Arsenal vs Liverpool: Predicted Starting XI & Tactics

Centre-Backs

This is the first key aspect of the tactical selection. Mikel Arteta will trust the guns that carried him through the restart, and line up in a 3-4-3 formation. However, I think the personnel will be slightly different.

The ever-present David Luiz will likely start though the middle, as that’s where he’s best. He was a mainstay of Arsenal’s backline, and I don’t see that stopping until Arteta switches to a back-four.

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From there, it’s slim pickings, due to various injuries. Pablo Mari is still struggling with a knee problem, and the last we heard from Shkodran Mustafi was that he had stressed his hamstring and would be unable to feature for the rest of the season. Given we don’t know the state of his health, I think he’ll be a no-show.

Rob Holding will fill in at right centre-back, given his experience in the position, and the fact that he’s actually healthy.

Left centre-back is a toss-up between William Saliba and Kieran Tierney. No, Sead Kolasinac is not in contention. No chance. Despite Tierney’s importance at wing-back, he will start centrally. We need his left-footed presence in the defense, and his mobility will help to combat the Mohammed Salah threat.