Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season, ahead of a crucial game against Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal are currently five points behind Liverpool in the table, but the two sides will face off at the Emirates next Sunday, and the home side know that whilst a win would see them claw their way back into the race, a loss would be devastating for their title hopes.
Liverpool may now find themselves fully fired up for the rest of the season to send their manager, who joined nearly nine years ago, off with another trophy under his belt, and perhaps that game has become even trickier.
Arsenal have had a nightmare time against Klopp since his arrival, finding themselves on the receiving end of some brutal defeats, but have also had some memorable victories across all competitions.
Arsenal’s previous encounters with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool
Arsenal had faced off with Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund side in the Champions League, but their first Premier League encounter came in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Anfield in January 2016.
Roberto Firmino and Olivier Giroud scored twice each, with Welsh midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen also finding the net in a game which saw Arsenal lose ground in the title race.
There were plenty of high-scoring games in Arsene Wenger’s clashes with Klopp, including a 4-3 defeat at the Emirates on the opening day of the 2016-17 season, and another 3-3 draw in Wenger’s final clash with Liverpool in December 2017.
In total, Klopp has faced Arsenal with Liverpool on 22 occasions across all competitions. Whilst Arsenal did win on penalties to progress in the Carabao Cup at Anfield in September 2020, Klopp has knocked Unai Emery’s Arsenal out of the League Cup, and recently Mikel Arteta’s side in the FA Cup.
Arsenal did win the 2020 Community Shield against Klopp’s Champions on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but it is clear that Klopp had the upper hand in the cups.
In the Premier League, Arsenal won just twice against the German, with a 2-1 win at the Emirates in July 2020, and last season’s 3-2 victory in October where goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka secured all three points.
Arsenal drew five of their league encounters with the 56-year-old, including two 3-3’s, and last season’s 2-2 tie at Anfield in a huge encounter for Arteta’s title hopes.
Arsenal conceded an astonishing 40 goals against Klopp in the league, and his departure may mean future encounters may not see the Gunners lose so heavily at Anfield, with Liverpool scoring over four times on several occasions.
Arsenal’s record against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in numbers
- Games played – 22
- Arsenal wins – 4
- Arsenal draws – 6
- Arsenal losses – 12
- Goals for – 28
- Goals against – 50
- Cup victories – 2
- Cup exits – 3
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