Liverpool vs. Arsenal: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
The return of the Premier League serves up a mouthwatering clash on Wednesday night, as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool welcome Arsene Wenger and Arsenal to Anfield, with both sides looking to make headway in the race for a top-four finish in 2016.
Arsenal top the table heading into this encounter, with a two-point lead over challengers Leicester City, and with Liverpool sat 12 points below them in eighth, the Gunners will be confident of a victory.
Having taken scalps from clashes with Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City already this season however, Klopp's Reds could benefit from their underdog status, and Wenger would be wise to respect his opposition.
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The last time out between the two sides brought a stirring 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium in August, with some Petr Cech heroics required to keep an inspired Philippe Coutinho at bay, while Simon Mignolet was similarly impressive as he kept the likes of Olivier Giroud quiet throughout.
Much has changed at Liverpool since that evening, however, and Wenger will now face up to a familiar adversary in Klopp, having taken on the German's Borussia Dortmund outfit a remarkable six times in the Champions League between 2011 and 2014.
Wenger enjoyed a slight advantage during that period, securing three wins to Klopp's two, but can the 66-year-old triumph once again on Wednesday night, or will the Liverpool boss take revenge with his new squad?
Date: Wednesday, 13 January, 2015
Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
TV Info: BT Sport 1 (UK) / NBCSN (U.S only)
Live Stream: BT Sport Player (UK) / NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S only)
Form Lines (Last 5 Games)
Liverpool: W-W-L-W-D
Arsenal: W-L-W-W-W
Team News
Contrasting with the injury-sapped selection that drew 2-2 with Exeter City in the FA Cup on Friday evening, Klopp's Liverpool squad is in a much healthier position for Arsenal's trip to Anfield, with the German particularly buoyed by reinforcements to his defensive line.
Kolo Toure (cramp) and Mamadou Sakho (knee) both missed out at St. James Park, but as reported by the club's official website, Klopp confirmed that they are likely to return against the Gunners:
"The situation now is better than it was two or three days ago because I think Kolo will be available, so we will have a senior centre-back.
Mama wants to be available, hopefully we can use him and then we’ll see.
[...]
That’s the situation, so we will probably have Kolo and Mama and the next [centre-back option] is Lucas [Leiva].
"
Having registered new signing Steven Caulker before Tuesday's midday deadline, Klopp can utilise the Queens Park Rangers loanee to give him leeway when lining up his defence if Sakho is deemed unavailable.
Klopp also hinted at returns for Jordon Ibe and Jordan Henderson, while James Milner is likely to feature after continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury—though the trio may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Goalkeeper Danny Ward is also available for selection after being recalled from his loan spell at Aberdeen, and the 22-year-old will be hoping to be included in Klopp's matchday squad ahead of current backup option Adam Bogdan.
Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter and Jon Flanagan all remain out of contention.
Also missing a host of key players at this crucial stage of the season, Wenger's most troubling absentee is a former Liverpool target, Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean winger was in the Reds' sights prior to Luis Suarez's move to Barcelona but decided against a move to Merseyside, and he has subsequently galvanised Arsenal's attacking line alongside Mesut Ozil.
Per the club's official website, Wenger explained Sanchez's absence:
"We think he will be short for Wednesday, he has a chance to be available for Sunday [against Stoke].
He is always keen to play. If you listen to Alexis, he can always play—even when he is injured.
We try to be cautious. With a muscular injury you never exactly how big the risk but he is very close.
If you look at him training he is very close.
"
Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are all long-term absentees, while Wenger suggested that both Tomas Rosicky and David Ospina will also miss out.
On Rosicky's lengthy knee injury this season however, Wenger took a positive slant, explaining that "he will be back in full training this week, it is fantastic because he has been out for very long and it is good to know that a player of that calibre is back in our squad."
Mathieu Flamini and Kieran Gibbs both look in good shape after returning from injury at the beginning of 2016, leaving Wenger with a strong squad to choose from on Wednesday night.
Predicted Lineups
Having made significant changes to his starting lineup for the trip to Exeter, Klopp is likely to revert to a more familiar selection against the Gunners.
This could see Mignolet return in goal, with Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno restored at right-back and left-back respectively, and—if both are fit—Toure and Sakho are likely to make up Klopp's centre-back pairing.
Caulker's presence gives Klopp the option of pairing the 24-year-old with Toure, but with Sakho a stronger option, the Frenchman should be given every chance to prove his fitness.
Though Milner and Henderson are nearing full fitness, Klopp could look to Lucas Leiva and Emre Can as his midfield pairing, with the England duo short of sharpness following injury.
Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke are likely to take up their regular roles in the 4-2-3-1, while injury to Coutinho and the wavering fitness of Ibe could see 18-year-old academy winger Sheyi Ojo given his full debut.
Without Sanchez, Cazorla and Coquelin, Wenger's Arsenal side have settled into a reasonable rhythm, and this is unlikely to be disrupted as they look to stabilise their position at the top of the table.
Therefore, Arsenal's regular defensive unit of Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal are likely to line up together, with Flamini resuming his role at the base of the midfield having sat out Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup win over Sunderland.
A returning Mikel Arteta gives Wenger further options in midfield, but with Aaron Ramsey in fine form against the Black Cats, the Welshman should join Flamini in what could also be a 4-2-3-1 for Arsenal.
Ahead of this balanced midfield pairing should come Ozil, Theo Walcott and one of Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Giroud should continue in attack, after notching his 16th goal of the season at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Likely Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Lucas; Lallana, Firmino, Ojo; Benteke.
Likely Arsenal XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Campbell, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud.
Players to Watch
Sheyi Ojo
Hemel Hempstead-born winger Ojo made his first appearance for the Reds as a second-half substitute against Exeter, and speaking to the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce after playing a hand in Brad Smith's late equaliser, he highlighted his ambitions for the rest of the season:
"I only came back [from a loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers] on Thursday. I didn’t know for definite that I was going to be in the squad until the manager announced it earlier in the day.
I was just hoping that I might be able to get on and make a contribution. I am looking to kick on my Liverpool career now.
My main aim is to push on and try to play in the Premier League with Liverpool. I’ve just got to keep working hard and listening to what the coaches are telling me.
"
A pacy, physically adept forward, capable of operating on either wing, as a No. 10 or an auxiliary centre-forward, Ojo will be hoping to make his mark early if he is given his Premier League debut against the Gunners.
Aaron Ramsey
Benefiting from injuries to Cazorla and Coquelin, Ramsey has once again established himself in his favoured position in central midfield, and the 25-year-old's performances have improved as a result.
Though proving capable of contributing in the defensive sector, being deployed ahead of Flamini has allowed Ramsey to flex his muscles in a box-to-box role, and when linking up with the likes of Ozil and Giroud, he has enjoyed an upturn in form.
Speaking as part of BT Sport's Champions League coverage in December, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard described Ramsey as "the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League" on form, as relayed by James Orr of the Independent.
Taking to Twitter soon after, Ramsey explained how he was "honoured to hear that from a legend like Gerrard."
Liverpool supporters will be hoping the midfielder doesn't conjure up a Gerrard-esque performance at Anfield.
Key Battle
Olivier Giroud vs. Kolo Toure
While Klopp's centre-back selection remains a mystery at this stage, a physical striker like Giroud is likely to thrive against a fragile Liverpool defence.
Liverpool's most likely option is former Gunners man Toure, and the Ivorian will be tested by Arsenal's No. 12 throughout.
Toure's qualities are as a committed, no-nonsense centre-back, but he will need to rely on his experience to help quell the bullish, intelligent Giroud on Wednesday night—particularly if he is partnered by Caulker.
Odds
Liverpool: 39/20
Arsenal: 31/20
Draw: 5/2
Odds via Odds Shark and correct at time of writing.
Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk.
