Arsenal–Liverpool

Last year's league champions face this season's by far the best Premier League team. What a duel we have on Thursday night from London! Liverpool host Arsenal, and if this match is lost significantly, Slot could quickly catch up with Amorim on the job market. Arsenal are terrific, they are solid, they have Rice, they have Gabriel, and they are absolutely outstanding on set pieces. Both in front of their own goalkeeper as well as in front of the opponent's. The red and whites have come close before, but this season it seems to be a bit more solid. The fiercest challengers are not of the highest quality either, and Liverpool in particular has played themselves out of good company. If the home team manages to dominate this match, secure three new points, then things suddenly look very bright for Arteta's men. Arsenal have lost two matches this season, one came quite recently against a high-flying Aston Villa, while the other loss was inflicted by Liverpool. Two teams in quite different conditions, but it will be a match, and nerves will be thick on the outside.

Arsenal – England's most solid football team

Because it is almost guaranteed that Arsenal will win their matches on the day. Putting your hard-earned money on the Londoners gives a return, although to an increasingly lesser extent due to a falling odds curve. No one is surprised anymore by the amount of three points they sweep with them, and as of today they are relatively clear favorites for the title. But Arsenal have been here before them. Can they last the race this time?

15 wins, three draws and two losses. 26 plus goals in the protocol. Losses against only Villa and Liverpool. Arsenal have done the job, and well done. The goals come like pearls on a string, and even though the Swede at the top does not account for many of them, he still plays a role. Space is created, they work hard, and they take advantage of midfielders and defenders. Rice looks like a million this season, and with that Arsenal have more goalscorers to play on, even though the pure striker may still be missing.

The injury situation looks bright heading into the big game. You can choose from just about anything that can crawl and walk, and with several key players in good form, it's just a joy and a pleasure to be Arteta during the day. The matches against Liverpool tend to be close, goal-rich, and full of duels and situations. That will probably be the case this time too, but with several clear advantages for the home team. The defense is better, the midfield is more coordinated, and especially the offensive threats from set pieces are almost impossible to resist. The only thing that might make it difficult is the massive favorite label you now get. Will you be able to live up to expectations, sweep Liverpool off the field, and really hit the table and claim the league title? This match is not going to make or break, but it is clear that this outcome sends a certain signal effect. Pep is probably sitting on the bench in front of the cash register.

Liverpool – The season that didn't turn out as planned

Because Liverpool was in a great position. The league was won early, and there was plenty of time to address any areas for improvement ahead of the current season. But then a couple of things happened that you can't guard against. Jota's passing left its mark, and players were brought in at a low price. Contributors like Diaz left, who then brought with him a fierce work ethic, as well as a lot of goal points. The constellations became new, and especially the cooperation on the wings was damaged. Robertson and Diaz on the left, Trent and Salah on the right. Both were gone. In came Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz. Pinch me! What a few signings! But they will fit in too, no matter how expensive they are. As of today, you haven't got a team out of all the changes. Liverpool is a collection of good footballers who don't play very well together.

Arne Slot has in some ways failed. He got all the results his way initially, but then it stopped abruptly. Not only did the victories stop, they also started to concede a lot of goals. This had to be addressed, of course, and the solution was to play with all the midfielders they have available. We have seen it several times lately, Liverpool plays with five midfielders, and a lone striker. This is in great contrast to what Klopp chose to do, where he constantly stuck to three attacking players, and lived under the mantra that attack would be the best defense. Slot is more conservative and boring. Yes, Liverpool is no longer losing, but they are not impressing anyone either. With Isak, Salah and Gakpo on the sidelines, Rio or Chiesa were not given much confidence. Disappointing, many say.

Heading into this important away match, Gakpo is back, while Ekitike is the big question mark. If Liverpool are to get anything, they are probably completely dependent on getting the Frenchman ready. The right wing is also highly uncertain. Will Slot choose Frimpong, Szoboszlai or Chiesa? As we know Liverpool's new boss, it will probably be the Hungarian captain, with possible Gakpo and Ekitike in the other two offensive positions. The challenge will then be Wirtz. If Slot chooses Mac Allister, Jones and Gravenberch centrally, the German will be on the bench. No matter how you look at it, the Reds lack creativity and flair at the top. The solution last year was a Salah on fire. Like so many seasons before. With the Egyptian in great form, last year's league champions are a completely different football team. Slot must find a different solution on Thursday.

Conclusion – Arsenal will dictate the game at the Emirates

Arsenal are the best team this season. There is no doubt about it. Arteta finds solutions, and the red and whites win games. The game plan is already clear, and Slot also has full control over it. The only question is whether they can do something about it. The pressure on set pieces, the dangerous corners, and the deep runs from midfield everyone knows are coming. It will be very interesting to see if the visitors have any answers.

The game is won in the middle. It often is. I dare say that this is more correct than ever. Arsenal's midfield has been absolutely outstanding this season, and if they can recreate this ability to move a few more games, they can look back on a season that was more than just almost. You can see the result in your own trophy cabinet. Liverpool must try to keep up, and especially guys like Mac Allister and Gravenberch must get to last year's level. Ødegaard, on the other hand, already has this level, and it will be a dogfight from the first whistle about every meter.

The matches between these two greats of English football contain a lot of goals. The last nine have ended with goals both ways seven times. Many of these have been 2-2 and 3-1 matches. Now this is perhaps not the year that is screamed the most goals, all the time Liverpool has to try to close it down, while Arsenal barely concedes goals. Nevertheless, there are a couple of things that make us recommend betting on goals for both duelists. First and foremost, the away team has to show something. This is the match that will ignite the team from the Beatles city that little bit extra, and it is another golden opportunity to show that they still have it. They are still reigning champions, and they have the qualities. We think the away team will score.

We think the home team will score too. Not only that, we think the home team will win. Arsenal are better than Liverpool in just about everything this season, and that will probably result in three clean points again. What may be a little difficult to deal with, however, is the favorite label. Here, the home team is the leading party, and it is up to Areta's boys to make sure that the points remain in London. It is not certain that we will see any high shoulders, but the chance is definitely there. Who would have imagined that Gabriel could play the hair-raising mispassion he made in the previous round of the series? It is clear that at some point you will start to feel the pressure, and if things go a little wrong, the ghost will quickly appear. Not this year again.

The match is guaranteed to be worth watching, and if we get it right, there will also be goals for both players.

England at 21:00: Arsenal - Liverpool: Both teams score (1.80)

Alternative game

England at 21:00: Arsenal - Liverpool: Over 9.5 corners (1.78)