Sunday 31st of August will see Arsenal FC against Liverpool FC, at Anfield on Merseyside, kick off is at 4.30pm UK time. This will be match-day three of the 2025/6 season.
OUR HOSTS.
Liverpool need no introduction, unless you’ve been living in the Kuiper belt for the last hundred years or so. One of the true forces in the PL to be reckoned with, and favourites to win the PL 2025/6. They are on their good days, a truly excellent team and are unbeaten so far this season, but have allowed in four goals in those two.
At the time of writing this Isak still hasn’t signed for them and there’s still time, if so and with him, they may become an unstoppable force. But what happens if they meet the unmoveable object? Hopefully that object comes the form of a cannon.
If Isak to Liverpool happens or no, this one will leave a bitter legacy at the Toon and has already spilt a lot of speculative ink in the press and hurt voices elsewhere. Liverpool have reinforced themselves this summer with Wirtz, Kerkez and Ekitike with rumours that Guehi is on the way too.
Having kept an eye on their first two games I would say they are beatable, but one seconds worth of a concentration slip-up and yer doomed. Anfield has never been much of a happy hunting ground for the Arsenal, although I liked the effort and resilience we showed last time up there.
According to some AI-head its nearly four thousand days since we beat Liverpool at Anfield. Although that seems a strange deception when we only ever play them on Merseyside once a year, its not as if we could play them on any other days except at Ashburton Grove for the home-tie. That win came on the 2nd of September 2012. Trouble is AI- head forgot to include our Carabao Cup win back in 2020.
The first game ever with the Reds at Anfield was on the 1st of January 1894. Over all its 83 games won by the Arsenal, 66 draws and 93 wins by Liverpool. Last season it was all square at two a piece in both games.
Our chums at Statto HQ have given Liverpool a 42.5% chance of winning and the Arsenal 28%.
Mills.
I can’t remember such a pivotal game coming so early in the season. I don’t think the magnitude if it can be exaggerated. A win up there would put down a marker to end all markers. Liverpool have not looked great , despite 2 wins, but then again, neither have we. Let’s not pretend the United game was awful stuff, and for 45 minutes against Leeds, it wasn’t much better. The 100% record of one of us has to go.
Here is my best guess prediction, if we score 2 goals , we won’t lose. It’s been a Donkey’s age since we conceded more than 2 goals, and that’s the sum total of my logic and guess work.
The team sort of picks itself, with Odegaard’s fitness being the big question. If he’s not fit I think Eze will make his debut as 10 at 10, with Martinelli on the left. If he is fit, maybe Eze will be the starter on the left.
It’s not the end of the world if we lose, and it’s not conquering the world if we win, but it might feel like one or the other at full time. For all our sanities sake, a draw would be a good result, and I’d take one now.
I understand results are everything in circumstances like this, but wouldn’t it be great to watch an entertaining game of flowing football as well as getting a positive result? That’s my wish anyhow.
See you all come Sunday,
Pedantic George.