Online Reporter
IT was 13 years ago, the last time that Arsenal won at Anfield in English Premier League football.
Mikel Arteta was starting for the Gunners in midfield that day as they ran out 2-0 winners against Liverpool.
Since then, the red side of Merseyside has proved an unhappy hunting ground for Arsenal and they are winless in their last 12 visits.
Arteta is desperate for his side to end their Anfield hoodoo today and lay down an early marker in this season’s title race.
Arne Slot’s side have won both of their opening two Premier League games this season, but they have required late heroics to do so.
Last week, the Reds needed a 100th-minute winner from 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to beat 10-man Newcastle 3-2 at St James’ Park.
For the second game in a row, Liverpool had almost blown a two-goal lead and their defence has looked uncharacteristically leaky.
Liverpool have conceded four goals in two League games.
Last season, they did not ship that many until after nine matches.
In their opening two League games, Liverpool have also given up an xG of 2.68, with only eight sides having worse defensive data than that.
It is a far cry from last season, when Liverpool statistically had the second best defence in the League, after Arsenal.
Part of it is undoubtedly down to new players settling in, including left-back Milos Kerkez, who has looked particularly shaky.
Indeed, this is the earliest the previous season’s top two sides are meeting in a Premier League campaign since 2017-2018, and Arsenal could benefit from Liverpool’s teething issues. Also, Isak is not in the door yet.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Alexander Isak has been one of the longest running transfer sagas of this summer.
The Reds have failed with a bid of around £110 million and it remains to be seen if they return with a fresh offer.
Newcastle have been insistent that Isak is not for sale, but if they wrap up a deal for Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade and another forward, then that could change.
Thankfully for Arsenal, however, even if Liverpool are able to bring in Isak before Monday’s transfer deadline, it will not be in time for the Swede to play in today’s game.
That is a huge boost for the Gunners, as a forward line of Mohamed Salah and Isak will be formidable.
Arsenal fans were rueing their tough start to the season when the fixtures were announced in June — but playing Liverpool early may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
Only two games have been played in the current campaign and already the Gunners have reminded everyone of how dangerous they can be from set-pieces.
Arsenal have scored three goals from set-pieces and no one in the league can better that tally, with only Chelsea able to match it. — Standard Sport
Arteta’s side have an xG of 2.16 from their set-pieces so far, which is by far the best in the top-flight. Chelsea are the next best on 1.55.
Encouragingly for the Gunners, Liverpool have also looked vulnerable from set-pieces this season, too.
The Reds have conceded two goals from set-pieces, with West Ham the only side to have leaked more than that.
Arsenal relied on set-pieces last season for big goals in big games — and they could prove a valuable weapon today. — Standard Sport
