Liverpool - Arsenal: Challenge at Anfield gate
Arsenal have not won in the last nine times as a guest at Anfield. The last six times they played here, they all lost with a total score of 4-22. The decline of Liverpool this season gives the "Gunners" the opportunity to end that series of sad results. But again, the bravery of teachers and students Mikel Arteta will be tested.
Most of the comments about this year's championship race are in favor of Man City, although Arsenal are leading the table with a gap of eight points (kicking more than one game). Arteta's teachers and students are considered to have a thinner squad and less championship racing experience than their opponents. But the return of the mainstays to a pivotal period is helping Arsenal to stand. Even, they won the last five rounds, scoring 18 goals, an average of 3.6 goals per game.
All eyes will be on the match between the two teams on April 26. The task for Arsenal is to maintain the score gap between now and then and Liverpool are the most formidable opponents to prevent them from doing this. The next two opponents of the "Gunners" are West Ham and Southampton.
"This season we went to a couple of pitches where the team hadn't won in 17, 18, 22 years, and broke the ball. So I believe Arsenal can win at Anfield. We really need to seize the moment. this and move on. That's what motivated the whole team in the last few days," Arteta expressed optimism.
Arsenal is the fourth strongest opponent in a row Liverpool has faced, after two defeats to Real, Man City and a 0-0 draw with Chelsea last weekend. The previous three matches were all played at home. Therefore, in addition to the meaning of the score dispute, the reception to Arsenal is an opportunity for Jurgen Klopp's teachers and students to remove the face after disappointing performances.
Talking about the draw in the defeat against Chelsea, Klopp was optimistic when he thought that Liverpool took a small step forward. According to the German coach, his players are having confidence problems and the support of the home fans can help to improve that. What Klopp wants Liverpool to do is get the ball into key areas that they haven't been able to do lately.
"Mikel Arteta has built the current Arsenal for a few years and the results are quite impressive. I don't know exactly how you can describe Liverpool now. That shows we have a problem. I know. People are calling on clubs to be more patient with the coach and Mikel proves he deserves every minute given," he said.
The first leg between the two teams in September ended 3-2 in favor of Arsenal. Liverpool equalized twice but succumbed to Bukayo Saka's brace. Arsenal have the opportunity to win all Liverpool for the first time in a season since 2010. The last time "Gunners" won two consecutive matches against this opponent was from September 2012.
Klopp confirmed Liverpool will welcome the return of midfielder Thiago Alcantara and midfielder Virgil van Dijk. But this match is too early for Luis Diaz - the striker has been on leave since October 2022 and is only expected to return from the match against Leeds on April 17. Arsenal are without four players, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny, Eddie Nketiah and William Saliba.
