« on: September 28, 2020, 06:35:32 pm »
Liverpool vs. Arsenal 28/09/2020, kick off 20.00, SKY SPORTS.
We do love an early Arsenal fixture, don’t we? I’m immediately taken back to that trip to the Emirates on a splendid Sunday in August 2016. From the outside looking in both clubs were maybe in a similar situation hovering around just outside the CL places and forever looking up at their wealthier rivals.
On closer inspection though you would have been foolish to think both clubs were on the same trajectory. We had just come off a crushing defeat in the EL final but that was only the beginning for us. While Arsenal were going through a sort of a malaise with the whole club feeling fatigued near the end of Wenger’s reign, we were on the cusp of breaking through to the elite once again under the tutelage of one Jurgen Norbert Klopp.
On a day when the sun beamed down from the heavens no one shone brighter than Sadio Mane. A new arrival that summer, that many of us were unsure of was about to show just why we paid Southampton what looked like a king’s ransom at the time. The goal he scored, single handedly terrorising Arsenal down their left wing, was as perfect a mix of skill, athleticism and sheer desire you will ever see.
The celebrations that ensued after will live long in the memory, sure this was only an early season fixture against a weak Arsenal side but something was brewing. Looking back on all the success we’ve had under Jurgen it was that game which firmly changed me from doubter to believer. You probably would have been laughed at if you had called then what we have achieved now but I think most of us deep down knew what was possible. We finally had our man to lead us back to the promise land.
Skip ahead 4 years and here we are welcoming Arsenal as PL champions. The two clubs have thread different paths over those four years but Arsenal will feel like they are beginning their own journey under a new manager in Mikel Arteta.
As some of you may know I’m usually an overly optimistic sort and whilst I do think we will win the game I feel this will be a sterner test we face than in previous years of Arsenal turning up at Anfield. Arteta has probably surprised a lot of us with how he sets his Arsenal side up but whatever your thoughts you have to give him credit for the relative success.
In trying to predict how the game will play out I think it’s fair to assume we will see the majority of the ball with Arsenal sitting in looking to frustrate. Arteta can point to other sides doing similar and frustrating us recently but that was before we signed a new pass master, the Spaniard, Thiago Alcantara. We’ve built the cake, starting with the tasty Mane and now we have added the cherry on top. A sumptuous 45-minute debut display against Chelsea has left Liverpool fans craving more.
If Arsenal are to drop off and allow us space and time on the ball in midfield this fella will run riot. If they are braver and push up, trying to press, this fella will run riot. Arsenal do have the attacking players to hurt us and I can see them getting on the scoresheet but I think we will have just that little bit too much for them in the end.
For all they have spent recently they are still heavily reliant Aubameyang to produce for them. He is a constant threat and we will need to be switched on to deal with him. It would be helpful if Gomez is in contention to start so we can play Fabinho at the base of midfield.
With Henderson missing out we have lost some legs in midfield that we rely on for covering the marauding fullbacks. I think we will probably go with Wijnaldum to complete a midfield three of Fabinho, Thiago and Gini.
Keita just missing out but sure to provide a spark from the bench. The back four and front three picks itself once everyone is fit. Midweek has shown us that even if the game’s tight going in to the final stages that we do now have firepower on the bench to help see us over the line
Prediction is Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2020, 09:45:54 pm by Tepid T₂O »
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