Anfield prepares for a high-profile Premier League clash on Sunday, as newly-crowned champions Liverpool host Arsenal in a fixture that, while stripped of title-race drama, remains rich in narrative and significance for both sides.
Liverpool secured the Premier League title two weeks ago with a resounding 5-1 win over Tottenham and currently sit 15 points clear at the top of the table. With the pressure off, Arne Slot’s side is expected to play with freedom, though the Reds will be eager to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend and maintain their unbeaten home record against Arsenal, which now stands at 14 matches in all competitions (7 wins, 7 draws). Slot is likely to rotate his squad, with Conor Bradley set to start and Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to feature from the bench. Joe Gomez remains Liverpool’s only notable absentee, although he has been training this week, so may be on the bench.
For Arsenal, the stakes are much higher. Mikel Arteta’s team, still reeling from a Champions League semi-final exit to PSG and a run of poor domestic form, are fighting to secure a top-four finish after a third consecutive second-place league campaign slipped away. Injuries to key attackers and a lack of January reinforcements have contributed to their struggles, with the Gunners dropping 21 points from winning positions this season-a joint-worst record for the club in a single campaign. Arteta has challenged his squad to use the pain of their recent setbacks as motivation, aiming to end the season on a positive note and avoid slipping out of Champions League qualification spots.
The last five meetings between these sides have been closely contested, with Arsenal unbeaten in their last five against Liverpool but without a win at Anfield since 2012. The reverse fixture ended 2-2 at the Emirates in October. According to Opta’s supercomputer, Liverpool are favourites, with a 46.6% chance of victory.
Kick-off: 16:30 BST
Venue: Anfield
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