Liverpool take on Arsenal tomorrow afternoon with the Gunners looking to win at Anfield for the first time since 2012.
They’ll arguably never have a better chance. Flying at the top of the table and 29 points ahead of the Reds, Arsenal look good for a first league title in 19 years. Win tomorrow and they’ll take a huge step towards stealing Manchester City’s crown.
But Liverpool can’t be ruled out completely. They’ve reserved their best form for their own stadium this season and have already put City, Manchester United and Newcastle to the sword at Anfield. Here’s the XI we think Jurgen Klopp will hope can add Arsenal to that list of scalps.
Defence
No surprises in goal, Alisson Becker has comfortably been Liverpool’s best player this year and will be crucial if they’re to stop the table-toppers on Sunday.
So too, will Trent Alexander-Arnold. The right-back has often found the going tough against Gabriel Martinelli, but Klopp will put his faith in Trent to come out on top this time. If he can, one of Arsenal’s biggest threats will have been nullified.
The other will come from the right, where Andy Robertson will be restored and tasked with shackling Bukayo Saka. In the central areas the ‘incredible’ Virgil van Dijk should return from illness to partner Ibrahima Konate.
Midfield
The biggest question mark over this team is likely to come in midfield. Does Klopp chuck Thiago Alcantara back in after over two months out injured. For our money, the answer simply has to be yes. Thiago starts.
Next to him we can’t see how Jurgen has all that much choice. For all their failings Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are still by far the best options Liverpool have available. Both should be in the team, as Klopp fields his strongest midfield on paper.
Attack
The news that Luis Diaz isn’t yet ready to start will have come as a disappointment to Liverpool fans. In his place Darwin Nunez should continue after a promising showing at Chelsea.
There’s every chance that Klopp is weighing up persisting with the mis-firing Diogo Jota through the middle. Jota has an outstanding goal scoring record against Arsenal. With tomorrow bringing up a day shy of a year since he last scored, it could be the perfect chance for the Portugueuse.
But given Jota’s disastrous recent showings, we don’t think he deserves to start here. Instead, Cody Gakpo is likely to be preferred.
Finally, Mohamed Salah is surely set to return to the line-up after a spot on the bench against Chelsea. He wasn’t pictured in training on Thursday, but Klopp didn’t mention any issues with Mo yesterday. If he’s fit, he plays.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Arsenal: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez