Liverpool have a big date with Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
Having had what many claim to be a favourable start, the Reds’ season really ramps up on Sunday with a visit to the Emirates.
While it is undoubtedly the stiffest test of Liverpool’s campaign so far, the Reds do at least head into the game in sparkling form.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Arne Slot on Friday for the way he has hit the ground running at Anfield already.
And with Arteta dealing with some serious injury and availability issues ahead of Sunday’s game, some have begun to label Liverpool as favourites against the Gunners.
One of those expecting things to unfold that way is former Reds captain Graeme Souness, who has detailed how Liverpool can be a ‘real threat’ to Arsenal.
Graeme Souness predicts Liverpool game-plan
Sunday feels like a real chance for Liverpool to lay down an early marker in the Premier League title race.
With Arsenal weakened by injury and suspension, the Reds can put seven points between them and the North Londoners.
Of course, Arteta will have been studying Liverpool all week and looking into how best to hurt Slot’s team.
What he will have seen is a team who are happy to give up the ball and areas of the pitch to the opposition before hurting them at moments of opportunity.
And writing for The Daily Mail, Souness says he believes that this game plan can bring more joy for Liverpool on Sunday.
“I liked what they did against Chelsea on Sunday during their 2-1 win,” says the Liverpool legend. “They let Chelsea have more of the ball — and that’s unusual for a team coming to Anfield — but a lot of it was in their own half, and that didn’t worry them. They were happy to watch them have the ball in areas where they weren’t going to get hurt. Then, when the time was right, bang.
“I think we’ll see a similar game unfold on Sunday, and that is where Liverpool are a real threat to Arsenal.”
Who is set to be missing for Arsenal?
Although Arsenal have finished ahead of Liverpool in each of the last two seasons, the Reds have always given them a proper game at the very least.
Last season’s match-up at the Emirates ended 3-1 to the Gunners but was close until Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker conspired to allow Arsenal into the lead.
Before that, Liverpool could also have won the topsy-turvy 3-2 game in 2022/23. It shouldn’t be forgotten that the Reds went to N5 and won 2-0 in the FA Cup in January as well.
So, the point is that even at full-strength, Arsenal never find it comfortable against Liverpool.
On Sunday, they are certain to be missing William Saliba and Martin Odegaard, while it looks likely that Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber will be out, too. Opportunity knocks for Liverpool.
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