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March 3, 2012 12:45 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: M. Halsey
Attendance: 44922
Liverpool - Arsenal Preview: Champions League contenders eager to capitalise on morale-boosting wins last weekend
The Gunners came back from two down to beat Tottenham 5-2 at home last Sunday and they travel to the newly-crowned League Cup victors, who conquered Cardiff City on penalties
By Miles Chambers
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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LIVERPOOL
Reina Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique Gerrard, Spearing Henderson, Suarez, Downing Carroll |
ARSENAL
Szczesny Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs Arteta, Song Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun Van Persie |
Liverpool's Glen Johnson (hamstring) and Steven Gerrard (hamstring) are doubts, having picked up knocks in training and England’s 3-2 loss to Netherlands respectively. If Johnson is not fit enough to play then Martin Kelly is an obvious replacement and Red boss Kenny Dalglish will be eager for his talismanic captain to feature on Saturday although Charlie Adam could deputise.
Daniel Agger, who injured his rib in Liverpool’s enthralling penalty shoot-out triumph over Cardiff City in the League Cup final, will definitely not play against Arsenal. Dalglish confirmed that the Danish defender will be absent for a few weeks so Jamie Carragher will likely be ushered into the starting line-up. Brazil international Lucas remains the only long-term absentee at Anfield.
Considering the manner in which Arsenal came back from two goals down to beat Tottenham 5-2 last weekend, manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to tinker too much with the starting line-up. Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (back) were reported to have picked up problems in the north London derby victory, but should have shaken them off over the international break.
The Gunners have a plethora of other injured players: Brazilian full-back Andre Santos (ankle), Aaron Ramsey (ankle), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Per Mertesacker (ankle) and Sebastien Squillaci are all ruled out of the Anfield clash. Andrey Arshavin will play no further part at the Emirates Stadium this season after being loaned out to former club Zenit St Petersburg.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
Liverpool beat Arsenal in the second Premier League match of the season – a 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium courtesy an Aaron Ramsey own goal and Luis Suarez’s late finish. The north London club were in freefall at that point, however, and have salvaged their season since a woeful start to their campaign.
- The Gunners have won more games away from home this season (five) than the Reds have won at Anfield (four). With only 20 points won at Anfield, the Reds actually have their joint-worst points total at home at this stage of the season since the Premier League began.
- Robin van Persie (pictured right) is still flying high as the Premier League's top goalscorer on 23 goals. His nearest challenger is Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney who has scored 17 so far this season. Van Persie is 9/1 to score two or more goals against Liverpool with Bet365.
- 8.6 per cent - that is the percentage of chances the Reds have converted in the league this campaign, the worst in the division.
- Seven points lie between the two clubs, with Arsenal sat in fourth on 46 and Liverpool in seventh on 39. Kenny Dalglish's men do have a game in hand though, although that is a Merseyside derby match against Everton - far from an easy three points.
- In the last nine top flight matches between these clubs, six matches have ended in a draw.
- Should the Gunners avoid defeat against Liverpool on Saturday it will be the first time ever that the club have gone unbeaten at Anfield in five consecutive league clashes.
- Although Arsenal have a home Champions League tie coming up in midweek it is unlikely that players will be rested for the AC Milan match. Arsene Wenger's side lost 4-0 in the away leg to make qualification for the quarter-finals an unlikely scenario. Sunday's opponents, of course, have experience of overturning a large deficit against the Italian club - the Reds came back from 3-0 down at half-time in the 2005 final of the elite European competition to win on penalties.
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Liverpool 1-3 Arsenal
- 15.43 %
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Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
- 12.77 %
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Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
- 11.09 %
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Jan 30, 2013 | Arsenal 2 - Liverpool 2 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Sep 2, 2012 | Liverpool 0 - Arsenal 2 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Mar 3, 2012 | Liverpool 1 - Arsenal 2 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Aug 20, 2011 | Arsenal 0 - Liverpool 2 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Apr 17, 2011 | Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1 |
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| May 19, 2013 | Liverpool 1 - QPR 0 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3 | EPL |
| May 5, 2013 | Liverpool 0 - Everton 0 | EPL |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6 | EPL |
| Apr 21, 2013 | Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
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| May 19, 2013 | Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| May 14, 2013 | Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | QPR 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| 25 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 34 | Martin Kelly | Defender |
| 37 | Martin Skrtel | Defender |
| 23 | Jamie Carragher | Defender |
| 3 | José Enrique | Defender |
| 20 | Jay Spearing | Midfielder |
| 14 | Jordan Henderson | Midfielder |
| 16 | Charlie Adam | Midfielder |
| 19 | Stewart Downing | Midfielder |
| 11 | Dirk Kuyt | Striker |
| 7 | Luis Suárez | Striker |
| 32 | Doni | Goalkeeper |
| 16 | Sebastián Coates | Defender |
| 38 | John Flanagan | Defender |
| 11 | Maxi Rodríguez | Midfielder |
| 33 | Jonjo Shelvey | Midfielder |
| 8 | Andy Carroll | Striker |
| 39 | Craig Bellamy | Striker |
| 13 | Wojciech Szczesny | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Bacary Sagna | Defender |
| 6 | Laurent Koscielny | Defender |
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | Defender |
| 28 | Kieran Gibbs | Defender |
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | Midfielder |
| 25 | Alex Song | Midfielder |
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky | Midfielder |
| 10 | Yossi Benayoun | Midfielder |
| 14 | Theo Walcott | Striker |
| 20 | Robin van Persie | Striker |
| 21 | Lukasz Fabianski | Goalkeeper |
| 25 | Carl Jenkinson | Defender |
| 48 | Ignasi Miquel | Defender |
| 2 | A. Diaby | Midfielder |
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Striker |
| 27 | Gervinho | Striker |
| 29 | Marouane Chamakh | Striker |
| Stewart Downing | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 19 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
The England international was a constant threat in attack and rightfully won the man of the match award for his performance. Anfield supporters will be praying that he carries over his form into this weekend’s mammoth Premier League match.
| Theo Walcott | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 14 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
Arsene Wenger needs the 22-year-old to put in another blinder at Anfield if the Gunners are to maintain their impressive record at the ground. Robin van Persie will be looked at by many as the key attacking threat in the line-up, but the former Southampton winger has the potential to hurt anyone who underestimates him.
Reds striker Luis Suarez has had nearly a month of match practice to get sharp, while his team-mate Andy Carroll will hope to repeat the dominant performance he put in against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium last season when he played for Newcastle United. It’s a controversial option to predict an Arsenal win but the team have proved to be impressive when confidence is high. This is one of those games that could swing either way in an instant, but an international break on the back of Liverpool’s exhausting cup final win could give Arsene Wenger’s men the edge over 90 minutes.
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
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Robin van Persie Striker Man Utd. |
26 | 3 |
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Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
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Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
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C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
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Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |

