Anfield is set to host an early-season blockbuster as last season`s top two, Liverpool and Arsenal, face off on Sunday. This highly anticipated Premier League encounter, widely seen as a clash between this season`s potential title contenders, might not single-handedly determine the championship race. However, its outcome holds significant weight, potentially setting the narrative and momentum for both teams in the demanding months ahead.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta enters this fixture with a commendable unbeaten Premier League run against Liverpool dating back to March 2022. Yet, a top-flight win at Anfield as a manager has eluded him, his last personal triumph at the stadium being a 2-0 victory in September 2012, when he played as a midfielder under Arsene Wenger.
Both clubs arrive eager to maintain a perfect start, seeking a third consecutive victory. Liverpool`s Arne Slot faces the immediate challenge of shoring up a defense that has already conceded six goals in their initial league and Community Shield fixtures. Conversely, Liverpool`s formidable attack poses a significant threat to Arsenal. As these titans prepare to lock horns, here are the crucial tactical questions likely occupying both managers:
1. The Challenge of Containing Mohamed Salah
Slowing down Mohamed Salah in full flow often seems an insurmountable task, but Arsenal has arguably come closest to achieving it in recent seasons. While the Egyptian maestro has still conjured moments of brilliance against his title challengers, Mikel Arteta`s defense, when at its best, has successfully limited Salah`s impact, forcing him into less influential positions.
Arsenal`s strategy against Salah typically involves deploying a right-footed defender at left-back, aiming to counter his tendency to cut inside from the right flank onto his stronger right foot. This defender also needs to manage overlapping runs and Salah`s drives towards the byline. Takehiro Tomiyasu previously excelled in this role; his consistent fitness would likely see him in the squad for such crucial matches. Jurrien Timber, often considered Arsenal`s top defensive full-back, performed admirably for 76 minutes during last season`s Emirates encounter before Salah`s late equalizer, which retrospectively dented Arsenal`s title hopes.
Ideally, Mikel Arteta would have preferred to redeploy Timber at left-back, but Arsenal`s perennial injury woes persist. The absence of key players, including Ben White, means limited options at right-back. Consequently, either Riccardo Calafiori or Myles Lewis-Skelly will likely be tasked with marking Salah. Lewis-Skelly demonstrated competence against a less motivated Salah towards the end of last season. His defensive acumen, exceptional for an 18-year-old, makes assigning him the monumental task of neutralizing England`s premier attacker a surprisingly pragmatic choice for Arteta.
While Calafiori is certainly capable defensively, his role at Arsenal often involves pushing forward aggressively. His propensity for creating offensive chaos raises questions about whether he can temper his attacking instincts sufficiently for a containment job on Salah, and indeed, if he even should.
Match Details and Betting Odds
- Date: Sunday, August 31
- Kick-off Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Broadcast: NBC
- Current Odds: Liverpool to Win: +125; Draw: +240; Arsenal to Win: +210
2. The Midfield Battle: Wirtz vs. Zubimendi
It`s uncommon for managers to publicly discuss integrating an opposition player into their squad, especially one who famously rejected them a year prior. Nevertheless, Arne Slot made no secret of his past intentions for Martin Zubimendi. It was widely reported that Liverpool aimed to make Zubimendi a cornerstone of Slot`s inaugural season, only for the midfielder to hesitate when Arsenal later expressed interest.
Slot commented on Zubimendi`s qualities: “What attracted us to him was his exceptional ball control and profound understanding of the game. We believed, correctly, that we would dominate possession in most matches, and having a defensively robust player who is also comfortable on the ball just ahead of the defense would have been an ideal fit. He`s now demonstrating his defensive strength in the league, precisely as we anticipated.”
While Liverpool eventually acquired Ryan Gravenberch to fulfill a similar role, he now faces the formidable challenge of Martin Zubimendi. Zubimendi is a central midfield maestro capable of dictating tempo and stifling opposition attacks. Should Arteta deploy him alongside Declan Rice in a double pivot, a setup experimented with this season, Arsenal could gain a crucial advantage in the midfield against Gravenberch and a recently fit-again Alexis Mac Allister.
Liverpool`s deeper midfielders will require substantial support, and Florian Wirtz is expected to provide it. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen player, though not yet a dominant force in Premier League possession, has rapidly acclimatized to Slot`s off-ball demands. An eager presser, Wirtz averages an attacking-third recovery roughly every 50 minutes (though from a limited sample size). He will need to intensify this defensive workload. Arsenal will undoubtedly seek to quell the Anfield atmosphere with periods of composed, controlled possession. However, a timely tackle or interception in a threatening area by Wirtz could reignite the Kop`s energy.
3. Noni Madueke`s Opportunity to Impress
Noni Madueke`s £50 million transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal this summer was met with considerable fan frustration, sparking thousands of petition signatures and even calls for Arteta`s dismissal. This reaction, perhaps an emblem of modern transfer market fervor, was ironic given Madueke`s potential to address several squad needs. He has already demonstrated his value on the left wing, offering a distinct, left-footed, cross-first option that complements Gabriel Martinelli. Now, he may have the chance to start on his preferred right flank.
Last season, Bukayo Saka was rushed back for Liverpool`s visit to the Emirates, where he initially shone with an early goal before his performance waned due to a muscle problem, ultimately leading to a significant hamstring injury two months later. With Saka sidelined this weekend after limping off against Leeds, Arsenal will be counting on Madueke to step up and provide a crucial attacking outlet.
The 23-year-old winger previously impressed when facing Trent Alexander-Arnold on Chelsea`s left flank last season. He will now likely relish the opportunity to test Milos Kerkez, one of Liverpool`s new full-backs, who despite being the more reserved of the two, is still keen to push forward. Madueke`s explosive pace and direct runs are perfectly suited to exploit the defensive spaces behind the champions` backline, areas that teams like Bournemouth and Newcastle have successfully targeted. This match presents an excellent platform for Madueke to silence his critics and win over the Arsenal faithful.
