Top-four chasing Liverpool look to spring a surprise against title-chasing Arsenal in a blockbuster Premier League clash at Anfield.
Victory would see Liverpool climb to seventh if they win by two goals or more, whilst Arsenal can restore their eight-point lead over Manchester City with a win.
Team News
Virgil van Dijk is set to be available for Liverpool after he missed their goalless draw at Chelsea in midweek, due to illness.
Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Luis Diaz (knee) are doubts and won’t be risked unless either player can prove their match fitness.
Naby Keita (muscle), Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) remain absent.
Arsenal could welcome William Saliba back into contention after he missed their last two games with a back injury.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohammed Elneny (both knee) and Eddie Nketiah (ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Easter Sunday 9 April in a 4:30pm BST kick-off, live on Sky Sports in UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have won four of their last five league meetings against Arsenal (W4, L1).
- Arsenal are winless in their last nine league visits to Anfield (D2, L7).
- Roberto Firmino has scored in each of his last two appearances for Liverpool against Arsenal (W1, L1), albeit away from Anfield.
- Mohamed Salah has scored four goals in Liverpool’s last three home matches (W3), during which the Reds scored 11 goals without conceding.
- Gabriel Martinelli has scored in each of Arsenal’s last three league games away from home (W3).
Prediction
With a 13-point gap to the top four, Liverpool simply have to win this game if want any chance of Champions League football next season, although they were lucky to draw at Chelsea in midweek thanks to a mixture of great saves by Alisson and VAR.
They otherwise lacked intensity and much end product without key players like Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo in the starting line-up, so it is imperative that Klopp’s midweek gamble pays off if they’re to get a result here to make it four home wins on the bounce.
Arsenal though need to do something special to snap their rotten luck at Anfield with no wins in their last nine visits, but are riding the crest of seven consecutive league wins even though their starts recently haven’t exactly been strong but they have dug deep to find their way to crucial victories.
On that note, the first goal could be key because if Liverpool can get in front then they should have enough to snatch the win if their defence can keep it tight, otherwise Arsenal should comfortably take this given their current form and confidence compared to Liverpool.
A draw though feels like an easy prediction but I can see Arsenal ending their Anfield rut if the front three of Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka are on top form.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
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