Key events
47 mins: “The game is there for Arsenal to win,” suggests Gary Neville. Should be a fun second half.
Johnathan Kaszynski writes: “Wirtz is having to drop way too deep to get the ball, and is being eaten alive in a midfield that he is too slight to play against. Slot needs to think about putting him on the left of the front three where he has a better chance of picking up the ball with some space to dribble.”
Second half
Here we go again!
“This feels like a World Cup opening group match,” according to Neill Brown. “Neither team wants to give anything away and they also want to save their energy for what will turn out to be more important matches.
“It will be interesting to see what substitutions get made, and when. I like Arsenal’s options more than Liverpool’s but I think Slot will work a bit of magic and there’ll be no talk of Eze or Dowman tomorrow.”
Dave Bolland writes: “Starting with Calafiori and Martinelli instead of Odegaard and Eze seems a bit like Inigo Montoya fighting Westley left-handed. Hello? Hopefully they switch to their dominant hand for the second half.”
“Last year at City, Arsenal almost pulled an amazing smash and grab but the dodgy red cost us,” emails Nic. “Here Arsenal have nullified the champions, shut up the crowd and are well on their way to a great result. Or are we all now on the gung ho band wagon entertainment first agenda? The inability to compliment Arsenal with their top three players out is suspicious! Where’s my roll of tin foil?”
I am not sure anyone has criticised Arsenal’s style of play here but the game in general has not been very watchable.
“Arteta must be thinking of replacing heft with guile, and Merino seems the most likely candidate for the hook. Nwaneri on, and is it time for He Who Must Be The Answer to be unleashed?” asks Charles Antaki.
“I would like to heartily endorse Stephen Winstanley’s pithy comments – this game is, to use a Glaswegian phrase, a pun (pound) of mince,” writes Stephen McCrossan. “I’m away to walk Mollie the dog.”
Half-time reading.
Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
Not a classic first half of end-to-end action.
45 mins: Timber goes down in the box and claims he is the victim of a heinous foul. The referee is not particularly interested and nor is VAR.
One minute added on.
44 mins: Very much a match neither team want to lose. Liverpool should be a bit more adventurous but can’t find a gap in the Arsenal defence to exploit.
Rick Harris says: “I’m with Stephen Winstanley, the game is as dull as dishwater. Scrappy and lacking in quality. Hopefully the second half will be better.”
42 mins: Salah goes over to retrieve a pass but is clumsily bundled over by Gabriel, possibly to stop the forward flicking the ball past him.
40 mins: Merino chips a pass into Gyokeres, who lays it into the path of Timber to ping a shot which hits Van Dijk in the chest. The rebound reaches Calafiori, who sees his shot deflect wide. Rice finds the Italian in the box but he heads wide. The battles at corners are good fun and Liverpool are doing well against the best in the business.
38 mins: Rice swings it in from the left for the first time today but it goes over everyone and out the other side. Van Dijk is upset about something and has an argument with Merino after the midfielders does a terrible dive in the hope of winning a penalty.
36 mins: Zubimendi takes down Gakpo from behind and is penalised. The home fans want a yellow but the referee disagrees.
A sumptuous pass from Raya out to Madueke, allows the winger to cut into the box and shoot but his effort is deflected over. We have another corner …
34 mins: A dreadful pass out from Raya goes straight to Van Dijk, around 25 yards from goal. It should spell trouble for Arsenal but the Dutchman passes to Mac Allister and his effort is blocked.
Stephen Winstanley writes: “Please call the game as it is – absolute garbage from both teams.” Like a tense game of chess.
32 mins: Alisson almost gets himself in trouble but just about clears the ball from his goal-line before Gyokeres can nick it off him.
30 mins: Gravenberch goes into the book for clipping Calafiori’s ankles to end a bursting run. Rice inexplicably decides to shoot from 45 yards and the free-kick flies very high and wide. He is rightly mocked by the home crowd.
“Arsenal must be slumping,” suggests Mary Waltz. “Three corners. No goals!!!!!!”
28 mins: It’s another corner to Arsenal. Rice does not beat the first man on this occasion.
Liverpool also try being more direct but Ekitike would need a car to chase Szoboszlai’s overhit pass.
26 mins: Timber bundles over Gakpo after a healthy battle. Looks 50:50 to me but the referee disagrees. Van Dijk gets some instructions from Slot and heads into the box to attack the free-kick. The words of wisdom from the coach are not immediately relevant as Wirtz whacks the ball straight out of play.
24 mins: Liverpool are yet to find much in the way of rhythm in the final third. Salah plays a cute through ball for Ekitike to chase but it has too much power on it and goes straight through to Raya.
“They say that once is tragedy; twice is coincidence; three times is energy action. With that in mind, seeing Saliba join Ødegaard and Saka out three games in, should the Gunners be concerned?” asks Joe Scott. Will be interesting to find out what Saliba’s issue is.
22 mins: The Madueke v Kerkez battle looks like it could be fun. The winger is given a ball over the top to chase and he gets ahead of the full-back, who eventually gets back at him but is forced to giveaway another corner.
Rice takes again and a Liverpool head flicks it out to Madueke on the edge of the box. The wingers takes a touch and fires towards the bottom corner, only to see Alisson make a fine save.
20 mins: Salah wants a foul after Calafiori uses his strength to get in front of him to nick the ball away. The referee is right to award nothing.
Kerkez wins a free-kick off Madueke, then they enjoy a little push to show they are up for it.
18 mins: Salah beautifully controls a crossfield pass on his chest but then chips a cross straight to Raya.
Down the other end, Madueke drives at Kerkez and wins a corner off the Liverpool full-back. A first test for the Liverpool defence from an Arsenal set-piece. Rice swings it outwards from the right but no one can make contract. There is a brief VAR check for something or other but it comes to nothing.
16 mins: Raya then has to do likewise following another woeful backpass but the Spaniard does the job well. The coaches will not be happy with the sloppiness on show in the past few minutes.
14 mins: Liverpool have enjoyed 70% possession in the early stages. Gakpo is the first to make the most of that. He cuts in from the left and fires a shot from 20 yards or so but drags it wide of the post.
There is danger at the other end after Gravenberch flicks the ball backwards. Gyokeres gets a yard on Szoboszlai and looks favourite to win it but Alisson reads the situation perfectly and solves the issue.
12 mins: Arsenal are happy to knock it long today, allowing Gyokeres to test the Liverpool centre-backs. On this occasion, the ball is retrieved by the hosts and they send it straight back down the other end. Not that the attack comes to anything.
10 mins: I say that and then Arsenal take an age of a free-kick 40 yards from their own goal.
Wirtz beats Rice to a 50:50 inside the Liverpool half to instigate a counter attack and it sends the ball up to Salah on the edge of the box but Calafiori does well to win it.
Arsenal then do pretty similar but Martinelli keeps hold of the ball when he should pass and the attack ends.
8 mins: Arsenal are doing their best to hurry things up here as they look to get on the front foot after having to defend in the very early minutes.
6 mins: It’s been a mixed bag of weather in the north-west so far today but the pitch is currently bathed in sunshine.
5 mins: Saliba sits on the ground and immediately looks over to the the bench. Mosquera is already prepared to come on. An early blow for Arsenal.
4 mins: Salah gets his first touch of the match and drives Liverpool up the pitch. Arsenal are looking well-disciplined and force the hosts back.
2 mins: Liverpool enjoy the early possession, knocking around the back calmly. Arsenal are doing their best to unsettle their opponents but it is yet to work.
1 min: Rice kicks off and punts the ball into the corner and straight out of play in an attempt to put Liverpool on the back off.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
“Mary Waltz must be enjoying life right now. Her Everton have a sparkling new stadium and a sparkling new assist machine in Jack Grealish. No matter what happens during the rest of the day, they will enter the international break in 5th. Good for her!” writes Joe Pearson*.
*Unrepentant Reds fans who has a soft spot for Everton (some close friends are supporters), and Premier League tribalism is not as virulent on this side of the pond.
Here come the teams ...
Jonathan Wilson saw Brighton beat Manchester City.
Joe Scott writes: “Am sure it could be journalistic hyperbole, but calling this a ‘title-decider’ seems rather premature- the last 7/8 years with City have conditioned us to think title challengers need 90/95+ points. But are we maybe seeing a return to the days where the bar is a bit lower? Liverpool scored 84 and were considered to have strolled to the title- so perhaps an adjustment of expectations is in order?”
I’ll be honest, it was a joke.
Ben Fisher was at the City Ground to see West Ham shock Forest.
Krishnamoorthy gets in touch: “With the surreal table where United is placed above City, and at the risk of calling a match day three encounter as a title decider (or at least an indicator) may it just not end in a draw. Liverpool has not been in an invincible mode and the original invincibles can stamp their intent today.”
A big day for teenagers on the bench.
Great commitment from Mary Waltz: “My Sunday football started out at 4am and the Old Firm crap sandwich made me question the direction of my life. But watching Brighton stun City restored my faith and this Liverpool Arsenal fixture is going to be a banger.”
Arne Slot speaks: “It is mainly about the three points. Like the last two games we had to play, which was difficult for us – this is another difficult one.
“Last season at the Emirates it was 2-2 and at Anfield it was 2-2. This tells you that when these teams play each other it is always a close call.
“Five years together and Mikel has done a great job. If you look at the line-up, they could potentially go a bit more direct as well. We expect a lot, and we are prepared for that.”
Eric Peterson writes: “So Michael Salisbury, the VAR for Chelsea-Fulham yesterday, has been replaced as VAR for this one today. What do we call it when VAR VAR’s VAR?”
Let’s hope VAR is not involved much today. I was at Old Trafford yesterday and I’ve had enough of it.
Charles Antaki emails: “So a few non-starters for Arsenal – Ødegaard (shoulder), Saka (hamstring), Eze (Huge Weight of Expectation). Time will tell whether all those come good.”
Drew Lundgren emails: “Merino & Martinelli eh? I guess it wouldn’t be fair for Arsenal to play their best available 11 while Liverpool are in such bad form.”
Well … Brighton have beaten City. All eyes to Anfield …
Eze begins life at Arsenal with a watching brief.
Brighton are beating City. Will the title be decided at Anfield today?
Being out and about this season, I am yet to see too much of Liverpool and Arsenal, so I am very excited to see Wirtz and Ekitike in action.
Busy on 11 September? If not, get yourself down to the Troxy in London for Football Weekly Live. I am not on the bill but that should not stop you.
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In the meantime … Brighton v Man City is quite lively. Tim de Lisle has the latest.
I guess the big news from the teamsheet is that Eze begins on the bench. Not a bad player to have up your sleeve, mind.
Lineups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Bradley, Ngumoha.
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Merino; Madueke, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Dowman, Eze, Trossard, Harriman-Annous.
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta held their weekly press conferences.
Get your pre-match reading from …
… Barney Ronay and …
Jonathan Wilson.
Preamble
We have the biggest game of the season so far. Last season’s one and two meet an Anfield, arriving with 100% after a couple of fixtures each. It should be rather delicious Sunday main course.
New signings are trying to find their feet still and neither have been perfect while collecting six points. Anfield will be lively because Liverpool will want to put down a marker. Hugo Ekitike is looking settled already and has added a new dimension to the forward line.
Arsenal’s own new striker got on the scoresheet in the thrashing on Leeds but this will be his first big test. If Viktor Gyokeres can unsettle Virgil van Dijk, then it will give him confidence. Eberichi Eze could/should make his Gunners debut at some point and we might get another glimpse of Max Dowden. There is plenty of intrigue to be enjoyed.
It should be an intriguing – and hopefully entertaining – encounter.
Kick-offL 4.30pm BST
