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The newly-crowned champions host the perpetual also-rans in Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster, as Liverpool welcome Arsenal for a top-of-the-table battle, albeit one with little riding on it for the Reds.
In contrast, Mikel Arteta‘s men could still suffer a catastrophic collapse and miss out on Champions League qualification next season, having recently suffered European heartbreak in Paris yet again.
Match preview
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What will perhaps go down as the most meaningless defeat in all Liverpool history, Arne Slot‘s rotated side unsurprisingly took their foot off the gas against a full-strength Chelsea team last weekend, allowing the Blues to enhance their top-five credentials in a 3-1 success.
Enzo Fernandez‘s early opener, Jarell Quansah‘s comical own goal and Cole Palmer‘s drought-ending effort ensured that a Virgil van Dijk header would be nothing but scant consolation for the Premier League champions, but few Liverpool fans – if any – should have lost sleep over last weekend’s events.
Now simply seeking their highest points total possible, Liverpool will breach the 90 barrier if they can triumph in each of their three remaining Premier League games, which will also serve as Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s farewell tour following confirmation of his expected exit.
The Real Madrid-bound right-back should not expect a rousing reception from the Kop on what will be his penultimate game at Anfield, although he is already confirmed to be starting on the bench on Sunday, where Slot’s men are seeking an eighth straight Premier League home win.
Furthermore, out of their 15 top-flight matches at Anfield since September’s shock loss to Nottingham Forest, the holders have netted at least twice in 14 of them, and upcoming opponents Arsenal ought to be taking notes after their well-documented lack of ruthlessness proved fatal in Europe again.
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Champions League heartache in the French capital is nothing new for the Gunners, who memorably came so close yet so far to that elusive European crown in the 2006 European final against Barcelona in Paris, and their wait for another showpiece appearance is about to stretch into its second decade.
By failing to make the most of a stellar opening 20 minutes against a Gianluigi Donnarumma-inspired Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal were their own worst enemies in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, succumbing to a 2-1 loss and 3-1 aggregate defeat against the Munich-bound Parisiens.
In Arteta’s not-so-humble belief, the best team went out of the semi-finals, but the ‘best team’ have now also lost three straight games in all competitions; a 2-1 Premier League reverse to Bournemouth – which told the story of their season – was sandwiched in between both PSG failures.
The visit of the Cherries saw Arsenal fail to win a 10th Premier League game in which they had led this season – a new unwanted club record – and their total points dropped from winning positions now reads an unsightly 21, their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition alongside 2019-20.
All of that leaves the second-placed Gunners with work to do if they are to be absolutely sure of a place among Europe’s elite next season, and while a five-game unbeaten run against Liverpool in the Premier League makes for good reading, not since Arteta’s playing days in 2012 have Arsenal won a top-flight fixture at Anfield.
Team News
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Preparing for a post-Alexander-Arnold world, Slot told the media on Friday morning that Conor Bradley will be fielded at right-back on Sunday; another potential alternative, Joe Gomez, is still missing with a hamstring problem.
Barring Gomez and shoulder victim Tyler Morton, the champions have a clean bill of health for Sunday’s blockbuster, where Slot is expected to revert to a more familiar side after experimenting with a few fringe players at Stamford Bridge.
Van Dijk netted his third goal of the Premier League season on his 299th appearance last weekend, and the Liverpool skipper is now set to become just the fourth Dutchman to play 300 games in the competition after George Boateng (384), Dennis Bergkamp (315) and Edwin van der Sar (313).
Arsenal’s fitness situation is also looking a little rosier after Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho returned from injury to make the squad against PSG, where Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard also recovered from knocks sustained in the Bournemouth beating.
Calafiori could even be a viable option on the left-hand side over Myles Lewis-Skelly, who endured a rough ride against PSG on Wednesday, but the former’s lack of match practice ought to work in the teenager’s favour.
Long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kai Havertz (hamstring) are still missing, but the latter remains on track to feature before the end of the season.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
We say: Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
Liverpool and Arsenal have enjoyed a good stalemate in recent times – especially at Anfield – but a trip to the champions was the last thing that the Gunners needed after a massive dose of Parisian pain.
With the Reds back at a vibrant Anfield, likely back to full strength and simply out-gunning Arsenal on the attacking front all season long, Slot’s men should prove why they are champions and why the visitors are not.
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