Arsenal take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners will be looking to strengthen their grip on second place, and victory against Arne Slot’s men would go a long way to securing this position.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal will give Liverpool a guard of honour before the clash, with the Reds set to lift the Premier League trophy in front of their home fans in their final game against Crystal Palace in a few weeks’ time.
Arsenal were dumped out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, and thus, the North Londoners will hope to salvage a late-season consolation by spoiling the Anfield party on Sunday.
- READ MORE: Liverpool vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream details, guard of honour rules, injury news and more
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Liverpool
Now that their European exploits are over, Arteta may feel he has nothing to lose in the league and will play his best side for the remainder of the campaign.
However, a few players looked exhausted in Paris and could do with a rest in this game.
David Raya will retain his place in between the sticks, while William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior have become the default centre-back partnership without Gabriel Magalhaes.
At left-back, Arteta has the option to bring Riccardo Calafiori back into the side after the Italian impressed in his cameo against PSG.
Myles Lewis-Skelly struggled in the second leg and could do with a sit-down after playing so much football in recent weeks.
Jurrien Timber will likely retain his place at right-back, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ben White start after the Dutchman came off injured in midweek.
Thomas Partey was poor at the Parc des Princes, although Arteta’s likely to stick with his favoured midfield trio, which involves the Ghanaian, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
As for the front three, you’d expect to see the same three that started against PSG.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Liverpool: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta should use Ethan Nwaneri in Liverpool v Arsenal
Ethan Nwaneri’s minutes have been limited recently, and perhaps unfairly.
With Odegaard out of form, the teenager might’ve expected to play a more prominent role off the bench, yet he’s hardly had a look-in.
While he’s still just 18 and developing, Arteta doesn’t want to alienate such a promising talent by significantly reducing his playing time at the end of this season.
Nwaneri won’t start at Anfield, but he ought to be among the first substitutes Arteta considers introducing off the bench
If Odegaard isn’t performing or Saka is tiring, the Hale End graduate should be the first man up, as he’s able to offer the Gunners something different with his ball carrying and ball striking from the edge of the area.
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