Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium in Easter Saturday Night Football from the Premier League.
Victory would see Arsenal stay ninth but move to within a point of seventh-placed Liverpool, whereas Jurgen Klopp’s Reds can go fifth with victory until Sunday teatime.
Team News
Willian is in contention to return for Arsenal after recovering from a calf strain.
Emile Smith Rowe (hip) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) are doubts and will be handed late fitness tests.
Liverpool could be without Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi in attack due to respective knee and muscle injuries.
Caoimhin Kelleher (abdominal) is in contention to return but Jordan Henderson (adductor), Joel Matip (ankle), Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk (both knee) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have won just one of their last 11 Premier League meetings against Liverpool (W1, D4, L6).
- Liverpool have won just one of their last eight league trips to Arsenal (W1, D4, L3).
- Alexandre Lacazette has scored once in each of Arsenal’s last two home clashes against Liverpool (W1, D1).
- Three of Liverpool’s last seven away goals have come from Mohamed Salah.
- Arsenal have lost their only previous home league game refereed by Martin Atkinson, losing 3-0 to Aston Villa in early November.
Prediction
Having endured a performance of contrasting qualities at West Ham just before the international break to fight back for a 3-3 draw, Arsenal simply need to win here to realistically keep their hopes of an European spot alive.
Liverpool meanwhile have had a three week break after a tough away win at Wolves but ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League tie at Real Madrid, I think Klopp will be slightly cautious with his lineup here if Firmino and Origi aren’t fit enough to feature.
On that note, I think the pressure will be on Arsenal because defeat would leave them under further pressure to avoid absolutely needing to win Europa League to qualify for Europe next season.
Neither team however are in the most consistent of form at present given Arsenal’s defensive mess, so a score draw would be a decent result for both teams here.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
Result: Arsenal 0-3 Liverpool
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