Liverpool play hosts to an in-form Arsenal side come Saturday at Anfield with Jurgen Klopp’s men hoping to end their recent run of form in league action.
Jordan Henderson and Co. suffered a first defeat of the season just prior to the recent international break with West Ham United handing a 3-2 defeat to the Reds in the London Stadium showdown.
The loss came after an equally frustrating stalemate on home turf against Brighton who came from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 and secure a much-coveted point from their travels to Merseyside.
With Jurgen Klopp’s side now sitting in fourth in the league table and the fifth-placed Arsenal their upcoming opponents, Liverpool will have a stern challenge awaiting them in their quest to return to much-needed winning ways.
Another setback in domestic form could prove to be costly for the Merseyside giants who had enjoyed a superb start to the campaign before things started to go haywire in outings against Brighton and West Ham.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will head into the Anfield contest on the back of a four-game winning streak that has changed the fortunes for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners who were in for a shaky period at the start of the season.
The North Londoners will be donning the underdogs tag for Saturday’s game against Liverpool who in spite of a misfiring run on all fronts as of late are backed the favourites to claim the win and get their campaign back on track.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: 20 November 2021
Time: 2 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane will be the major concerns on the injury front for the Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who has to deal with the aftermath of the duo’s troubles during the recent break.
The skipper Henderson was set for an early return to the Liverpool fold after picking up an injury scare while turning out for The Three Lions while Mane was involved in a collision in Senegal’s game against Togo.
Midfield man Curtis Jones remains an absentee for the Merseysiders which could mean a return to the team sheet for Thiago Alcantara.
Veteran Englishman James Milner took part in training ahead of the game against Arsenal over the weekend but Klopp will be cautious of rushing the 35-year-old back into action.
KEY BATTLE
Mohamed Salah vs Ben White
The leading goalscorer in the Premier League this season Mohamed Salah has been kept quiet going forward for the last two games and the Egyptian is tipped to find his feet sooner rather than later.
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Liverpool’s attacking mainstay will face a challenge against Arsenal’s man in form at the back Ben White who has looked his commanding self once again after a timid start to life at the Emirates following his summer switch from Brighton.
MATCH PREDICTION
The Reds have not been at their brilliant best in recent games but few will count out Jurgen Klopp’s Merseysiders from taking the win at Anfield come Saturday. We predict Liverpool to claim the three points in what should be an evenly contested affair.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
