A mouth-watering clash between Liverpool and Arsenal awaits at Anfield and striker Gabriel Jesus can have a huge say on the outcome of the contest.
Arsenal travel to Liverpool in a festive fixture to decide which team tops the table at Christmas. After 17 Premier League matches, the Gunners hold a one-point advantage over their opponents.
The magnitude of this match is huge and although the outcome of it won’t dictate how the rest of the season will unfold, three points for either side will send out a statement to the rest of their title rivals.
It’s a fixture that has seen big players step up to the plate in the past. Last season, Roberto Firmino’s 87th minute equaliser saw Liverpool come back from 2-0 down to rescue a point and knock the wind out of the Gunner’s sails in the title race.
In the season before, the Reds thrashed Arsenal 4-0 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino.
Whilst it’s a fixture Liverpool have dominated at Anfield for over a decade having gone unbeaten since 2012, the ‘sensational’ Gabriel Jesus – as lauded by Micah Richards – is someone who enjoys playing against this evening’s opponents.
Across his time at Manchester City and the Gunners, he’s scored six and supplied four assists in 14 appearances, including the opening goal the last time these two sides met.
Why Gabriel Jesus can cause Liverpool problems
After putting in a ‘near perfect’ performance against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, Jesus arrives with a spring in his step and will be up against two physically imposing defenders in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
The Brazilian, however, won’t be fazed by the physical challenge that awaits him as he’s so good at pinning defenders and protecting possession for his team.
With Liverpool deploying a high line, especially at home, Jesus can cause a threat by running in behind or shielding the ball on the halfway line and freeing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the wings.
He’s also great at driving forward with the ball and possesses the burst of pace to beat his man having ranked in the top 4% against his positional peers for successful take-ons, as per FBref, and the top 7% for carries into the penalty area this season.
Although he’s been criticised for his finishing, his all-round game is world-class and considering he’s never lost a Premier League in which he’s scored, the £265k-a-week star will hope to get his name on the score sheet here.
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