Well, how about that then? Thanks for your company. Now feast your eyes on Paul Wilson’s match report from Anfield:
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Jürgen Klopp talks. “For sure today with the Tottenham result there are people saying we acted on that but there was absolutely no reaction, no smiles on the face,” he says. “It is not allowed to have any influence on our game.” Asked about Manchester City, Klopp adds: “We have three days to prepare for the game, we need the time to recover but now we will prepare, clearly.” A dejected Unai Emery says: “I think we started well with the first goal and then they had the difference with attacking moments, determination and quality. We couldn’t stop this moment. The second half we wanted to little by little impose ourselves to find one goal but another penalty closed the match. [It is a] Bad result. This loss we can use to be better. We know we need to defensively get better. Liverpool have progressed a lot and it is an example for us. We need to do this progress.”
Read Paul Wilson’s match report from Anfield:
It seems Pep Guardiola might be wrong about Liverpool feeling the pressure now they are out in front in the Premier League – all the slip-ups and chokes are currently coming from the teams immediately below them, with the leaders sailing serenely on.
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Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson react. Asked what is possible in 2019, van Dijk replies: “Anything. That is how we should go out and play as well. Anything is possible, we are in a good way, it’s a great time to be a Liverpool player and fan as well. We still need to improve a lot of things but obviously we are very happy with the situation at the moment. We want to keep going, keep working hard and keep the intensity.” Of Thursday’s trip to Manchester, Robertson adds: “It’s a huge one, it’s one that everyone has been looking at. We go into the new year and we look forward to it. City is going to be a big game, but we have a healthy lead and know we have to be prepared for it. The way we are playing just now, we believe we can win every game.”
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Full-time: Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
Jürgen Klopp’s men move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, with an emphatic victory at Anfield. Liverpool were in devastating mood, ripping apart a suspect Arsenal back line. They were too good, too powerful, too quick, too strong, too clever, too smart for Unai Emery’s side. For Arsenal, that was embarrassing, especially defensively. That Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the league’s top scorer completed 10 passes in 70 minutes speaks volumes. Even worse, six of those came from kick-off. Food for thought for Arsenal. Liverpool are nine points of clear of Spurs, 10 in front of Manchester City, who they face on Thursday. On this evidence, only one team will head into that with trepidation. That was majestic.
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90+2 min: A final Liverpool flurry, led by Clyne earns a corner. Before that, fans had started to ‘Ole’ each pass.
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90+1 min: A rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone breaks out round Anfield. What a win this is, and what confidence they will take into Thursday’s trip to Manchester. Liverpool mean business, don’t they?
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90 min: Three more minutes until Arsenal are put out of their misery. Liverpool are heading nine points clear in some considerable style.
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89 min: Arsenal must just long for the final whistle. This has been a chastening experience, soul-destroying even.
88 min: Henderson has a crack – and his effort darts just past the post! Alexander-Arnold did well, cutting inside from the right before passing inside to the Liverpool skipper. Henderson’s effort was powerful and low, but ultimately just wide. Still, the party atmosphere at Anfield remains in full swing.
87 min: Arsenal break through Lacazette, who feeds Iwobi but Virgil van Dijk nips to wallop the ball clear. No nonsense by the Dutchman. And now Liverpool fans are singing a rendition of Come Ol Ye Faithful, spreading the festive cheer and all that.
85 min: Into the final five minutes we go.
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83 min: Time for a couple of killer stats, while Anfield rises to its feet to applaud Andy Robertson, who has been replaced by Nathaniel Clyne. Robertson has been a class act – again. First up, Arsenal v Liverpool is now the highest scoring Premier League fixture in the history of the competition and secondly, also via Opta, Firmino has become the third Brazilian player to score a Premier League hat-trick, after Robinho (Man City v Stoke in Oct 2008) and Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough v Man City in May 2008).
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80 min: Andy Robertson does superbly, ushering the ball out of play for a Liverpool goal-kick, and at the same time shackling a frustrated Xhaka. The Arsenal midfielder looks a deep shade of red, doubtless reeling inside.
79 min: Arsenal win a corner, after Sokratis plays a wonderful angled ball up to Lacazette. The Frenchman jinks inside, shaping to shoot but his effort is deflected wide. And now Guendouzi is on, in place of Sead Kolasinac, who has struggled.
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77 min: When Arsenal have the ball, they seem to want to hang on to it for fear of losing possession and allowing Liverpool to strike again. It’s all very slow and predictable by Arsenal, knocking the ball around defence as if they are 5-1 up. They look bewildered and lost. Another reason why perhaps Matteo Guendouzi is going through the final formalities on the touchline. He’s coming on.
76 min: Wijnaldum, who has been excellent, is withdrawn and replaced by Adam Lallana.
75 min: This is turning into something of a new year’s party for Liverpool. They’re enjoying every minute, poking fun at Arsenal as they go. Liverpool’s next match? Manchester City on Thursday. They will certainly hold no fear going into that one.
74 min: Adam Lallana is being readied on the touchline.
73 min: Shaqiri has a pop from distance after a sustained spell of pressure on the edge of the Arsenal box. It’s straight at Leno, but another shot on target.
71 min: Liverpool fans are singing a ditty of the Dubliners’ Dirty Old Town, an ode to Virgil van Dijk, who has been a momentous presence once more. “He’ll pass the ball, calm as you like,” they sing. “He’s Virgil van Dijk! He’s Virgil van Dijk!”
70 min: Lacazette replaces Aubameyang. The Frenchman is not exactly chuffed to bits to be coming on, and who can blame him.
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69 min: Liverpool are heading for a ninth straight league win. They are going to take some beating on this kind of form, with this kind of swagger. A nine-point lead is quite something heading into 2019.
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68 min: Liverpool are in cruise control, knocking the ball around the defence, waiting to go in for the kill at any given moment. Defensively, Arsenal have been a shambles. And, as stupid as this sounds, Liverpool have been sloppy with the ball at times too, particularly in midfield. Still, Arsenal have been woeful.
66 min: This feels like an exercise in damage limitation for Arsenal. Every time Liverpool attack, Arsenal look so vulnerable, frightened to death at the pain that Salah, Firmino and co might be about to inflict. Down on the touchline, Emery is having a word with Lacazette, which seems a bit pointless now. The game is dead from an Arsenal point of view. Liverpool sense blood, and want more.
GOAL! Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal (Firmino, 65 pen)
Roberto Firmino completes his first Liverpool hat-trick and, with it, Klopp’s side tighten their grip at the top of the Premier League. They’re heading nine points clear. It was a cool penalty, with the Brazilian sending Leno the wrong way.
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63 min: Another penalty to Liverpool! It looks like a clumsy barge by Kolasinac on Dejan Lovren. Michael Oliver was watching it all the way, in the perfect position. Can Firmino bag his hat-trick?
62 min: Henderson is immediately in the thick of things, charging down a poor Leno clearance. And after stealing possession, Liverpool go on the attack. Salah plays a wonderful flicked pass to Fabinho, but the Brazilian’s strike is kept out by Leno, who redeems himself. The Arsenal goalkeeper has hardly been convincing again.
60 min: Arsenal sweep upfield through Maitland-Niles, with Ramsey almost keeping the ball in down the left but that attack comes to an abrupt end. For Liverpool, a change: Henderson replaces Sadio Mane, who soaks up the warm applause from the Anfield crowd before embracing his manager.
59 min: Koscielny, of all people, is in down the left wing for a moment but Shaqiri again does well, doing the dirty work defensively to break up play. Liverpool then go back forward through Mane before Alexander-Arnold lets fly. His shot is deflected wide by Koscielny, back in position. Liverpool corner.
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58 min: Shaqiri comes deep to carry the ball back to safety after Sokratis was probing forward for Arsenal. Henderson is stripped and readied for Liverpool.
57 min: Arsenal look lively in the final third, with Iwobi keeping Alexander-Arnold busy at full-back. Lacazette and Guendouzi are both warming up. Klopp has just had a word with Jordan Henderson, who could be about to enter for the hosts.
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56 min: Leno palms Firmino’s effort away from danger! Liverpool continue to pour forward time and again, repeatedly reaching Arsenal’s box without breaking too much sweat. Arsenal must find a way of making life more difficult for Salah and co.
53 min: Arsenal go close! In the end the flag was up against Aubameyang but it was a really well-worked move. Iwobi does superbly, raiding down the left before a neat one-two between Xhaka and Ramsey. The latter, who was onside, shot at goal but his effort went wide, in towards the path of Aubameyang. It was a lovely sliderule pass by Xhaka, and Ramsey had made a sly run behind the Liverpool back line.
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52 min: Salah glides away from Ramsey on the edge of the box, with Arsenal entering panic mode at the back. But the Egyptian’s pass ultimately lets him down, with Arsenal going up the other end. A pocket of Arsenal supporters appeal for a penalty, with Kolasinac grounded after a challenge with Shaqiri. Kolasinac did not appeal, and replays show there was no contact.
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50 min: Arsenal patiently build from the back, with Torreira doing well to slide in Iwobi. But once Arsenal get within spitting distance of the Liverpool box, Ramsey is guilty of hauling down Lovren.
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47 min: Liverpool come very close to a fifth! Sokratis makes a good, measured challenge to deny Mane from poking home. It was a slick move by the hosts, with a one-two freeing Mane to bumble into the box. The next step looked inevitable, but Sokratis slid in to prevent Liverpool from the dream start to this second half.
46 min: Laurent Koscielny on for Mustafi at the break. The Frenchman takes the captain’s armband as you would expect. Arsenal get us back under way.
Half-time: Liverpool 4-1 Arsenal
Brilliant for the hosts, who are heading nine points clear, barring an extraordinary comeback. That scoreline will make grim reading for Arsenal, though. Unai Emery’s side have looked porous in defence, despite the occasional promise up front, with Iwobi and Maitland-Niles bright. Aubameyang has been superbly shackled. For Liverpool, their revered front three has fired – to devastating effect.
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GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Arsenal (Salah, 45+2 pen)
Salah wellies it down the middle, beyond Leno. The Arsenal goalkeeper actually gets something on it but the penalty has so much power on it that he has no chance. The penalty itself came as a result of a swift Liverpool counter upfield, kickstarted by a marvellous kick from Alisson at the other end. By the time Salah danced his way into the box, Arsenal were in real trouble.
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45 min: Sokratis nibbles at Salah in the box – and Liverpool win a penalty! The Greek defender clumsily clatters through the back of the forward, and Michael Oliver has no choice but to point to the spot. Salah will take it ...
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45 min: Maitland-Niles does well again, bombing to the byline this time before standing up an inviting cross. No Arsenal shirts can meet it, but it was a nice idea. Liverpool win it back, and look to fly forward up the other end.
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43 min: Klopp goes bananas at Mane after cheaply gifting possession to Arsenal inside his own half. Arsenal surge down the right, with Ramsey, back up on his feet and moving well, attempting to hook the ball goalwards. It’s always going wide but, nevertheless, Klopp is going ballistic on the touchline.
42 min: Ainsley Maitland-Niles swivels nicely on the edge of the box, pirouetting away from Wijnaldum. But his next move is not executed quite so well, with his shot from the edge of the box arcing over Alisson’s goal.
41 min: Shaqiri plays a quick free-kick once he gets the green light from Michael Oliver for the restart, but the ball just eludes van Dijk at the back post.
39 min: Aaron Ramsey is down for Arsenal. He looks in pain, as a result of a fairly innocuous clash with Gini Wijnaldum. On comes the Arsenal physio. Down in the Arsenal technical area, a pensive Emery looks a little perplexed.
38 min: Fabinho sits in front of van Dijk and Lovren, ready to spray the ball forward. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are on the touchline on either flank, ready to receive. Liverpool are very much bossing this now.
37 min: Arsenal have gone to pieces at the back, they look really rattled and nervous in possession, with Liverpool hounding them down at every opportunity. Going forward, Arsenal continue to show glimpses of promise, with Iwobi busy but every time Liverpool attack, Arsenal look ready to crumble, not rumble.
35 min: Alisson punches clear an Arsenal corner and Liverpool fly forward on the counter through Mane, though the move breaks down when Kolasinac intervenes. “I’ve never seen a football team look more fragile when leading than the current Arsenal crop,” says Andrew Kinghorn, via email. “At least they can relax now.”
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33 min: Michael Oliver has a stern word with Granit Xhaka for kicking the ball away in frustration after Liverpool were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box as a result of his challenge. Xhaka ends up dealing with the ball in, but he was fortunate to escape a second booking, seconds after the first.
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GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal (Mane, 32)
Sadio Mane strikes into an empty net. Salah puts it on a plate for his team-mate, but it all stems from a sloppy corner conceded as a result of Kolasinac’s overhit pass for Leno. He sent a wayward bouncing ball in the general direction of Leno, with the Arsenal goalkeeper forced to thrash it away. Arsenal end up conceding the corner anyway and, after clearing the initial ball in, Robertson drives a superb ball in towards the back post. From there, Salah controls it, sends in a low ball and then Mane does the rest. It was all very easy. Poor defending by Arsenal.
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30 min: Leno punts the ball downfield, and Alisson gobbles it up. Arsenal will have to do better than that. Aubameyang has been worryingly quiet for the visitors.
28 min: The move breaks down as Iwobi overcooks a crossfield pass for Maitland-Niles, but the Arsenal winger applauds the goodwill of the Nigerian. Liverpool have grown a little sloppy, with Arsenal appearing to have the upper hand in midfield – for now at least. Torreira has not had his best game but he and Ramsey are causing problems, taking hits and tackling in the middle of the park.
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27 min: And now Fabinho fouls Ramsey.
25 min: Robertson clips Maitland-Niles, who had grand plans down the stretch of flank in front of him. The Liverpool defender is booked by Michael Oliver. Xhaka swings in a delightful free-kick and Mustafi attacks it, but the linesman raises his flag. A replay shows he was indeed marginally offside.
23 min: For Liverpool, Fabinho has looked the odd one out, as unfair as that may sound. He’s not had a brilliant start, though Wijnaldum is certainly helping him out, doing his bit alongside him. Arsenal have no intentions of rolling over, and they’re trying to get a foot-hold back into this game.
22 min: Leno gathers Mane’s strike! The forward skips away from Stephan Lichtsteiner, before driving into the box. Lucas Torreira is seemingly caught in two minds and backs off Mane, allowing him to power at goal. It is from an acute angle and the Arsenal goalkeeper is never really in trouble, calmly taking hold.
21 min: Arsenal try to play a quick ball into Aubameyang, who has been isolated so far, but the linesman’s flag goes up. Liverpool look to rebuild from the back, with Wijnaldum and Robertson knocking it around before Shaqiri comes deep to collect possession.
19 min: Iwobi goes to race on to a through ball by Kolasinac, but the Arsenal full-back is pulled up for handball just inside the Arsenal half. Liverpool will sling it forward. Anfield, after a couple of minutes of quiet, is rocking.
17 min: What now? Arsenal attempt to get back on-song, with some patient buildup play. Alex Iwobi has certainly found some joy against Alexander-Arnold. That is an intriguing match-up down the Liverpool right. The Arsenal winger is just getting the better of the England youngster at present.
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GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal (Firmino, 16)
In the blink of an eye, Liverpool lead. Firmino prods home from close range 90 seconds after the restart, with Torreira running into trouble from kick-off. It was dreadful defending by Arsenal, with Firmino taking over after Mane seized hold of possession. Firmino ends up waltzing past Mustafi and Sokratis before coolly poking home, drilling beyond Leno. What a start at Anfield.
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GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (Firmino, 14)
Liverpool immediately restore parity. Roberto Firmino scores his first league goal at Anfield this season and, while he is fortunate, he created his own luck. It all stems from a good pass by the Brazilian into Mo Salah, who surged forward, before the ball bobbled kindly for Firmino, via a ricochet off Granit Xhaka.
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12 min: It is 364 days since Liverpool last trailed in a Premier League match at Anfield, when Vicente Iborra netted for Leicester. But, they find themselves behind here, with Arsenal full of confidence after bagging the opener. Arsenal have made a brilliant response to what was an electric Liverpool start.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal (Maitland-Niles, 11)
Arsenal lead at Anfield, with the midfielder prodding home at the back post after more good work by Alex Iwobi down the left flank. Dejan Lovren plays a poor hit-and-hope ball out from the back, which Arsenal gobble up. When Iwobi plays a neat one-two with Aaron Ramsey, the winger is freed down the left and he looks up to see Maitland-Niles making a curved run behind Robertson. It’s a simple finish but a well-worked goal. Liverpool had looked so comfortable, though maybe that was part of the problem, with Fabinho getting sloppy moments before.
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9 min: Alex Iwobi forces Alisson into a smart top! Fabinho plays a painful pass across his own defence, eluding his midfield partners and the Arsenal winger glady picks it up, jetting down the left flank before letting fly. It may have crept inside the near post, but the Brazilian makes an ultimately rather simple save.
8 min: Kolasinac makes an important interception just as Liverpool seek to pick out Mo Salah. Liverpool are dictating proceedings here, controlling the pace, lapping up Arsenal lapses and playing with the swagger of league leaders.
7 min: Bernd Leno takes an age to play a goal-kick out from the back, with Arsenal presumably keen to take the sting out of the Liverpool attack. They have started brightly, and win a free-kick inside their own half, with van Dijk upended.
6 min: Mane plays in Firmino, who has a go at goal! It skirts just wide, and away from Salah, though the gasps from the home crowd suggest it was closer to an opener than it was in truth. Still, Liverpool have flown out of the traps. Lichtsteiner and Kolasinac, on the other flank, will have their hands full this evening.
5 min: Lichtsteiner dinks a nice pass into the box for Aaron Ramsey, but the Welshman cannot wrap his foot around the ball and hook it goalwards. It was a lovely little run by Ramsey.
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4 min: Fabinho overcooks a high crossfield ball for an overlapping Mo Salah. It was a nice idea, just the execution that let Liverpool down there.
3 min: Liverpool play the ball across the back four, with Virgil van Dijk dictating the tempo; he’s been a giant since joining almost a year ago to the day.
2 min: Andy Robertson drives down the left flank and whips in a devious, bouncing ball. Mane is in space in the box, but cannot make any contact on the cross. That was an inviting ball in. And now Leno makes an error, with poor pass out from the back. Another chance for Liverpool to pile on more early pressure.
1 min: Arsenal win an early, deep free-kick, and it looks as though they are shaping up with a back four, as opposed to a back five with Maitland-Niles. All of the players are wearing black armbands out of respect of Peter Hill-Wood, the former Arsenal chairman:
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Peeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Mo Salah gets us under way at Anfield.
The teams are out of the tunnel at Anfield. Are we in for another Liverpool-Arsenal classic? It is 237 days since Liverpool were last beaten in the league. Walk on, through the rain ...
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Jürgen Klopp talks pre-match. “It’s a really good time to be a Liverpool supporter so hopefully we feel that today in the stadium and we can show that on the pitch. As for Unai Emery, he says: “It’s a tough game and also the history is very important. We look sometimes at this history, but we want to create a new history with Arsenal. It’s a big opportunity to do every supporter proud with our club.” The stats suggest it will be a tough ask for Arsenal, who are winless in their last five league visits to Anfield. Liverpool – unbeaten in the league – are unbeaten in their last seven matches against the Gunners, winning three and drawing four.
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“Any word yet on what fake injury Mesut Özil is suffering from today?” emails Peter McMurry. “Flu? Back spasms? Or is is just a flareup in his ongoing battle against Chronic Timidity Against Quality Teams Syndrome?” Well, the word from Arsenal is that Özil did not travel to Merseyside after being withdrawn with a knee problem, an injury sustained against Brighton on Boxing Day. Özil was of course hooked at half-time in that match, though Unai Emery described that change as purely a tactical switch in his post-match press conference. “It’s the same every match,” he said. “Sometimes I change tactically when I need something to change.”
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Jürgen Klopp has just had the best Christmas imaginable. Not only is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in training, but Wolves have just upset Spurs on home soil. All in all, that means Liverpool can go nine – NINE – points clear at the top of the table if they beat Arsenal at Anfield. Things are looking rather rosy for Klopp.
I don’t think we have been seen at our very best yet. We have had very good moments but overall we have not been as spectacular as we were at times last season. We don’t concede as often but people ask what has happened to the free-flowing football. It’s like a kid getting a nice present for Christmas then asking where’s the other one. You can’t always have everything; sometimes it is best to be grateful for what you’ve got. People will always want more but we had to develop from last season, to step aside a little and start again. We had to score a lot of goals last season because we conceded so many but we have worked on our defending since and I am pleased with the result.
One man not involved for Liverpool this evening is Dominic Solanke, with the striker set to for a January move:
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At Wembley, Wolves are 3-1 up against Spurs:
Team news news: Fabinho gets the nod in Jürgen Klopp’s midfield, preferred to Jordan Henderson and Naby Keïta who are on the bench. James Milner is injured for the hosts, but Arsenal receive a boost in the shape of Shkodran Mustafi passed fit to start at centre-half, where Unai Emery is noticeably short. Kolisinac also starts but Alexandre Lacazette has to make do with a place on the bench.
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Team news!
Liverpool: Alisson, Robertson, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Salah, Firmino, Mané
Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Keita, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi
Arsenal: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Aubameyang
Subs: Cech, Koscielny, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka, Lacazette
Referee: Michael Oliver
Preamble
For all of the noise around Unai Emery’s early handiwork, it feels somewhat less convincing when you realise his Arsenal team are 13 points off the pace set by an electrifying Liverpool side, now the favourites for the title with five months to run. Going forward Liverpool are both irrepressible and irresistible but, almost exactly a year to the day since Virgil van Dijk arrived on Merseyside, this time it is hard not to consider them a more rounded product, the full package, perhaps? They may be 16 points better off in the Premier League than this stage last season yet the exciting thing is there is a plausible argument that there is still more to come from the Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino – and Xherdan Shaqiri – axis this time around. At the back, they are sturdier than ever and brimming with ideas from all quarters. If Liverpool – who have a whiff of Arsène Wenger’s 2003-04 “Invincibles” about them – are nearing completion, then Arsenal remain a work in progress. In the latest strain between player and club, Mesut Özil is expected to be absent at Anfield while, apart from Lucas Torreira and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, few Arsenal players have covered themselves in total glory. For Emery, Klopp’s men act as inspiration, a kind of blueprint. “We played against Liverpool three [seasons] ago with Sevilla in the final of the Europa League and I look at this progress and they are a very good example,” he said. “This progress is also one example for us, now, in our moment. But we need to be very, very demanding of ourselves to do this step quickly in our way. But we need also time and sometimes the patience is very important for us.”
Kick-off: 5.30pm (GMT)
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