Liverpool and Arsenal will go head-to-head in a blockbuster English Premier League clash on Wednesday that could have serious ramifications for their respective campaigns.
Both clubs have enjoyed memorable starts to the new year, with the Gunners powering into a top-four berth, while the Reds have dramatically cut into Manchester City’s lead at the top of the league standings.
As it stands, City are currently just three log points ahead of Liverpool (after each have played 28 games), although Pep Guardiola’s team could push further ahead if they claim victory over Crystal Palace on Monday night.
ARSENAL ARE 3.96 TO WIN AT HOME
Meanwhile, Arsenal have played just 26 matches, but are handily placed in fourth place as they seek to secure Champions League qualification, with Manchester United, West Ham and Wolves all trailing behind. Those chasing teams, by comparison though, have all played 29 games.
For Liverpool, there will be some concern ahead of Wednesday’s clash at the Emirates Stadium after superstar Mo Salah had to be taken off after suffering a foot injury in the second half of his side’s 2-0 win at Brighton on Saturday. However, there is no indication just yet over how serious it may be.
“We will see. He thinks it’s not serious, but you can see more when Mo Salah is sitting down, something is not 100% right,” said manager Jurgen Klopp immediately after the game.
“I think it was the situation before when he hit the ball and got blocked. When he wanted to shoot and got blocked and I think the foot got slightly overstretched. We have to see.”
Klopp has also hinted at some Covid-19 cases in the Liverpool camp in the build-up to their match against Arsenal, and while he didn’t reveal names or details, the manager said that some asymptomatic “players and staff cannot be involved”.
In the Arsenal camp, Mikel Arteta’s charges will be aiming to make it six wins in a row in the Premier League after they beat Leicester City 2-0 on Sunday. In a considerable boost, Arteta is expected to have a virtually fully-fit squad to select from, with injured Takehiro Tomiyasu the only real notable absentee at the moment.
Despite Arsenal’s recent success, Arteta is refusing to get carried away, particularly considering that a match-up against a Premier League frontrunner like Liverpool is always going to be viewed as a real litmus test of the team’s progress.
“The reality in football is when you start to predict what can happen no-one would get it right – the only thing we can control is our performance.
“We are in a good position but there is still a lot to fight for. Next up is Liverpool – we know how tough it will be but we will try to win it.”