The Soccer Blog: Arsenal - Liverpool Preview

Saturday, 16 April 2011

Arsenal - Liverpool Preview

Arsenal – Liverpool Preview - The Offside - Arsenal blog

« 10 Questions with the Liverpool Offside | Home | Arsenal – Liverpool PreviewBy: Martin | April 16th, 2011
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Liverpool

Position: 6th, 14-6-12 (48 points, +7 goal differential)

Away Form: 4-2-10 (-10 goal differential)

Recent Form: LWWLW

Last Meeting: Liverpool 1 – Arsenal 1 (August 15, 2010)

Another crucial league match-up tomorrow as we welcome Liverpool to the Emirates.

We know Liverpool pretty well. I’ve felt like there’s been a little bit of empathy between Arsenal and Liverpool fans that has developed in the last few seasons. I think more than anything fans of both clubs have gotten so sick of the twin “evil empires” of Manchester United and Chelsea, and now Manchester City appears to be trying to spend their way to glory as well. I know if Arsenal are not going to win the league, I’d certainly rather see Liverpool win it than any of those other clubs I mentioned or someone like Spurs. And I think a lot of Liverpool fans feel the same way. So while I wouldn’t say the two teams/fans like each other, exactly, I don’t think it’s the fierce rivalry it was at one point in time.

It’s been an unbelievably eventful year for Liverpool. It’s almost hard to believe that Rafa Benitez was sent packing just last summer, and Roy Hodgson was brought in. I don’t know that anyone would describe his tenure in charge of that club as anything other than disastrous. We had them plummeting down to the depths with a series of disastrous results that left them way down in the table, we had Mascherano jump ship for Barcelona, we had Torres, ostensibly a world-class striker, turn into a pumpkin, we had Hodgson fired, Torres and Babel sold, Carroll and Suarez brought in, Dalglish hired, and saw Liverpool’s fortunes turn around. And their recent form has their fans very optimistic about the finish to this season and the future.

Liverpool is probably big enough that we don’t need to go position-by-position to break them down. Despite his infamous cock-up against us against us the first time around when we played Liverpool at Anfield on the first day of the season, Reina is one of the top goalkeepers in the world and will be tough to get past. They’ve got a solid center back pairing of Skrtel and Carragher. They’ve got Fabio Aurelio on the left, and promising young right-back John Flanagan, fresh off his debut against Manchester City, will suit up again against us. Much-maligned Lucas, who under everyone’s radar has turned into a very effective holding midfielder, will anchor the midfield.

With Gerrard out, their 4 primary attacking players will be Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles, who has been excellent this year, will play out wide, with the very promising strike pairing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez up top. They’ve looked very dangerous since making the move to Anfield, and will certainly test our backline.

In team news for us, we’ve got some guys coming back from injuries, although several guys are in a bit of limbo. Flaps and Vermaelen are still out, although the latter is supposed to be back in training soon, apparently. Sagna and Rosicky are “doubts.” Almunia is back in training, but may not be risked for this one. In better news, Wojo is back and Wenger has said that he’s likely to play, which is a big gain for us. Djourou is also likely back, although it’s unclear if he’s sharp enough to start. Alex Song is back as well. Here’s my best guess at a lineup:

Wojo

Eboue-Djourou-Koscielny-Clichy

Wilshere-Song

Walcott-Cesc-Nasri

van Persie

Bench: Lehmann, Squillaci, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh

If Wojo is healthy enough to start, he’ll start. If not, I think it’ll be Lehmann again — he played well last weekend, and with Almunia just coming back from injury, I think he’s our best non-Wojo option.

On the backline, there is a question about Sagna’s fitness, and since he’s a doubt, I think Eboue will get another start — he’s played better the second half of the season than he did in the first, so we should be okay there. Clichy will man the left. And in the middle, Koscielny will certainly start, the only question is whether it will Squillaci or Djourou pairing him. Obviously we would prefer Djourou, but only if he’s fit and sharp enough to play. We shall see.

In midfield, Jack will start, because he’s Jack, he’s awesome, and he always starts. Hopefully Song is fit enough to start alongside him, but if he’s not, then it will be either Diaby, Denilson, or Ramsey — probably Diaby if that’s required, since he played very well last weekend. Cesc will play in his usual role.

Up front, van Persie will play up top. Nasri will certainly play, it’s just a question of whether he’ll be on the left and right. And in turn, that depends on whether the final starter is Walcott or Arshavin. If it’s Theo, Nasri will start on the left, but if it’s Arshavin, Nasri will play on the right. Whoever plays on the left should try to attack out wide, as should Clichy, since they’ll be playing against a Reserves player making just his 2nd Premiership appearance. I guessed Walcott just because the Theo van Nasregas combo has worked so well for us this season.

It’s hard to say exactly how important this match is for us. Obviously we have to win to keep our feint title hopes alive — since Manchester United played an FA Cup match this weekend, this is a chance to make up some ground. If we can win and pull within 4 points, that might make the title race a bit more interesting, especially with Manchester United having to come to the Emirates to play us. Our title hopes are on life support anyway, but I think it’s safe to say that our title hopes are over if we don’t win today. For their part, Liverpool are trying to catch Spurs from behind to grab the only available Europa League slot, and to continue their good run of recent form.

It’s always an entertaining match when Arsenal and Liverpool play, especially at this point in the season. We’ll know a lot more about the shape of the season by this time tomorrow — it sure would be nice if we could at least make the title race interesting, wouldn’t it?

Come on Arsenal.

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Category: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Liverpool, Premiership, Preview

Tags: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Liverpool, Premiership, Preview
Tweet « 10 Questions with the Liverpool Offside | Home | SairaxI definitely don't hate Liverpool like I do United or Chelsea or Spuds. It doesn't look like it'll happen, but as soon as Torres went to Chelsea I just kept thinking how hilarious it would be if Liverpool finished top 4 and Chelsea didn't. Also, it's hard not to like Dalglish. I hope we win tomorrow though obviously. Big game. Need all 3 points. Come on ArsenalOliver TootenbockerGonna be a very interesting game. Carroll and Suarez have the quality to terrorise the Gooner's shaky back line, especially if Looney Lehman is playing. BUT, Arsenal's creative and pacey players will be more than a handfull for LFC's injury ravaged and equally shaky defense. This could be another 4-4 goalfest.blog comments powered by Disqus