Arsenal vs Liverpool: Statistical Preview, Form Guide, Injury News & Head-To-Head

Arsenal made it 22 points from a possible 27 last weekend with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, despite the sending off of Mikel Arteta. The Premier League leaders host third-place Liverpool who head into the weekend 2 points behind Arsène Wenger’s side.

The Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez partnership hit new heights last weekend as they scored a combined 4 goals in a 4-1 thrashing of West Brom. The Uruguayan scored his 4th Premier League hat-trick before his England international team mate scored a delightful lob of Boaz Myhill.

Only Manchester City have scored more goals than these two teams before the weekend whilst Arsenal are coming off only their clean second clean sheet of the season. Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet since the first three games of the season.

Form

Arsenal WWDWW

Of the eight Premier League matches Arsenal have played this season against opponents that were in the Premier League last season, they took a maximum 24 points in 2012-13. Last weekend they beat newly-promoted and now bottom-of-the-league Crystal Palace.

Arsenal have looked good in the league so far but this will be considered by many as only their second real test of the season. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the Emirates earlier but now face a Liverpool side who have scored 17 goals in their opening 9 league games and with the deadliest strike duo in the Premier League currently.

Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski are big losses for Arsène Wenger as they remain sidelined. Mathieu Flamini will also be a huge loss to the Gunners as he’s been sidelined with a groin problem.

Liverpool WDWWL

Liverpool returned to winning ways with the thrashing of West Brom after they had drawn 2-2 at 10-man Newcastle the week before. The Reds are 4W 0D 1L at home and 2W 2D 0L on their travels. Both of those draws away from Anfield have been 2-2 – the same scoreline between these two teams in this fixture last season.

Liverpool’s defence has not kept a clean sheet in their last six league matches after opening the season with three successive 1-0 wins. Perhaps that has something to do with their attacking mentality following the return of Luis Suárez from suspension. They have scored 14 goals in their last 6 Premier League games – Suárez has scored 6 goals in his 4 matches.

José Enrique and Iago Aspas are the two first-team injuries Brendan Rodgers has to deal with but Philippe Coutinho is back in the squad.

Head-to-head

This fixture finished 2-2 back in January after the visitors had raced into a 2-0 lead on the hour. The home side put all the pressure on in the final half hour and got a deserved point through goals from Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.

Prior to that draw at the Emirates, Arsenal had won back-to-back league games at Anfield. The home team has not won this fixture in the last 6 meetings.

Premier League stats

Absentees

Arsenal
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (injury)
Abou Diaby (injury)
Yaya Sanogo (injury)
Lukas Podolski (injury)
Theo Walcott (injury)

Liverpool
Iago Aspas (injury)
Sebastián Coates (injury)
José Enrique (injury)

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