Liverpool enters the 18th round in the Premier League in second place, trailing Arsenal by just one point. A victory today would allow the hosts to surpass their rivals, but Aston Villa also sits at 37 points, creating an intense battle for the provisional first place in the Premier League. In the last round at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s team couldn’t break through Manchester United’s defense in a goalless draw (0:0). Liverpool players took 34 shots on the opponent’s goal, eight of which were on target, and dominated possession with 68%, but luck was not on their side. In the next match in the quarterfinals of the League Cup, the Reds dominated against West Ham, securing a 5-1 victory. Liverpool continues to impress with their home record. The team has not suffered a defeat at Anfield in the Premier League for over a year, accumulating 16 wins and four draws. Due to injuries, defenders Joel Matip and Andrew Robertson, as well as forwards Diogo Jota and Ben Doak, will be unavailable today.
Arsenal, currently leading their opponent by one point in the league table, aims to widen the gap further. However, this task is challenging, considering that the Gunners have not won at Anfield since 2012. After an away defeat to Aston Villa (0:1), Mikel Arteta’s team bounced back with a convincing 2-0 victory against Brighton in the next round. It’s worth noting that Arsenal’s two Premier League losses this season occurred in away matches. In Liverpool, injured players Takahiro Tomiyasu, midfielders Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira won’t be able to contribute. Recently, it was revealed that head coach Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to sign a central striker, midfielder, and two full-backs in the winter transfer window.
