Paul Merson feels the battle between Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will be ‘one to keep an eye on’ during Saturday’s game.
The Arsenal legend further feels Mikel Arteta’s squad are capable of causing ‘a lot of trouble’ at Anfield. But while Merson tips Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to deliver Liverpool food for thought, Odegaard and Szoboszlai’s fight in the middle is the one to track.
Odegaard has impressed the Gunners hero with his form in recent weeks to see Arsenal top the Premier League table. Arteta’s men hold a one-point advantage over Klopp’s club ahead of their trip to Merseyside. But the north London giants have not won at Anfield in 11 years.
Arsenal have not won away to Liverpool in the Premier League since 2012
Lukasz Podolski and Santi Cazorla gave Arsene Wenger the Emirates Stadium side’s last win at Anfield in September 2012. Now, Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Saturday chasing a win to stay ahead of the pack at Christmas. A defeat could even see the Gunners slip to third place.
Merson believes the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes can hand Arsenal an edge against Liverpool. Jesus, Martinelli and Saka can also give the Reds lots of problems at the other end. But Arteta may have to account for the threat Darwin Nunez offers Klopp’s team.
Martin Odegaard and Dominik Szoboszlai’s fight is ‘one to keep an eye on’
The middle contest between Odegaard and Szoboszlai also has Merson’s attention ahead of Arsenal visiting Liverpool. He is intrigued to see which playmaker can pull the best strings at Anfield. Odegaard has been involved in seven top-flight goals this term to Szoboszlai’s five.
“Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are going to cause a lot of trouble in the attacking third for Arsenal,” he told Sportskeeda. “Martin Odegaard has been in great form and I think the battle between him and Dominik Szoboszlai could be one to keep an eye on.”
Odegaard, now in his third full season with Arsenal since a £34m transfer from Real Madrid, has scored four and assisted three goals in 14 Premier League games this term. Szoboszlai is on two goals and three assists in 17 matches since leaving RB Leipzig back in the summer.
Just one of Odegaard’s goals and one of his assists have come across the 25-year-old’s last seven top-flight appearances. Szoboszlai has also scored once but has not laid on an assist in his last seven outings. Both playmakers have started in all of their league games this term.
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