English Premier League leaders, Arsenal, head to Anfield on the 23rd of December looking to win against Liverpool for the first time in over a decade.
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For Arsenal fans, Anfield has been one of the most dreaded fixtures on the calendar for at least the past ten seasons. The last time the Gunners beat Liverpool on their home patch was in 2012, where Santi Cazorla and Abou Diaby wrote themselves into Arsenal folklore with a performance for the ages. Since then, however, trips to Anfield have been finished in either frustration (last season’s nearly effort which saw Arteta’s side give up a 2-0 goal lead) or humiliation (the less said about that the better).
However, this Arsenal side is aiming to prove that it has what it takes to put this particular red-coloured demon to rest when it looks to beat a fired-up Liverpool looking to top the log this Christmas. It’s a tall order, but if these three things go in the Gunners’ favour, then they could be smiling back to London with three points in their Christmas stockings.
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ARSENAL MUST STOP TRENT AND SALAH
While there’s no disputing that Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah is one of the most dangerous players on the planet, Arsenal will need to keep an even closer eye on the man behind him on the right: Trent Alexander-Arnold. The English right-back is in glittering form and is the conductor of Liverpool’s orchestra. From dangerous crosses, line-breaking passes, dynamic switches of play to shots outside the box, free-kicks and corners – if Trent has the ball, he’s a threat.
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Keeping the ball away from him is easier said than done, but Arsenal will have to minimise supply to the right back and his overall influence on the game if they are looking to get anything out of it. The same goes for Salah, who has scored 11 goals this season already. The Egyptian has been in red-hot form and is arguably the Premier League’s best all-round player at the moment.
Arsenal fans will be less worried about Liverpool’s dangermen getting the ball, however. The Gunners have been described as the best “out of possession team in Europe” by The Athletic and the defensive core of Rice, Saliba and Gabriel can handle even the best attackers.
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Instead, fans will be more fearful of something else:
ERRORS
Blunders. Howlers. Mistakes leading to goal. Whatever you want to call it, Arsenal need to stop that from happening. The league leaders might run a tight ship in defence (they’re tied with Liverpool for fewest goals conceded in the league this season) but they’re the second-most error-prone team in the league. Mistakes have cost them against Chelsea, Tottenham and nearly did so against away to Luton when goalkeeper, David Raya gifted the hosts two goals.
Arsenal will need to be at their best to prevent giving away silly goals because Liverpool has the attack to punish them.
LIVERPOOL WON’T GIVE YOU MANY CHANCES, SO…
Arsenal have to take their chances. There has been no shortage of goalscoring opportunities for the young side in recent games, but many of them have been spurned. Against Brighton, they managed a shot every 3.7 minutes in that game and mustered 26 attempts on goal in a dominant display. However, they spurned far too many good opportunities despite winning the game 2-0.
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Liverpool won’t allow 26 shots nor will they leave much room for clear-cut chances. When the few openings do appear, Arsenal will have to be more clinical than they’ve been in recent games to make those moments count. If they take their chances, avoid unnecessary errors, and limit Trent and Salah’s influence then they could have a very good chance of walking away victorious.
What is your prediction for the game? Leave us a comment below.
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