please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Venue: Anfield Sunday, December 21st 2014 KO Time: 16:00 BST please log in to view this image Head to Head Against Liverpool: Played: 197 Wins: 71 Draws: 50 Losses: 76 Goals For: 257 Goals Against: 279 Goal Difference: -22 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (FA Cup) Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal please log in to view this image Predicted Starting XI: please log in to view this image
That team looks soo much stronger and more settled, and apparently ozil isnt too far away either. We just need kos back now
I watched the United vs Liverpool game and it reminded me of the attack we received last time we played spurs. Lots of pressure and high temp game. Against united they didnt manage to score so it is vital we keep a clean sheet in the first 20-30min. I thought they were much better than United and again United got very lucky! Liverpool won a few days ago (against a crap team of course) but still gave them confidence. Especially Sterling. Will be touch! Prediction: 2-2.
If Liverpool are going to retrieve anything from this season it will need to start with this match. A win against Bournemouth is one thing but beating a rival 'contender' stamps a big message. Have they got their bounce back or are they still fragile? What have Arsenal learnt about themselves over the last couple of weeks? A good rest will have helped some players but this is a match that screams out for the 'mental strength' we hear about so often. A fascinating match in prospect with, I'm sorry to say, a close result for the home team. I hope I am proven incorrect.
Such a thin squad at the moment - the number of injuries we have is unbelievable! Gonna be a tough game, I think we will be in trouble if they score first. If we get the first goal I could see us getting 3-4. This is a good chance to build some momentum going into xmas. When we have Arteta,Koscilney,Ramsey, Ozil and Walcott back the squad will be looking quite formidable.
I think we need this win as much as they do. Granted we've had two 4-1's in a row but you can still feel the worry and doubt simmering below the surface. Will the greatest of respect Galatasary didn't seem interested and Newcastle were severely depleted. I know you can only beat what's in front of you but we need that confidence boost of beating a strong side as badly as Liverpool. I think having Debuchy back will make a massive difference as it allows us a bit more cohesion in defence. Sadly, I think AOC won't feature due to the knock he picked up and I'm sure I read Flamini will miss out. Hoping I'm wrong on both scores as Alex finally seems to be hitting his stride whereas Flamballs seems to have cut the crazy out of his game in the last few matches! Meh, you've got to think there will be goals in this game. I fancy our front 4 to terrorise a fragile Scouse defence and similarly I think we'll have a bit of a panic against Sterling.
I'm optimitic about this. We're getting better and pool have just been poor all season. Even with key defensive personnel out, I just can't see much of their attack giving us a great deal of worry. They have a lot more to worry about with our front line attackers being on good form. Also our chief playmaker Cazorla is coming back to his classy best, which will give them extra to worry. As long as we don't have one of our inexplicable downers, then I can only see one winner here.
Pretty much guaranteed he'll play tbh, as will Skrtel. Sakho playing depends on whether we go with a back three or four. I'd go with a four with Toure and Sakho but brod will probably go with the three.
Who would play in the middle if we are missing the Ox? Ramsey, Arteta, Rosc, Wilshere are all injured! Carzola goes down one step, Sanchez down on step and podolski goes in?
I did predict we are going to win this game but I'm starting to have my doubts. Purely because whenever there's been any real test of our resolve in the last two years we have wilted miserably.
Liverpool are there for the taking, their defence is leaky, and while they did create some decent chances against United, compared to last season, their attack is very toothless, when you look at their team the only real attacking threat you can see is from Sterling, but I'm sure Rogers knowing our weakness from headers-set plays will go with Lambert. Hopefully we don't do what we do a lot, which is make an average team look like Barca, and make Rickie Lambert look like the best striker that there is. Our injury situation sucks because I believe with a full squad, or with most of our key players available, that we would have taken this game no doubt, but the injury crisis makes things hard because you so little options. If Ramsey-Kos were available, that would have been great.
I think Kos is a bigger miss than Ramsey. He would deal with Sterling - now he can become a problem for us.
...having said that if Liverpool plays 3-5-2 then I am optimistic. I dont think we have played against team with that setup and NOT trashed them. Hopefully that happens again!
