The lineups of Liverpool and Arsenal are known. On the side of the Reds Virgil van Dijk returns to the starting line-up after he had to miss the game with Chelsea due to illness. Cody Gakpo is the striker on duty and is flanked by Mohamed Salah (right) and Diogo Jota (left). On the side of Arsenal, Leandro Trossard, among others, has to take a seat on the bench. The match starts at 5.30 pm Dutch time and can be seen on via play.
Darwin Núñez has to sit on the bench at Liverpool. The Uruguayan is a substitute, just like Roberto Firmino and Joe Gomez. Trainer Jürgen Klopp opts for a midfield consisting of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Curtis Jones. Van Dijk forms a couple with Ibrahima Konaté in the heart of the defense. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has made one change compared to the 4-1 win against Leeds United. Bukayo Saka is preferred to Trossard on the right winger. Saka has to serve striker Gabriel Jesus with the wing attacker on the left, Gabriel Martinelli.
Liverpool only managed to get one point from the last three games, making it a hell of a job to reach European football. Van Dijk had to miss Tuesday’s game with Chelsea (0-0) due to illness, but is back against Arsenal. In addition, Thiago Alcântara returns to the bench, while Luis Díaz takes the last steps in his recovery. Klopp’s side look defensively vulnerable this season and that comes out badly against Arsenal, who are the second highest scoring Premier League team this season after Manchester City. Despite this, Anfield is normally an impregnable fortress for the Gunners: Liverpool have won their last eight home games against Arsenal.
The first league title since 2004 is closer than ever for Arsenal. However, the leader knows that City is five points behind on the tick rope. Despite Arsenal not winning their last nine games at Anfield, Arteta knows what it feels like to take the points with him. The manager was on the field when the Londoners won in and from Liverpool in 2012. Arsenal have won their last seven league games in a row, a run unmatched by any other top English club this season. In addition, the team from north London won fourteen away games in the Premier League this season. In this respect too, no other team does better than Arsenal.
Liverpool line-up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota.
Arsenal line-up: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Ødegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 29 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 72 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 29 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 48 | 67 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 29 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 27 | 56 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 29 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 53 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 47 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 46 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 43 |
| 9 | Brentford | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 43 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | 11 | 6 | 12 | -1 | 39 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 39 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton W. | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | -18 | 31 |
| 13 | West Ham United | 29 | 8 | 6 | 15 | -12 | 30 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 29 | 7 | 9 | 13 | -15 | 30 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | -29 | 30 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 29 | 7 | 8 | 14 | -11 | 29 |
| 17 | Everton | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | -20 | 27 |
| 18 | Nottingham Forest | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | -30 | 27 |
| 19 | Leicester City | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | -12 | 25 |
| 20 | Southampton | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | -27 | 23 |