League leaders Arsenal are the guests this weekend as Liverpool return to Anfield for the primary time in over a month seeking to make a press release.
Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Premier League (29) | AnfieldApril 9, 2023 | 4.30pm (BST)
A humiliating 4-1 defeat on the Etihad final weekend was adopted up by an underwhelming 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.
Liverpool can be wanting to make use of the ability of a house crowd of their Anfield return to encourage an improved show and get the present marketing campaign again on observe.
The Reds will welcome the strongest Arsenal aspect in a few years in a sport the place solely three factors will suffice if any hopes of a prime 4 push are to be maintained.
Listed here are 10 issues you should know forward of Liverpool vs. Arsenal.
1. A Thiago return?
After a seemingly infinite hip flexor drawback and little indications of timelines, Thiago might be concerned this weekend for the primary time since February.
Jurgen Klopp instructed the media in his pre-Arsenal press convention that the midfielder “may” be obtainable having now educated “three or 4 instances” with the complete squad.
“Luis [Diaz] and Thiago [are] coaching fully regular,” the supervisor revealed.
“Thiago appears barely totally different [than Diaz], was not out that lengthy, educated now three, 4 instances with the group and may be obtainable. However we now have to examine how he feels right now.”
2. “It’s Anfield”
Sunday is Liverpool’s first sport at Anfield in over a month, the final event being the 7-0 thrashing of Man United initially of March.
The boss spoke of the significance of utilizing the ambiance to the group’s benefit in an try to show latest fortunes round, admitting there’s “no secret” within the function the gang can play.
The German defined: “In a house sport, an enormous increase will be the gang clearly, celebrating challenges, celebrating sliding tackles, the ball goes out – that’s the place all of it begins.
“It’s the primary little victory, that’s what you need to construct on.”
3. Extra adjustments
Klopp revealed that the congested fixture schedule “opens the door for everyone” and prompt that extra lineup alterations will be anticipated this weekend.
The boss made six adjustments at Stamford Bridge from the aspect that misplaced 4-1 to Man Metropolis, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah each benched and Virgil van Dijk neglected fully because of sickness.
“I stated earlier than the sport and I say it now, this can be a totally different week as a result of we play thrice,” stated Klopp in his pre-match press convention.
“However any further, if we don’t play thrice per week, then we now have extra time to coach.”
4. Traditionally a tricky journey for the guests
Arsenal go into Sunday as favourites as they chase down their first league title for the reason that ‘invincible’ season of 2003/04, however Anfield is much from a contented searching floor for the Gunners.
Liverpool have gained their final six dwelling conferences with Arsenal within the Premier League, scoring 22 instances and conceding solely 4.
Arsenal‘s final victorious league journey to Anfield got here in September 2012, when targets from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla sealed a 2-0 win.
5. Anticipate targets
Not like the latest conferences with Chelsea, through which 465 minutes have now handed with out a objective, this fixture tends to ship targets.
The 2 sides have scored 180 instances of their Premier League conferences, greater than another fixture within the competitors.
Solely one of many final 45 league video games between the edges has completed goalless – a 0-0 draw on the Emirates again in 2015.
6. Jota to lastly break his duck?
Diogo Jota hasn’t scored for Liverpool since a 2-2 draw on the Etihad final April, however Sunday’s opponents are a aspect he has usually had loads of pleasure in opposition to.
The Portuguese ahead has netted seven instances in opposition to Arsenal for the Reds, greater than another aspect, averaging a objective each 73 minutes.
It might be the right alternative for him to seize his first of the marketing campaign having missed the bulk by means of damage, with each hamstring and calf issues protecting him out of motion.
7. Prime 4 hopes on the brink
No league wins in three has seen Champions League qualification slip farther from Liverpool’s grasp, that means that nothing wanting a win can be adequate on Sunday.
The Reds discover themselves 10 factors behind fourth-placed Man United, and additional dropped factors in opposition to Arsenal might sign the tip of any reasonable hopes of clawing issues again.
Will probably be an enormous ask given the standard of the opposition, however Liverpool should discover a solution to function at their finest and decide up a outcome as a way to maintain the season alive.
8. A Firmino swansong?
Together with Jota, Roberto Firmino has additionally scored extra Liverpool targets in opposition to Arsenal than another aspect.
The Brazilian has 10 targets in 17 appearances in opposition to the Gunners, together with a memorable hat-trick within the 5-1 league thumping in December 2018.
Firmino is about to go away Anfield on a free switch this summer time and can be relishing his ultimate alternative to get on the scoresheet on this fixture ought to he function.
Solely Robbie Fowler (12) has extra Liverpool targets in opposition to Arsenal in all competitions than Firmino.
9. Tierney in cost
Paul Tierney will officiate Sunday’s conflict – a referee who has some historical past with Liverpool’s supervisor.
Klopp remonstrated with Tierney following his choice to not ship off Harry Kane throughout a 2-2 draw with Tottenham in December 2021.
The supervisor stated to Tierney at full-time: “I’ve no issues with any referees. Solely you.”
10. Be part of us for protection!
Liverpool vs. Arsenal can be proven dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion, with kickoff happening at 4.30pm (BST).
In case you’re searching for a biased tackle proceedings, look no additional than This Is Anfield’s matchday dwell weblog, which can be obtainable from 3.45pm.
A win please, Reds!
