Arsenal vs Liverpool Live Blog: Score, Updates, Results & News from the Emirates

Welcome to Bleacher Report's live blog coverage of the first huge Premier League match of the 2011-12 season, where Arsenal will entertain Liverpool at their Emirates Stadium for three big early points in the long race for one of the much-coveted Champions League spots.

Both of these teams opened their campaigns with draws on the first weekend. Newcastle held Arsenal to a goalless draw, while fellow Northeast side Sunderland took a point away from Anfield after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Saturday's match promises to be an exciting affair between two sides having somewhat contrasting fortunes at the moment. Arsenal have seen captain Cesc Fabregas depart for Spain and Barcelona after a heavily drawn-out transfer saga, while Samir Nasri may also yet leave for Manchester City. Suspensions after the opening game for new boy Gervinho and midfield linchpin Alex Song also further deplete the squad, which is likely to be missing Jack Wilshere, Armand Traore, Johan Djourou, Tomas Rosicky, Keiran Gibbs and Abou Diaby, who are all still out injured.

Manager Arsene Wenger has come under increasing pressure to spend some of the money his team has recouped through sales on established players, though the recent signings of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Costa Rican prospect Joel Campbell point, if anything, to a continued insistence of signing young talent.

For their part, the away side have signed four first-team players this summer in Jose Enrique, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, in addition to backup goalkeeper Alexander Doni. Manager Kenny Dalglish enjoys a faithful following from the Liverpool support, and he will be looking to pick up his first win of the season against a side that Liverpool have not defeated away from home in the league since Titi Camara netted the winner back in 1999-2000.

Kickoff for this clash of Premier League titans is at 12:45 p.m. UK time / 7:45 a.m. ET. Stick with me here for all the best build-up for the game from now until then, followed by live commentary and analysis of every kick, incident and controversial moment from the game itself, as well as goal updates for Sunderland vs Newcastle United which kicks off a little earlier.

My name is Karl Matchett, and I hope you will get involved by leaving your thoughts on the game itself, the teams, managers or players in the comments section below—I'll reply to the best ones during the build up and match!