After more than a weeks rest, Arsenal return to our screens when they play Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup in mid-week, after beating Bournemouth 3-1. However, so far, their season has been relatively poor. They currently sit 11th in the Premier League table and were knocked out of the Champions League last week against FC Basel. They have certainly missed their star man Daniel Sturridge, who is out with thigh injury until at least January. Injuries have also hit the Gunners recently, with NINE first-team players (Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Özil, David Ospina, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Serge Gnabry) all out of the Liverpool clash.
Here are the provisional squads for the game:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud, Martinez, Monreal, Coquelin, Walcott, Campbell, Podolski, O’Connor, Maitland-Niles, Ajayi, Akpom.
Probable formation: 4-2-1-3
Liverpool: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Lallana, Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling, Mignolet, Manquillo, Moreno, Can, Allen, Lambert, Borini.
Probable formation: 3-4-2-1
Here are three Liverpool player’s Arsenal need to watch out for on Sunday:
1. Raheem Sterling
The 20-year-old has been one of the more positive aspects of Liverpool’s season, despite criticism (albeit unfair, in my opinion) from the media in regards to his fitness, and more recently, his apparent refusal of a contract extension. According to ex-Arsenal academy boss Liam Brady, Arsenal passed up on the opportunity to sign the England international when he was at Queens Park Rangers, and Liverpool pounced with a £600,000 compensation fee. It has proved fantastic business for the Reds. Sterling is an exciting talent, who can be utilised on either wing, in the ‘hole’ or, as shown recently, as an out-and-out striker. He scored two against Bournemouth on Wednesday. In this fixture last season, Sterling completely terrorised the Arsenal back-line, scoring two goals in Liverpool’s 5-1 win, a game Arsenal fans want to forget. Hopefully the Arsenal defence deal with Sterling more expertly this time around, or they could be in big trouble.
2. Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian international was a revelation in his first full season at Liverpool, adding dynamism and imagination to an already impressive Liverpool midfield. His assist for Sturridge’s goal against Arsenal the last time they played at Anfield was simply brilliant. This season, the 22-year-old has been less consistent, but has shown glimpses of his quality. He looked particularly sharp against Bournemouth on Wednesday. If anyone is going to unlock the Arsenal defence on Sunday with their skill, vision and passing ability, it’s going to be this guy.
3. Lazar Markovic
The £20 million signing from Benfica has yet to justify his price-tag for Liverpool so far this season, after a few lacklustre performances and a red card against Basel in the Champions League. However, that might be about to change. The Serbian international’s performance against Bournemouth in mid-week was described as “brilliant” by manager Brendan Rodgers. Markovic scored his first goal for the club, as well as being both defensively and tactically astute. It is not yet known where Rodgers will deploy Markovic on Sunday; he may start him at left wing-back, where he played against Bournemouth, as a winger or he may not even start him at all, and utilise him as a second-half substitute. Either way, we will certainly see the 20-year-old at some point on Sunday.