Arsenal vs. Liverpool: Pre-Game Stat Attack

Here are some pre-match facts about both teams :

• If Liverpool win today - or at least match Chelsea's result - they will head the table at Christmas for the first time since 1996.
• Jamie Carragher is in line to make his 550th appearance for the club and in doing so will become only the ninth player in the club's history to achieve the feat.
  
• Steven Gerrard's next goal will see him join John Barnes in 14th place on the club's all-time goalscorers list. His two goals against Hull last weekend were his 106th and 107th for the Reds.
  
• For the first time since 1990, Liverpool have won six away games in the league before Christmas.
• Liverpool currently have 38 points. A draw at least would give the Reds their highest points tally before Christmas for 18 years since they accrued 44 points in 1990. In 1996 they were top at Christmas with 38 points from 19 games.
• Last season the sides drew 1-1 at the Emirates. Peter Crouch gave Liverpool a 42nd minute lead before Nicklas Bendtner equalised early in the second half. The game came in the middle of the epic Champions League Quarter-Final matches – a 1-1 draw at the Emirates and a 4-2 win for Liverpool at Anfield.
  
• Liverpool have not won in their last eight league visits to Arsenal.
• Both Liverpool and Arsenal have 100% records against the other so-called ‘top four' clubs this season. They have both beaten Chelsea and Manchester United.
• Arsene Wenger has won just seven out of 23 league games against Liverpool since he took charge at Highbury in 1996, losing nine.
• Against Rafa Benitez, Wenger has come out on top in three of the eight league meetings with three losses.
   
  
• At Highbury and the Emirates, Arsenal have failed to score only six times in the last 143 league games.
  
• They have lost just three league games at the Emirates since moving from Highbury in 2006. They lost 1-0 to West Ham in March 2007 and this season have been defeated by Hull after taking the lead (2-1) and Aston Villa (2-0).

• Arsenal have failed to score in only one of the last 14 league meetings between the sides home and away.
   
  
• Arsenal's last hat-trick against Liverpool was scored by Thierry Henry in a 4-2 win at Highbury in April 2004.
  
• They have won one of their last four games in all competitions since coming from behind to win 2-1 at Chelsea last month, scoring just two goals in that time – both from Emmanuel Adebayor.

• Current League Positions:
   
  Liverpool: Pld 17 Won 11 Drawn 5 Lost 1 Goals For 26 Against 11 Points 38 Position: 1st
   
  Arsenal: Pld 17 Won 9 Drawn 3 Lost 5 Goals For 29 Against 20 Points 30 Position: 5th