Quantcast
Home   >   Match   >   PREVIEW: Liverpool v Arsenal: Team News, Starting XI & Prediction

PREVIEW: Liverpool v Arsenal: Team News, Starting XI & Prediction

By on December 20, 2014

Alex-OxladeChamberlain-Arsenal

Arsenal face a tough trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday afternoon as we look to close in on the top four.

Following Saturday’s results, we now sit seventh in the Premier League table but a win tomorrow will see us move back up to sixth and just two points off fourth-placed West Ham.

Despite mounting injury problems, we’ve actually found a bit of form of late with consecutive 4-1 victories over Galatasaray and Newcastle United.

However, Liverpool away with be a different ball-game and hopefully Arsene Wenger will use last seasons 5-1 thrashing at Anfield as motivation for the players. We were humiliated back in February so fingers crossed we can make amends tomorrow.

Team News

The big question mark is whether Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be passed fit after aggravating a groin injury against Newcastle. He had a late fitness test this afternoon and thankfully the indications are he’s been passed fit.

Theo Walcott is also expected to be in the squad after recovering from a groin problem but I think it’s too soon for him to start, so he’ll be among the subs.

Nacho Monreal should join Theo on the bench after shaking off a foot injury and Calum Chambers is back from a ban.

Laurent Koscielny remains out with a calf injury and Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for a further two weeks so they join Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines.

As for Liverpool, they’ll be without Mario Balotelli after he was hit with a one-game ban for his ‘controversial’ Instagram post, while Daniel Sturridge is still out with a thigh injury.

Dejan Lovren faces a late fitness test and Glen Johnson is out (unfortunately).

Preferred Line-Up

With all our injuries, the boss has little option to go with this eleven. Theo isn’t ready to start and he clearly doesn’t trust Podolski for the full ninety minutes, so I think this is how we’ll line-up tomorrow.

For those who care, Liverpool’s eleven is likely to be: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Lucas , Gerrard, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling.

Prediction

Liverpool got back to winning ways in midweek with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup but they still look vulnerable at the back. Sterling is going to cause us problems if he’s played through the middle though. I’m terrified at what his pace and movement might do to Mertesacker and Chambers. However, we’re looking strong going forward ourselves and if we can contain Sterling, I think we can edge this one.

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal 

COYG!!!

12 Comments