Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for their trip to Anfield, which last year would’ve been considered a nightmare, but things are so different now.
If there’s one thing that’s already so clear about Mikel Arteta’s side, it’s that Arsenal’s squad depth has improved staggeringly.
The Gunners’ downfall last season was how few options Arteta had to choose from when injury plagued his Arsenal squad.
Saka is out of action for a month, which, while being a huge blow, isn’t as catastrophic as it would’ve been at the start of the summer.
Arteta has plenty of options to replace the right-winger, with the position being one that will carry a lot of weight heading into the clash at Anfield.
Micah Richards says Liverpool have a problem with Milos Kerkez
Arsenal will want to attack Arne Slot’s side on Sunday, particularly as Liverpool’s defence has been very fragile in their first two Premier League games.
Only Wolves, West Ham and Leeds have conceded more goals than Liverpool so far, giving Arteta additional motivation to play freely in the final third.
Specifically, the right side of the attack is set to hold a lot of the answers to the contest, as Slot’s new left-back is not yet ‘up to speed’.
That’s the opinion of Alan Shearer, who discussed Milos Kerkez when speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“Kerkez doesn’t look up to speed at this minute,” he said, a statement that Micah Richards agreed with.
“The balance of the team is not right at the moment, but they’re still winning,” Richards began.
“I’d echo probably Kerkez is the one I thought, having played Premier League football before, but it just looks like he’s trying a bit too hard at the moment.
“He’s going into challenges all or nothing; he’s leaving space in behind him. I think it’s a problem they will fix, but it’s a problem they need to fix fast.”
It’s not only Shearer and Richards who pinpointed the 21-year-old as a point of weakness, as other pundits have spoken about Kerkez’s struggles.
Noni Madueke could be key to Arsenal beating Liverpool
The right side is where Arsenal can hurt Liverpool most, so naturally, all eyes are on Noni Madueke.
Madueke has been described as ‘unplayable’ when at his best, which is the level Arsenal require to get the better of Liverpool at Anfield.
The former Chelsea winger has not only shown before that he can trouble Kerkez, but that he’s not afraid to torment the Hungarian.
Last season, Madueke attempted to take on the left-back nine times in Chelsea’s two Premier League meetings with Bournemouth, successfully beating his man five times, as per Sofascore data.
It would be fair to assume that the summer signing will be Arteta’s choice to replace Saka, being the only natural right-winger in the squad at present, despite there being other options to play there.
With Madueke’s record against Kerkez being very encouraging last season, Arsenal will hope that the Englishman steps up enough to make Saka’s absence unnoticeable.
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