Premier League: Title Challengers Come Face to Face

Arsenal vs Liverpool

All roads lead to North London on Sunday for the Premier League match of the weekend when Arsenal take on league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League 2024 betting odds say these two teams will finish second and third this season, with Manchester City odds on to retain their title, but both Arsenal and Liverpool have their eyes on the main prize. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are five points clear of City and Arsenal at the moment, but a home win will cut the gap to two.

The Gunners come into the game on the back of a 2-1 victory away to Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool continued their impressive form with a 4-1 victory at home to Chelsea on Thursday, and both will start the game confident of picking up another win.

Fans of Manchester City and Spurs will be watching the Premier League 2024 updates closely on Sunday evening, and the Sky Blues will be hoping for Arsenal to get a result.

Talking Points

This is the Gunners’ biggest moment

Last season, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal played fantastic, flowing football and led the league for much of the campaign. They have more solidity and dynamism in midfield this season following the recruitment of Declan Rice, and the Gunners are in the title race on merit.

After a stumble before the break, Arsenal have returned from warm weather training in Dubai to pick up two wins, a 5-0 hammering of Crystal Palace and a hard-earned 2-1 win away to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Arteta has been looking for a striker in the transfer window to bolster his attack, but Gabriel Jesus showed his worth when he eventually broke the Forest resistance in the second half, and Bukayo Saka seemingly made the points safe before Taiwo Awoniyi halved the deficit in the last minute of normal time.

This could be a pivotal point in Arsenal’s campaign. While a win will lift them to within two points of the summit, a defeat would deal a near fatal blow to their hopes. A draw would keep those hopes alive but the Gunners must be brave.

Take a bow Conor Bradley

Conor Bradley helped Liverpool win with a goal and two assists against Chelsea at home in the Premier League — Liverpool’s Conor Bradley celebrates scoring their second goal against Chelsea at home

Nobody at Anfield dare think about the post-Klopp era since it’s simply too painful for the fans, players, and directors of Liverpool Football Club.

But any tears shed before their game against Chelsea on Wednesday were quickly wiped away when a new star shone brightly above Merseyside, as wing-back Conor Bradley burst onto the scene.

The 20-year-old put in a Man-of-the-Match performance with his first Liverpool goal and two assists to add to the assist he made on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth last week. He looks a real prospect, full of energy, and with superb distribution, and Bradley is sure to have a bright future.

Liverpool shared the goals against the Blues as Diogo Jota opened the scoring before Bradley got his goal with a well struck shot into the bottom corner.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz made it four, while Christopher Nkunku grabbed a consolation for Chelsea. It was difficult not to feel sorry for Darwin Nunez, who broke a Premier League record by hitting the woodwork four times in one game.

He clipped the crossbar with his first effort and then hit a beauty which bounced back off the upright. He even smashed a penalty against the post before halftime, and managed to crash a thundering header against the crossbar late in the game.

He assisted Diaz’ goal and Liverpool fans love Nunez, but I’m sure the Uruguayan will think his 10 shots against the woodwork is enough for one season.

And I’m sure he’ll start at the Emirates alongside Jota and Diaz, with leading scorer Mohamed Salah due to return from his hamstring injury by mid-February.

It’s all looking good for Liverpool, but anything other than a win against Arsenal will open the door to Manchester City.

History

In all competitions since 1993, Liverpool have beaten Arsenal 28 times, while the Gunners have won 22 of the encounters. This season, the two teams drew 1-1 at Anfield in December before the Reds won an FA Cup third round tie 2-0 at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s home record is superb, with eight wins, two draws and one defeat and Liverpool have been strong away from home, with six victories, four draws, and a single defeat .

Liverpool have won five and drawn one of the last six, while Arsenal have won two, lost three, and drawn one.