Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Mikel Arteta as their new head coach.
He was officially unveiled ahead of the club's pre-Christmas clash away against Everton.
While Spaniard will not take charge of the game he is set to travel to Merseyside to watch from the stands.
Over on the over side of the city, and across Stanley Park, Liverpool will be taking a keen interest in how Arsenal fare under the ex-Everton midfielder in the coming weeks and months.
After all, until very recently Arteta had been part of the coaching team at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and had played his part in denying Jurgen Klopp the title last year.
Liverpool have long been the example that the top brass at Arsenal wish to follow in the transfer market and on the pitch when it comes to developing a cutting-edge style of play.
If the Spaniard can live up to expectations as the heir to Arsene Wenger and the student of Guardiola on his return north London then the Reds could even find themselves up against another credible rival before too long.
Should they be worried?
football.london spoke to Joe Rimmer of the Liverpool Echo to get the view from Anfield on Arsenal's new head coach.
"I think it says a lot about where Arsenal are at right now that they are trying an unproven manager, whatever his pedigree.
"Arteta is clearly well thought of and I'm sure a lot of homework will have been done but it has to be seen as a gamble.
"Nevertheless, Arsenal had to get something done and things seemingly could have spiralled out of control under Freddie Ljungberg, so at least they now have some stability.
"It'll take time for Arteta to get himself settle and get his methods across. I doubt he has been appointed with the expectation to make an immediate impact, as Jose Mourinho was at Spurs. It's clearly a long-term decision.
"There's plenty of talk about Steven Gerrard as a future Liverpool manager, and Pep Lijnders' name has come up, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility after Jurgen Klopp.
"But at least Gerrard comes with some management experience (and much more to come by the time Klopp moves on) and Lijnders would be a natural succession.
"If it was somebody without that connection or experience I don't think fans would be best pleased."
