Premier League Preview:Liverpool Vs. Arsenal 21/04/09

Hmmm. This one is going to be interesting. 

Arsenal has been horrendously underperforming for the last few seasons (Thierry Henry also thinks so). Liverpool has been a shadow of the Dalglish-era Reds, as far as the league is concerned. Seems recovering from the Hillsborough setback is a mountain to climb for them.

Fast-forward to the current form. Arsenal's stuttering season seems to have come to life all of a sudden, and there seems to be a realistic chance that they may end the season with something more than...well, nothing.

Their current form definitely has shades of the ’04 "unbeatables." The return of the real Arsenal general, Cesc Fabregas, has had a huge impact on the side’s display. Their recent victories(see chart) are a further proof that Wengy’s kids have finally graduated.

As for Liverpool, a month earlier it seemed that Stevie G’s dream of finally landing a Premier League trophy at Anfield was, as usual, up and gone. Sir Alex had started thinking of the next campaign until he got the shocker of his life: United got thumped at The Theatre of Dreams. Suddenly, Liverpool was back in business. 

These days, there’s an aura of achieving (or at least trying to achieve) the unachievable. A look at the Champ’s League quarterfinal second leg against Chelsea reassures one that the Kops will at least take the title race to the wire.

Form Book
Arsenal	D  W  W  W  W
Liverpool	L  W  W  W  W

So what does the upcoming Anfield slugfest offer? Sparks, of course. Add to that the (dis)likes of the clashing gaffers and their revived expectations with their respective teams, and you have a cracker of a match on the cards.

Wenger wants Arsenal to finish second, and with Fabregas in their ranks, they definitely can. The return of the midfield maestro has resulted in Arsenal firing on all cylinders. The Gunners are brimming with confidence after going unbeaten in the last 18 league games. Their recent victories have been no less than ecstatic.

But with first-choice keeper Almunia and Gallas injured, it seems the Gunners’ strikers would have to play out of their skins to carve out something from this one.

Liverpool looks determined to push the title race to the wire, if not win it. Current form suggests they can definitely win every one of their remaining lot of matches. Who would bet against team having arguably the best midfielder and striker in the world? The Hillsborough stuff would only spur them to hurry to the finish line. If Gerrard starts, expect the Reds to start as hot favorites.

The Champions League/FA Cup effect means Arsenal would be ruing the FA Cup tie against Chelsea this weekend. Wenger has to decide where to spend his limited resources. Is it The Champs League, FA Cup, or the Premier League? And I would recommend he does it in that order.

He isn’t as fortunate as Sir Alex in terms of bench strength, but is currently completing on as many fronts as the Red Devils. It all depends on what team Wenger fields this weekend against Chelsea. A depleted Arsenal against Chelsea would definitely mean a strong lineup at Anfield.

Liverpool, on the other hand, has all to play for in the Premier League after their UCL exit. But the manner of that specific defeat would no doubt have done a world of good for their confidence. My prediction: Liverpool 2, Arsenal 1.