Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool: Premier League returns

Arsenal welcome Premier League champions Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening following a two week domestic break. Here is Mikel Arteta’s predicted lineup.

Who is dead on their feet? Who is cramping up just walking up and down their stairs? Who may risk further injury just before the ‘new’ biggest game of the season in the Europa League?

Just three of a host of questions Mikel Arteta will be asking himself and the medical team before the visit of Liverpool, as he seeks to find balance between quality and quantity.

With a number of his players having played an astounding amount of football this year – let alone this season – will one more game in a short turnover time be one too many? Yet, it’s those who play too much football that are the ones most capable of securing a result. Decisions to make.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool: Premier League returns as Mikel Arteta has fatigue decisions to contend with

First on his mind will be the progress reports of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. Both Hale Enders are carrying injuries, with the former still recovering from a hamstring problem sustained against West Ham while Smith Rowe is attempting to shake off a hip problem picked up on international duty.

In defence there is Kieran Tierney who can’t catch a break, not even against the Faroe Islands, as he played nearly every minute of Scotland’s three fixtures over the two week period. In midfield Granit Xhaka was only granted 45 minutes worth of rest during a friendly with Finland, which might even be enough for the Swiss machine whose body keeps plugging away.

Martin Odegaard is another who will be asked to start, having played from the off in all three of Norway’s recent fixtures. He is the captain, after all.

Liverpool, barring central defence, are near full strength. Arsenal are close to it, too. How much of that strength does Arteta field on Saturday, and how much does he keep fresh for midweek?

"“The more games that we win, the team is going to be in a better state to compete in other competitions. That’s why my only focus is on Liverpool now,” the boss explained on the official Arsenal website."

So, strong team?

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – Behind Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the Germany pecking order, it was a quiet international break for Bernd Leno. Beyond physical fatigue, the mental aspect of playing so regularly may have taken a toll on the No. 1, thus this (sort of) time off will have done the keeper the world of good.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – Arteta has three options for this position but may rule out Calum Chambers simply down to the pace of the Liverpool front three. Having started in the north London derby, Cedric would seem the likely option for this one but Bellerin remains the quickest of the trio and that may just swing the pendulum in his favour, despite being exempt from the previous squad.

David Luiz (CB) – One half of the best central defensive partnership Arsenal have at the minute, Luiz can enjoy plenty of rest during international breaks to give him time to charge his batteries. An upgrade is still needed, which nobody will argue against and will hopefully be William Saliba next season, but until then his distribution makes him the man to partner Gabriel.

Gabriel (CB) – Yes, this Gabriel. The one who is enjoying a magnificent debut campaign in England and going from strength to strength in Arsenal red and white. Has a big job on his hands this Saturday.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – It simply has to be. If he’s fit, he plays. Whether or not he’s blowing his lungs out or not feels irrelevant. Arsenal should have brought someone in during the January transfer window but couldn’t secure the right option, leaving Tierney to slug it out in biweekly prison camp-like workouts with his legs.

He’s a machine, he’ll keep trucking along.