Matchday three of the Premier League sees last season’s champions Liverpool welcome runners-up Arsenal to Anfield. Both teams have won their opening two games and are looking to keep that perfect record going.
Liverpool started the season with two thrilling wins, beating Bournemouth 4-2 and Newcastle 3-2. In both matches, Liverpool went 2-0 up, were pulled back to 2-2, and then found a late winner. Arne Slot’s team will be keen to score first again, especially because one more goal would set a new club record of scoring in 37 Premier League games in a row.
Arsenal have also made a strong start with clean sheet wins over Manchester United and Leeds. After receiving a very tough Champions League group, Mikel Arteta will want his team to send a strong message by winning at Anfield. A win would also mean Arsenal start a league season with three straight victories for only the second time in the last 20 years. If they manage to keep another clean sheet, it would be the first time they have won their first three matches without conceding since the 1924 to 1925 season.
In recent meetings, Liverpool have not beaten Arsenal in their last six league games, with four draws and two defeats. However, Arsenal have not won a Premier League match at Anfield since September 2012. Liverpool have won seven and drawn five of the matches there since then.
Liverpool have scored first in ten of their last 12 games. Ten of their last 13 home league games have seen both teams score and more than two goals in total. Arsenal have scored more goals from corners than any other team in the top five European leagues since the start of last season, with 33. Also, in four of Arsenal’s last five away games, the half-time result was the same as the full-time result.
Cody Gakpo will be a player to watch. He has scored 13 of his last 15 Liverpool goals at Anfield, including the opening goal in this fixture last season. Arsenal’s new signing Eberechi Eze could also be key. He scored the winner for Crystal Palace away to Liverpool last season, starting a run where he lost only one of his next 17 club games in which he scored.
Liverpool will be without Jeremie Frimpong. Arsenal have more injury concerns, with Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka both going off injured against Leeds. They now join Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz on the sidelines.
