Arsenal Should Beat Post-Suarez Liverpool. Right?

Match Preview – Liverpool vs. Arsenal – Premier League – 21.12.14

Liverpool are in a bad run of form at the moment and if United can spank them for three then so can Arsenal. The problem is, Arsenal are also just as capable of being spanked for six!

Defensively Arsenal have been all over the shop at time this season and whilst Liverpool aren’t the goal threat they were last season with Suarez and Sturridge. Suarez pulled Arsenal apart in February but when he was kept quiet in the earlier league win and the FA Cup match Liverpool were comfortably if not comprehensively beaten. This highlighted Arsenal’s main failing from last season – when they were at the races they were hard to beat but when heads dropped they did so with drastic consequence.

Small lapses in concentration and Arsenal were punished heavily by players of incredible talent.

It’s arguable that Liverpool don’t have any players of incredible talent although there is a lot of hype surrounding Sterling. However, with a largely makeshift defence likely to play again, pace is the one thing we may not be best equipped to cope with.

On paper Arsenal should beat Liverpool but this season anything goes and nothing is a foregone conclusion.

Arsenal will be buoyed by their last two results and favourable Champions League draw. Arsenal need a good festive period and it starts with Liverpool.

Arsenal from; Szczesny, Martinez, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Ajayi, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles, Flamini, Podolski, Giroud, Chamberlain, Alexis, Cazorla, , Sanogo, Welbeck and Campbell.

Predicted Line-up

Szczesny, Bellerin, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Chamberlain, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Giroud, Alexis

I expect to see substitute appearances from Campbell, Maitland-Niles and Podolski

Match Quote

“He gives us different options because we can go for a longer ball. We have plenty of players who can play short and he gives us a variety in our game” – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (16.02.14)
• Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal (02.02.2014)
• Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool (02.11.2013)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5
WWLWW

Liverpool Last 5
LDDWW

Opposition watch

Liverpool have struggled without Sturridge for much this season and clearly are missing the ability of Suarez to change a game. Like Spurs of last season they have replaced their standout player with a string of expensive players who have failed to make the same impact. Arguably they are a much weaker team than last season when the signings should have made them more complete.

Liverpool have a negative goal difference and still haven’t fixed the defensive deficiencies from last season. It all seems to be coming undone for Liverpool at the same time but they’ll be playing at home and one of two things is likely to happen, Arsenal put them to the sword or Liverpool bring Arsenal crashing back down to Earth.

Factfile

• Arsenal have lost just 6 times at Anfield this century
• Liverpool have beaten Arsenal just 10 times out of 38 since 2000.
• Arsenal’s favourite number of goals to score against Liverpool is 2 having done so on 34 occasions
• Liverpool’s biggest win against Arsenal was 8-1 in 1934 – Arsenal won the league that year
• Arsenal’s biggest win was 6-0 in 1931
• Arsenal have beaten Liverpool 6-3 on two occasions
• Between 1994 and 2000 these teams played 14 times and Arsenal failed to win once beating their previous record of 13 games without a win in the 60s

Prediction

Giroud will be in fine spirits after the Newcastle match and I fancy him to score. As with Newcastle, if Arsenal can score first they have the ability to punish a poor Liverpool defence but I fear if Liverpool go ahead they will do whatever is necessary to protect their lead and home advantage and generally poor refereeing suggests they’ll see it out.

Welbeck played well against Newcastle and had an excellent goal wrongly disallowed. I think he’ll score too.

3-0 to Arsenal with Giroud, Alexis and Welbeck scoring.

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