The last time that **Arsenal**won at **Anfield**was almost 13 years ago, a 2-0 victory in September 2012. The Gunners have got draws out of their last three trips to the ground, and should they walk away from this fixture three for three in the Premier League, belief builds that the title may be theirs.
How can Mikel Arteta lead the troops to take all three points on Sunday afternoon?
For the first time, the board has backed Arteta with adequate options from back to front to go after the top titles. He dabbled with the depth in his hands to wrap up a 5-0 win over Leeds United last week.
Bukayo Saka suffered a setback with a hamstring injury against the Whites eight months after a Grade 3 tear away at Crystal Palace. The celebrations of that five-goal triumph were muted in the knowledge that there was no trusted option to back up the talisman. This time might be different.
Noni Madueke moved from **Chelsea**for £52 million for times like this. He started the clash last weekend on the left wing, where he earned minutes at the end of last campaign for the Blues. But once he went to the right flank, he did not take a lot of time to get the supporters up off their seats.
He is something different to Saka. The talisman is extremely smart with his movement, the way he times the release of his passes, and has the power to stay strong on his feet to ride challenges. He has been the perfect outlet to run through a playbook, making the right choices from a set of routines.
Madueke is not at the same level, but he is more unpredictable. A livewire from both flanks, he is willing to finish with both feet and the positivity to go directly at his man and wear him down.
Madueke might provide the perfect platform to free **Max Dowman**or Ethan Nwaneri to try things at the end of the game against a tired defence if the situation is right. But first and foremost, the winger will be licking his lips at testing Milos Kerkez, a flying fullback with suspect defensive habits.
Does Arteta unleash all the newcomers?
If Madueke returns to the right, a room would be open for an attacker to face his favoured opponent.
Since his brace at Anfield in the Carabao Cup in 2020, **Gabriel Martinelli**has thrived against Liverpool. He was one of the bright spots in a 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium in March 2022, then scored against the Reds in each of the last three league campaigns, and two of the goals were away.
**Trent Alexander-Arnold**has gone, but right back remains a problem position. Jeremie Frimpong filled in, with his faults in his box, and now he has a hamstring injury; someone else must deputize.
Viktor Gyökeres will want to make his mark against a defence under fire. The Swedish striker struggled in his Premier League debut but bagged two goals against Leeds. The first strike was his typical move: a bustling carry following a run down the left channel and a finish to cap it off.
Ibrahima Konate has not looked his imperious self, but he has mastered the art of defending the channels and sweeping up the trouble Gyökeres causes. Could the number nine catch him off guard?
A final question hangs over the role of the number ten. Martin Odegaard is in the **Norway**squad, but he departed the pitch against Leeds after falling awkwardly on his shoulder. The club captain is not at his brilliant best, and Arteta knows that he cannot afford to carry any passengers at Anfield.
Nwaneri has received more playing time in preseason as the number ten, and he was the replacement for Odegaard last week. But this incident was on the same day that Eberechi Eze was announced as an arrival, and Arteta was reticent to trust the teenager to take on this role in big moments last term.
Eze is a creative, explosive, and forward-thinking player, who will not have gotten to grips with all of Arteta's demands. But he has the skillset to cruise through the centre of the park and exploit a shaky spine. A start for the talismanic ten on Sunday could signal that Arteta is willing to go for the kill.