Noni Madueke, who similarly didn’t play at Fleetwood due to a lingering ankle problem.
Arteta was a bit more evasive on his availability for this game amid reports of a late fitness test, but the latest whispers on social media are that he is fine and expected to start.
Max Dowman is suspended after Arsenal failed in their appeal to have his red card at Fleetwood overturned, while Bukayo Saka remains out along with William Saliba.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool could welcome back both Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz against Arsenal this afternoon.
Szoboszlai has missed all bar half an hour of the Reds’ six matches since the international break with a hamstring injury suffered on Nations League duty with Hungary, breaking down on his short-lived return at Brentford a fortnight ago.
Munoz sustained a knee problem after scoring in the same game and hasn’t featured since, though Andoni Iraola insisted on Friday there was “a chance” that both could be involved against Arsenal.
Szoboszlai and Munoz were both spotted arriving at Liverpool’s team hotel on Sunday morning in footage that circulated on X, while they have also since each posted matchday graphics to their respective Instagram Stories.
Liverpool vs Arsenal live
Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage of Liverpool vs Arsenal in the Premier League.
All eyes will fall upon Anfield today for the game of the weekend and one of the biggest of the season so far as the defending champions seek to quickly bounce back from their Carabao Cup last-16 humiliation at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood in midweek.
Arsenal have incredibly not won a single league match at Anfield since September 2012 and could have their work cut out once more against a soaring Liverpool side who have now reeled off five consecutive victories across all competitions, overcoming Chelsea on penalties last time out.
However, leaders Manchester City's second successive slip-up at the hands of Brighton yesterday means Mikel Arteta's men will go top of the table with just a point on Merseyside.
Andoni Iraola has been understandably keen to play down discussions of a potential title challenge from Liverpool, who currently sit in fifth and six points off the summit, though it will be difficult to keep a lid on expectations if they triumph again here.
Kick-off is at 4:30pm GMT, so stick with us for all your match build-up, breaking team news and live games updates, including expert analysis and insight from Standard Sport's Arsenal correspondent Matt Verri at Anfield.