Liverpool v Arsenal Preview

Our success in this game will depend on how well our defence copes with Liverpool's attack, I reckon. Last week against Stoke, we defended really well against their long balls and set-pieces but this week we'll be coming up a completely different attack and a completely different way of playing.

To begin with, Liverpool play with a higher tempo and with three forwards who are all quick and skilled on the ball. Jenkinson will have a hell of a job containing Raheem Stirling, should he play. He did well against Stoke since Stoke's style played to his strengths, but up against a rapid, tricky winger I can see him having a lot of difficulty.

Koscielny and Vermaelen will have to play very well to keep Suarez quiet, too. Though Suarez is wasteful in front of goal, he can make defenders look silly.

It is my hope Koscielny does start over Mertesacker. This isn't a slight against Mertesacker, but I'd be more comfortable with Koscielny's mobility in defence.

Beyond that, whoever wins the midfield battle will keep most of the ball. If Liverpool play Allen and Sahin together, they'll have a pivot that will be very adept at keeping and using possession. Arteta and Diaby will have to keep track of Gerrard's runs between them.

Offensively, hopefully we'll attack down their flanks, since there fullbacks will inevitably push high up the pitch. Hopefully we'll close Skrtel down, too, since he doesn't seem too comfortable playing out from the back.

It's going to be a very difficult win and I wouldn't be surprised if we lost. I'm actually expecting a defeat. Draw would be a good result.

* Liverpool have picked up just 19 points in 21 Premier League games in 2012.

Worrying. :\

Good luck lads, hopefully it's a great game with the team in red getting the 3 points.

I'd like to see Yennaris or Coquelin at RB over Jenkinson if we do come up against Stirling simply because of playing style. Overall, I expect a much more exciting game than we've seen so far from the boys. I predict Podolski (2) and Diaby will score in a 3-1 victory that will probably be closer than the scoreline suggests

I cant see us scoring more than 1 goals regardless of how many chances we create.So basically depends on how good Arsenal attack performs against our defence.

I believe we have on of the best defenses in the league and Arsenal attack is still gelling so i think it will be 1-1 imo.

our most likely lineup is

Any idea whats Arsenal' likely lineup is?

Or we'll go with:

Gerrard is our best finisher, so that's not very far fetched ynwa

Both teams could really do with three points so it could be a 'triffic game.

Must win for both teams

Hope Yennaris and Coquelin start ahead of Jenkinson and Diaby.

Let the best team win

Who ever can score will win, considering the strike forces from both teams have been lacklustre.

Will probably end 1-0 or a draw.

a must win match for us considering our tough upcoming fixture list..

Agree with 'most' of the team from the OP.

Spot the difference in my team.

Szczesny

Jenks Vermy Kos Gibbs

Arteta Coquelin

Ox Cazorla Podolski

Giroud

Both teams are evenly matched. Big teams with a bad start to the season, performing below expectations of its supporters. L'pool has a better experienced defense while arsenal has the better experienced attack.
The midifield for me cancels each other out. I know some may say sahin, allen and gerrard is better then diaby, arteta and cazorla the fact is this will be sahin's first EPL game so for me it evens out. Plus we have two spaniards, that should give us the edge.
Overall the match will be either nail-biting or a snooze fest.
I think a draw is on the cards.
( The four players for arsenal who was responsible for last season's win against l'pool are missing. Messrs RVP,Song, Sagna and Szcny)

abirking wrote:Both teams are evenly matched. Big teams with a bad start to the season, performing below expectations of its supporters. L'pool has a better experienced defense while arsenal has the better experienced attack.
The midifield for me cancels each other out. I know some may say sahin, allen and gerrard is better then diaby, arteta and cazorla the fact is this will be sahin's first EPL game so for me it evens out. Plus we have two spaniards, that should give us the edge.
Overall the match will be either nail-biting or a snooze fest.
I think a draw is on the cards.
( The four players for arsenal who was responsible for last season's win against l'pool are missing. Messrs RVP,Song, Sagna and Szcny)

Hopefully Sterling starts ahead of Assaidi

Internet Bullshit Artist's on Twitter claiming Mannone (Szczesny failed fitness test) will be in goal again tomorrow and Chamberlain will start.

Where Chamberlain will play, I have no idea.

Either Oxlade on the right and Podolski on the left

Or Arteta-Oxlade-Cazorla (midfield)

Or Oxlade-Giroud-Walcott/Gervinho

maybe Cazorla starts at RW and Oxlade instead of him at CAM

Or Oxlade at RB :I'munoriginal:

Szczesny bit is true. He wasn't gonna be fit for tomorrow

Hopefully Ox isn't in the midfield. He doesn't know his role properly when played there.


Would be our best possible starting XI, but I think we'll see that team with Jenkinson instead of Yennaris and Diaby instead of Coquelin.

First of all, great job Sam once again!


Tomorrow's game is must win for both Arsenal and liverpool so i won't be surprised if it ends up in a draw like they usually do. I won't mind a draw in all honesty because Anfield is a place where its extremely hard to do well mainly because the crowd genuinely plays as the 12th man.

City of all teams struggled there and that should tell you.

But we need to win this otherwise there will be a huge huge backlash and the morale will be non existent, specially after a "decent" start. Wenger will be scrutinised obviously and the conflict between the fans will grow even more.

It will be difficult as i mentioned. Pressure will be on our strikers to score, Pressure will be on Liverpool's defence to not concede. And pressure on both managers to prove the media wrong.

If the news about Oxlade is correct than i think he will start at RW with theo and gervinho on the bench. I would personally start Ramsey instead of Diaby because ball retention will be key and We don't really need physical presence tomorrow in midfield.

Let's do our best tomorrow

Thankgs RG

--

Arsenal are unbeaten with Vito Mannone in the Premier League -> 5 wins, 2 draws.

RealGunner wrote:

If the news about Oxlade is correct than i think he will start at RW with theo and gervinho on the bench. I would personally start Ramsey instead of Diaby because ball retention will be key and We don't really need physical presence tomorrow in midfield.

This is what I would expect as well. I can't imagine Wenger sitting either Podolski or Giroud in a game immediately before the international break when both need to be playing to help the team gel. No need to delay their progress for two more weeks. And with Liverpool being less physical than Sunderland and Stoke City and with them learning Brendan Rogers' passing game, Ramsey would seem a better option.

Agree with you mudcat

However people are suggesting that Podolski may drop to the bench because Wenger wants proper width tomorrow. hence oxlade and Theo starting

let's see

i would also want Ox at right.. Also Coquelin replacing Diaby.. but not sure whether it is the right match to try this for the first time.. i agree.. Ramsey doesnt look a bad idea, for the first time, lol...
will stick with Jenkinson at RB... and why bench Podolski.. play Gervinho and Walcott as subs..
btw, Is Sczeny 100% fit ?

For me the sunderland game and the upcoming southampton game were must win.
After the chelsea match i will be satisfied if we have 8 points. ( 5 draws and 1 win) Anything more will be a bonus. Anyways hopefully we will get maximum points tomorrow.

Great work sam.

This game is made for Coquelin. Reads the game well which leads to interceptions, and with a Sahin-Allen midfield, this will be extremely useful. Same applies for Koscielny as well, and like jay said his mobility is alot better than Mertesackers and this will help deal with Suarez's movement.

As for Ox, I think he should start, and if Liverpool's possession game is working, Theo's pace on the counter could be effective.

And I do agree RG, a loss and there's going to be a major division between the fans, the usual pro-Usmanov group will pop up again. A draw wouldn't be the worst result, but we MUST score to get some sort of boost before the internationals.

Great work Sam

lets hope we are effective on counters
if we take our chances we can get 3 pts
as long as we dont concede early and came out well under early stages pressure