The eagerly anticipated fixture on the festive Premier League calendar unfolds as Liverpool and Arsenal clash in a top-of-the-table showdown at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Presently, the Gunners hold a slender one-point lead over their Merseyside counterparts, with Aston Villa closely trailing and ready to capitalize on any missteps from the top duo.
In their extensive history of 62 matches, Liverpool has emerged victorious 20 times, while Arsenal has claimed victory in 21 encounters, with 21 matches concluding in draws, averaging an impressive 3.35 goals per match.
Liverpool's current season showcases an average of 2.61 goals per match, with home games witnessing a high-scoring trend—93.75% featuring over 1.5 goals and 81.25% surpassing the 2.5 goals mark.
Arsenal, on the other hand, maintains an average of 2.17 goals per match in the 2023 season, with 60.00% of away matches surpassing 1.5 goals and 46.67% exceeding 2.5 goals.
In their recent encounter with Manchester United, Liverpool's relentless attacking efforts were met with resilience, resulting in a goalless draw. Despite facing 34 shots, Manchester United left Anfield with a point, showcasing Raphael Varane's standout defensive performance.
Liverpool, however, rebounded in the EFL Cup quarter-final against West Ham United, securing a commanding 5-1 victory and setting the stage for a semi-final clash with Fulham.
Jurgen Klopp, though pleased with the cup triumph, expressed disappointment in the perceived lack of Anfield atmosphere and issued a rallying cry to the supporters. Liverpool aims to avoid consecutive Premier League home games without scoring for the first time since March 2021.
While the attacking prowess against Manchester United may have temporarily dulled, Liverpool remains unbeaten in the Premier League for 10 games, with their last home defeat in the top-flight occurring nearly 14 months ago against Leeds United. The clash with Arsenal promises to be a compelling battle as both teams vie for supremacy in the Premier League standings.
Possible Prediction line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson. Alexander-Arnold; Konate. Van Dijk, Tsimikas: Szoboszlai, Endo. Jones, Salah; Nunez, Diaz
Arsenal: Raya. White, Saliba; Gabriel, Zinchenko. Odegaard: Rice, Havertz, Saka. Jesus, Martinelli
Event details
NAME: Liverpool - Arsenal
DATE: 23 Dec 2023
TIME: 17:30 UTC
VENUE: Anfield, Liverpool, England