Arsenal host Liverpool in a huge Premier League clash at the top of the table.
Victory would move Arsenal eight points clear at the summit from Manchester City and Aston Villa, whilst Liverpool will stay fourth regardless of the result but can move four points clear of fifth-placed Brentford with a win.
Team News
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-2 victory at Bournemouth.
Riccardo Calafiori (muscle), Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera (both ankle) remain sidelined.
Liverpool could again be without forward, Hugo Ekitike after he was absent in their 2-2 draw at Fulham, due to a hamstring injury.
Alex Isak (leg), Mohamed Salah (international duty), Wataru Endo (ankle) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Thursday 8 January at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost one of their last seven league meetings against Liverpool (W2, D4, L1).
- Liverpool have claimed seven points in their last five league trips to Arsenal (W2, D1, L2).
- Bukayo Saka has scored four goals in Arsenal’s last three home top-flight games against Liverpool (W2, D1).
- Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last five home games (W5).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last three visits to London-based opposition (W2, D1), during which they scored two goals in each of those three games.
Prediction
Having slipped behind at Bournemouth against the run of play, Arsenal did a brilliant job to come from behind to win through clinical finishing in a fairly dominant display, but the Cherries did show that their defence can be beaten if their marking is sloppy with a late second goal.
Liverpool’s end product meanwhile continues to be problematically wasteful especially without Ekitike, Salah and Isak at Fulham, yet they did show that they do have players to step up in other positions to score, but the way the Cottagers twice ripped their defence down is a worry coming into a tough game.
On that note, Liverpool ideally need Ekitike back for this game otherwise I do expect Arsenal to cruise to victory and extend their title lead, although the visitors should nick a goal if lucky.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
Result: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
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