Liverpool and Arsenal collide today in an early season battle of title rivals in the Premier League.
Both clubs sat at the table’s summit after two matches heading into the weekend, before Chelsea’s win over Fulham, with Tottenham the only other team yet to drop points.
After putting four past Bournemouth on opening night, Liverpool left it very late to preserve their unbeaten start on Monday, downing Newcastle by way of a 100th-minute winner from teenage Premier League debutant Rio Ngumoha.
Defensive frailities remain for the Reds, though. While they have hit seven goals in their first two fixtures, they have conceded four, and have been criticised for their vulnerability on the counter-attack.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are yet to concede this season and have been similarly free-scoring. They battered newly-promoted Leeds 5-0 in their first home match of the season on Sunday after edging past Manchester United the week before.
After another summer of heavy investment, Mikel Arteta is under pressure to finally deliver some silverware to the Emirates this season, and has started well towards that end. But can he continue his momentum on Merseyside?
Liverpool vs Arsenal team news
When the teamsheets are released on Sunday afternoon, all eyes will be looking out for one name: Eberechi Eze.
The latest and perhaps most exciting addition to Arteta’s squad could be in line for a debut after being unveiled ahead of last weekend’s meeting with Leeds.
Bukayo Saka will miss a number of weeks with another hamstring injury and Kai Havertz is out after undergoing knee surgery. Arteta is also sweating on the fitness of both captain Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard, with Christian Norgaard and Ben White doubts and Gabriel Jesus not ready to return yet.
Max Dowman played his first Premier League minutes off the bench against Leeds, but the 15-year-old will surely be less likely to feature in such an important match.
Viktor Gyokeres should be in line for another start as he looks to build on his brace against Leeds.
Liverpool come into the tie with a near-spotless bill of health, with newly-signed full-back Jeremie Frimpong the only absentee. His hamstring issue, picked up against Bournemouth, is expected to keep him out until after the international break.
Virgil van Dijk was on the receiving end of a nasty Anthony Gordon tackle at St James’ Park, for which the England winger was dismissed, but came away without injury. Conor Bradley and Alexis Mac Allister have both returned to training this week.
Dominik Szoboszlai started as a makeshift right-back on Tyneside in Frimpong and Bradley’s absence, but the latter’s return to fitness could see the Hungarian move back into his preferred midfield role.
Many Reds supporters will be desperate to see Ngumoha handed a greater role after his stirring Newcastle cameo, but, as with Arteta and Dowman, Slot will not be likely to trust such a young player in such a big game.
