Arsenal vs Liverpool: Predicted Starting XI & Tactics

Central Midfielders

This is where the game will be won and lost. Liverpool’s midfield is often the lynchpin of their success, because of their ability to shuttle the ball between the flanks, drawing out opposing midfielders and creating gaps to attack through. However, Arsenal stymied that impulse by deploying a low-lying block, suffocating passing lanes and cramping their movement around the edge of the 18.

Granit Xhaka, as always, will start on the left side of the two. As in July, he will be invaluable to Arsenal’s success. If he keeps his head and stays on his feet, he can make life pretty uncomfortable for Liverpool’s forwards.

His long passing will also be a key asset in this game, given Arsenal’s pace up front. Expect Xhaka to link up heavily with Tierney and Maitland-Niles in the effort to find Aubameyang behind the Liverpool backline.

And on the right, Joe Willock will start over Lucas Torreira and Mohamed Elneny. It’s going to be a tough game for the young Englishman, as he will have to show a very high level of positional discipline, curbing his natural enthusiasm in favor of a far more patient approach. However, Arteta trusts him in the role and we’ll have to do the same.