Arsenal visit Liverpool on Sunday evening, and predictions have been made ahead of the clash.
The Merseysiders were crowned Premier League Champions in April after thrashing Tottenham at Anfield, and Arsenal will subsequently give Arne Slot’s team a guard of honour.
Paris Saint-Germain knocked Mikel Arteta’s side out of the Champions League in midweek, meaning the North Londoners will have full focus on beating Liverpool and securing their place in the top five.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates back in October, and Arsenal will be hoping to go one better in the north-west this time around.
Paul Merson thinks Arsenal were ‘unlucky’ against PSG but will lose to Liverpool
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns heading to Anfield, while Slot confirmed that Conor Bradley will start for Liverpool.
This likely means Trent Alexander-Arnold will be on the bench, which potentially suggests the Reds won’t be fielding their strongest possible line-up.
Paul Merson thinks the Gunners will suffer defeat regardless, while the former Arsenal forward claimed Arteta’s team were unlucky against PSG.
Writing for Sportskeeda, the pundit said: “Arsenal will want to make a statement at Anfield on Sunday. The season has quickly fizzled out into nothingness for the Gunners and they need a win. If they lose this game, Newcastle could just be a point behind them in the table.
“I thought Arsenal were a bit unlucky against PSG. They had to score in the first 20 minutes and that did not happen. Arsenal quickly lost momentum and ended up losing the game.
“Barring an Arsenal win on penalties in 2020, the Gunners have not won at Anfield since 2012. Can you believe it? 13 years, that is unbelievable! That trend looks set to continue.
Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
Chris Sutton makes Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction
Arteta will likely go with a strong team for the visit to Merseyside, as he has little to lose at this point in the season.
Like Merson, Chris Sutton was enthused by elements of Arsenal’s performance in Paris, although unlike the Gunners legend, he expects the North Londoners to pick up a point against Liverpool.
Writing for BBC Sport, he said: “Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League.
“There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20.
“Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.
“This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it.
“It’s just a shame that, from Liverpool’s point of view, it might be over-shadowed by the reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s announcement he is leaving the club.
“In terms of the game itself, I really don’t know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals.
“Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that’s the case, and both teams will be up for it.”
Score prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Liverpool may well be on the beach after winning the title, having been comfortably beaten by Chelsea last week.
This could play into Arsenal’s hands, as they look for a rare victory at Anfield.
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