The countdown is on for Liverpool’s massive Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
Just nine games into the season and the Reds look set to get one of the trickiest matches of the campaign out of the way already.
As Arsenal are dealing with several availability issues and even lost their last Premier League match to Bournemouth, Liverpool head into the game as possible favourites.
Despite that loss against the Cherries, though, the Gunners are still a formidable beast under Mikel Arteta and should not be taken lightly.
Liverpool have some injury worries of their own, too, and could have up to five first-team players missing.
A win would see the Reds would seven points clear of their potential title rivals and former Liverpool and Arsenal forward Jermaine Pennant has predicted whether they can take all three points at the Emirates.
Jermaine Pennant backs Liverpool win
Although Pennant spent six years at Arsenal after signing in 1999, the flying winger is actually a boyhood Liverpool fan.
It must have been a dream come true for the now 41-year-old to sign for the Reds in 2006.
And having now long-since called time on his playing career, Pennant has retained a love – some would perhaps say a bias – for Liverpool.
But given his allegiance to both teams, it was still intriguing to hear his response when asked to predict the score of Sunday’s game by TalkSPORT co-host Jason Cundy.
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“Look, Arsenal are still a great team so I’m seeing this as a 1-0, it’s still going to be tight” Pennant answered.
“1-0 to Arsenal!?” responds an for some reason incredulous Cundy.
“No, 1-0 to Liverpool,” smiles the former Reds man. “I’m saying 1-0 to Liverpool.”
Who is likely to be missing for Liverpool?
If Liverpool can sneak a 1-0 win out of Sunday’s game then talk of the Reds being serious title challengers will become unstoppable.
Although Arsenal are obviously missing some big players, winning with a clean sheet at the Emirates would still send out a big message.
And, besides, it isn’t only Arsenal who are set to have to field a depleted XI.
In Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota, Liverpool are certain to be without two starters for the match. Jota has a supreme goal-scoring record against Arsenal while Alisson’s absence speaks for itself.
Harvey Elliott will also miss the game while it looks likely that Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley will as well.
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