Arsenal visit Liverpool in a huge Premier League showdown on Sunday afternoon at Anfield.
The Gunners head into the clash with maximum points, having strolled to victory over Leeds at the Emirates last weekend and having beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford before that.
Liverpool overcame 10-man Newcastle on Monday night, meaning Arne Slot’s side also head into the clash with six points.
The game on Merseyside will be significant in determining the outcome of the Premier League title race, and thus, Mikel Arteta will be desperate for his side to come away with at least a point.
Danny Murphy makes Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction
Arsenal were held by Liverpool in this fixture last season, in a game which saw Arteta’s team come from two goals down to secure a draw.
Goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz gave the Reds a commanding lead, before strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino earned the North Londoners a point.
Declan Rice missed that game through injury, but should be available this time around, while Arteta will also have the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke to pick from.
However, Bukayo Saka will miss the Liverpool encounter, having sustained a hamstring injury against Leeds on Saturday.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy is confident that his old side will overcome Arsenal on Sunday.
“If I had £100 to bet now, I’d always bet it on Liverpool at Anfield, against anyone in the world,” he said on talkSPORT when asked to predict the outcome of the game.
Arsenal haven’t won at Anfield in the league since 2012, and thus, it’s reasonable not to be overly optimistic about the Gunners’ chances of securing all three points this weekend.
That said, Liverpool have shown signs of fragility in their opening two games, which Arteta’s team should look to exploit.
Arsenal can overpower Liverpool’s fragile midfield on Sunday
While Liverpool’s back-line has been exposed on numerous occasions in their first two matches, this has largely been a result of a lack of protection from the midfield.
The Merseysiders have consistently been cut through in the middle of the park, with the opposition driving at Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in acres of space.
A midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz doesn’t possess the physical attributes required to stop imposing midfielders driving through the heart of them.
None of the midfielders at Slot’s disposal are effective ball winners, and this has to be an area Arteta exploits on Sunday.
With Zubimendi and Rice, the Gunners have two midfielders who can physically overpower Liverpool’s midfield and subsequently take control of the contest.
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