One way or the other, Liverpool have most factors from their opening two Premier League video games.
That’s regardless of throwing away 2-0 leads in opposition to each Bournemouth and the ten males of Newcastle United.
Federico Chiesa turned the sport from the bench in opposition to Bournemouth at Anfield on August 16, after which Rio Ngumoha grew to become the fourth-youngest scorer in Premier League historical past to seal a outstanding 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday.
Liverpool are the primary aspect to win each of their opening two video games of an English top-flight season regardless of conceding a number of objectives in every since Newcastle in 1960-61. The Magpies went on to be relegated that marketing campaign.
All of us prefer to make sweeping statements simply two video games into a brand new season. This time period, evidently Liverpool’s firepower is getting a susceptible defence out of hassle.
Arne Slot appeared to criticise the physicality and depth with which Newcastle performed in that ill-tempered encounter at St James’ Park, however it must be famous that Liverpool dedicated 15 of the sport’s 32 fouls (which is a excessive mark for the Premier League thus far this season, albeit it’s a small pattern dimension).
And relating to physicality and fierce defending, there aren’t many groups higher than Liverpool’s subsequent opponents –– perennial almost males Arsenal.
The strain, no less than from some quarters within the media, is seemingly on Mikel Arteta to go one step additional this season after ending second within the prime flight in every of the previous three campaigns.
Arsenal have spent large on Viktor Gyokeres to rectify their want for a striker, whereas they’ve added former Liverpool goal Martin Zubimendi to their midfield and Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze to the assault.
Nevertheless it’s on the again that Arsenal proceed to shine. They’ve stored two clear sheets, beating Manchester United 1-0 and Leeds United 5-0, whereas their anticipated objectives in opposition to (xGA) is 1.7 – the fifth-lowest within the division.
So, it’s a stern defence going up in opposition to a wonderful assault in Sunday’s early-season tussle between two doubtless title contenders. Certainly, that is the earliest the earlier season’s prime two sides are assembly in a Premier League marketing campaign since 2017-18, when Chelsea received 2-1 at Tottenham in matchweek two.
Utilizing Opta information, we preview Sunday’s conflict between Liverpool and Arsenal.
What’s anticipated?
Liverpool should be cautious. They may have two wins from two, however their latest report in opposition to Arsenal shouldn’t be good – the Reds are literally winless in six Premier League encounters with the Gunners (D4 L2), which is their longest winless run in opposition to Arsenal since a run of eight between October 2007 and April 2011.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have a poor report at Anfield, the place they’re winless in 12 video games since a 2-0 victory in September 2012, which noticed Arteta begin within the guests’ midfield.
The final three Premier League video games between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield have all been drawn, and the Opta supercomputer is anticipating one other tight encounter.
Liverpool are backed because the favourites, with a 44.9% win chance.
Arsenal, in the meantime, have a 29.7% probability of taking all three factors, whereas this match completed stage in 25.4% of the supercomputer’s 10,000 simulations.
And regardless of Arsenal’s wonderful defensive report, you must anticipate objectives on this one.
Solely Liverpool versus Tottenham (206) has seen extra objectives, amongst all Premier League fixtures, than Arsenal in opposition to Liverpool (198).
Because the 2015-16 marketing campaign, it has seen essentially the most objectives of any fixture (78 in 20 video games).
Arne’s Slotters
It feels ridiculous to be overly vital of Liverpool given they’ve a 100% report, however Slot should know that his staff are usually not performing to their most, and that should change if they’re to take care of their (im)excellent begin.
However though we have now touched on Liverpool’s unusually leaky defence, Slot’s staff have been wonderful going ahead, as they’ve been because the Dutchman took cost.
In truth, Liverpool have discovered the online in 98% of their Premier League matches underneath Slot (39/40) – the best share of video games scored in by any supervisor with 15 or extra video games within the competitors’s historical past.
The Reds have scored 93 league objectives because the begin of final season. They’ve netted 17 greater than every other top-flight staff in that point, whereas additionally having the best xG (86.4).
Liverpool are actually on the joint-third-longest Premier League scoring streak, having netted of their final 36 video games within the competitors. Solely Arsenal (55 between 2001 and 2002) and Tottenham (39 between 2023 and 2024) have scored in additional consecutive matches within the competitors, and Slot’s staff are approaching a full calendar yr since they final failed to seek out the online in a top-flight recreation (0-1 versus Nottingham Forest on September 14, 2024).
A purpose on this recreation would see Liverpool set a brand new membership report, after the Reds additionally went 36 successive video games with a purpose underneath Jurgen Klopp between 2019 and 2020.
Liverpool had been medical within the excessive in opposition to Newcastle, scoring from three of their 5 makes an attempt. Certainly, after the Reds scored their second purpose via Hugo Ekitike within the forty sixth minute, they didn’t have one other try till Ngumoha curled residence deep into stoppage time.
On prime of their scoring streak, Liverpool additionally love a late purpose. They’ve received extra Premier League video games by way of last-minute objectives than every other aspect within the historical past of the competitors, with Ngumoha’s strike being their forty sixth. Arsenal rank second on the record with 34.
It was a teenage dream for Ngumoha, who grew to become simply the second 16-year-old to attain a successful purpose in a Premier League recreation, after Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton, versus Arsenal.
Harm considerations hampering Arteta?
Arsenal’s 5-0 defeat of Leeds did come at a price, with Arteta dropping each Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to damage.
Saka went off with a hamstring drawback simply earlier than Gyokeres opened his Arsenal account to make it 3-0 to the Gunners, whereas Odegaard had gone off with a shoulder drawback within the first half.
Saka is now set for round a month on the sidelines, in keeping with experiences, and he was omitted of Thomas Tuchel’s newest England squad on Friday.
Odegaard, in the meantime, was named in Norway’s squad for his or her upcoming fixtures and there’s extra hope relating to his potential participation.
Visiting the champions with out Saka would put much more pressure on Arsenal’s defence, after all, so it’s a good job for Arteta that the Gunners have been so resolute.
When Saka has not featured for Arsenal within the league since he broke into the staff, the Gunners’ common objectives per recreation drops to 1.5, in comparison with 2.0 with the England winger within the aspect.
With out their most enterprising vast participant, there shall be much more strain on Arsenal to create probabilities from set-pieces.
Because the begin of 2023-24, Arsenal have scored 33 nook objectives within the Premier League – greater than every other aspect in Europe’s large 5 leagues in that timeframe. The Gunners have additionally scored from a nook of their final three video games – they’ve by no means executed so in 4 video games in a row earlier than.
And if Arteta’s staff had been to return away with a win and a clear sheet, it might be the primary time Arsenal have received their opening three league matches with out conceding since 1924-25.
Eze, in the meantime, will hope to make his debut following his big-money transfer from Crystal Palace. He has already crushed Liverpool as soon as this season, with the Eagles having overcome the Reds within the Group Defend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Ekitike, with three objectives within the house of three aggressive matches for Liverpool, has made a flying begin to life in England, whereas Salah – by his lofty requirements – has been stored comparatively quiet.
But the Egyptian nonetheless scored in opposition to Bournemouth and teed up Liverpool’s winner at Newcastle. Salah (272 for Liverpool) now ranks outright second, behind Rooney (276 for Manchester United) relating to Premier League purpose involvements for one membership.
Salah has additionally plundered 30 of Liverpool’s top-flight objectives underneath Slot, whereas he additionally leads the Reds’ squad for xG (25.6), assists (19) and purpose involvements (49) in that point. He has netted 11 Premier League objectives in opposition to Arsenal, with solely Harry Kane (14) and Rooney (12) scoring extra in opposition to the Gunners.
Certainly one of Salah’s objectives in opposition to the Gunners got here for Chelsea, whereas the opposite 10 have been for Liverpool – solely Roberto Firmino has extra in opposition to Arsenal for the Reds (11).
Arsenal – Viktor Gyokeres
Gyokeres was the main scorer in Europe’s prime 10 leagues in 2024-25, plundering 39 Primeira Liga objectives, eight greater than next-best Kylian Mbappe.
Certainly, solely Salah (47) registered extra purpose involvements in Europe’s prime 10 leagues than Gyokeres (46).
Nevertheless, thriving within the Portuguese recreation with Sporting CP is totally different to hitting it off within the Premier League, so the Sweden worldwide can have been delighted to get off the mark with a double in opposition to Leeds.
His brace got here after a irritating debut in opposition to Man Utd, wherein he didn’t have a single shot in a league recreation for the primary time since April 2023, for Coventry Metropolis in opposition to Blackburn Rovers within the Championship. That ended a run of 69 league appearances wherein he had registered no less than one try.
Grabbing a purpose at Anfield will surely assist Gyokeres show he’s as much as the duty.