Liverpool vs Arsenal Premier League preview: How to watch, lineups, Partey fitness & prediction

Arsenal are back in action after the third and final international break of 2021 as they travel to Anfield on Saturday to take on Liverpool in the Premier League. Here is the match preview.

Is there a tougher away fixture in the Europe at the moment? Since being humbled away at Manchester City on matchweek three of the campaign there has been no sterner test of this team’s credentials than what awaits next.

A 25-game unbeaten run came to an end for Liverpool last time out as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away at West Ham, a result that arguably works against Arsenal as Jurgen Klopp’s side will be more fired up than ever to secure three points.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s side have matched the best run during his tenure as they aim to go 11 games without defeat in all competitions, a feat they are largely seen as outside favourites to achieve.

Liverpool vs Arsenal Premier League preview: Mikel Arteta’s side aim to go 11 matches unbeaten with daunting trip to Anfield on Saturday

The history books don’t work in their favour either. While last season the Gunners got to taste victory on the red half of Merseyside with an EFL Cup penalty shootout victory after a 0-0 scoreline, the club haven’t won in normal time at the famous stadium since 2012.

A 2-0 win in September was the first of the season for Arsene Wenger’s men as goals from summer signings Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, their first strikes for the club, sealed victory on matchweek three.

There has been no Premier League joy there since. Just two draws, and no points since January 2016. Not great.

As content as Arsenal will be with their form having recovered from three straight defeats to open the season, there are no delusions of grandeur just yet with Arteta stating after the Watford victory that his team have ‘achieved nothing’.

Just as quickly as they can climb the table they can sink down it, and while a team fighting to return to the top six will not have their season defined by results away at title challengers, the mood and narrative can shift quickly.

It shouldn’t do, but a performance of encouragement and progress will do wonders for those still not convinced that the run Arsenal are on is sustainable. There will be bumps in the road, even with spirits high.

Is this going to be one of them? Whatever transpires, it’s sure to be a brilliant game of football.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 20 November
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Anfield
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Michael Oliver

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Arsenal Team News vs Liverpool – Anxious Wait on Thomas Partey Fitness

It’s all about Thomas Partey.

Left out of the 1-0 win over Watford after suffering a tight groin in training, all eyes will be on whether he can win his race against time to be fit for Anfield.

Playing no part in Ghana’s final two World Cup qualifiers, while Arsenal remain ‘hopeful’ he will be available to feature, the midfielder is still a doubt to be back. Losing him in the team might be the biggest loss of all.

There were also some concerns over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with reports in Africa stating he left Gabon’s camp early with an injury, although this proved instead to be a pre-agreed decision between club and country, and he is in fact fit and firing.

Kieran Tierney is also up to speed having played almost every minute of Scotland’s brilliant wins over Moldova and Denmark, six points that guarantee them a home tie in their World Cup play-off fixtures in March.

Sead Kolasinac is definitely out after an injury picked up with Bosnia, as is Granit Xhaka with the same long-term knee problem.

As for Klopp, he has previous ‘doubts’ Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson back in training, albeit not full training, after they left international duty early. Roberto Firmino remains out with a hamstring issue, with Naby Keita also due to miss out.

There are concerns over Andy Robertson, too. The Scot was forced off invthe win over Denmark and he looks highly doubtful to be available at left-back. Some welcome news, at least, although Kostas Tsimikas’ stock has been ever rising.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face Liverpool – Tierney at Left-Back?

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Jota, Mane

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Saka, Maitland-Niles, Sambi Lokonga, Smith Rowe; Lacazette, Aubameyang

Liverpool vs Arsenal Score Prediction

The run has to come to an end at some point, and you needn’t be labelled a non-believer by claiming that will happen on Saturday.

Realistically, a draw would be snapped at. Anyone going to Anfield and not taking a draw best have good reason for it, especially an Arsenal side still in the teething stages of their time as a collective.

Talk of this being a ‘free hit’ can be seen as defeatist, but what’s more important is avoiding being swept up in ten games unbeaten. This run has been fantastic and well deserved, it just mustn’t cloud judgement.

The gulf in class between these two teams is vast. Plain and simple.

One of the more interesting aspects of the clash is seeing how the likes of Benjamin White, Gabriel and Tomiyasu fare against one of Europe’s most lethal forward lines. Supporters have waxed lyrical about the defence, and this trio in particular, and while Leicester offer their own threat they aren’t tearing apart La Liga’s reigning champions home and away.

The frailties are there for Liverpool, the like of which the Hammers brilliantly exposed, but it will require nothing short of brilliance from each player at Anfield if Arsenal are to keep their unbeaten record in tact. It’s only the best player in the world they need to be fearing, after all.

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Score Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal