LIVERPOOL vs ARSENAL Sep 2nd 12:30 GMT
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:12 amLiverpool welcome Champions League qualifiers Arsenal to Anfield this weekend with both teams hoping to get their first 3 points of the campaign. Arsenal, who have been linked with a surprise move for Michael Essien will be without Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Frimpong, though Koscielny and Szczesny could make a return. The hosts will be without Lucas Leiva and Joe Cole but former Arsenal target Nuri Sahin could be expected to make his debut.
Liverpool, who also beat Arsenal to the signature of Samed Yesil are likely to make changes to the team which played in the midweek Europa League game. Stewart Downing has vowed to stay at Anfield and has said he is happy to play at left-back to prolong his Liverpool career, will most likely be replaced by Jose Enrique at left-back while Daniel Agger should return to the starting line-up after serving his suspension.
Arsenal are likely to have Carl Jenkinson on the right side of defense so here's hoping either Raheem Sterling or Luis Suarez plays there to give the young defender a hard time. It is unclear which team Theo Walcott will be lining up for this weekend. Though the Gunners have yet to score a goal this season, their attacking trio of Santiago Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Oliver Giroud are capable of giving defenses a hard time and with Reina's and Skrtel's ability to self-destruct, don't be surprised to see one of them break their duck.
But before that happens they will have to get past an impressive Joe Allen. Allen's ability of quickly stealing the ball without seeming to actually tackle and his ability to position himself to make interceptions compensates the loss of Lucas Leiva to injury. A bigger worry for Liverpool would be Luis Suarez's inability to finish easy chances. Hence why here's hoping that Fabio Borini plays up as the main man, and while he's been guilty of missing one or two good chances, another goal for the Italian will boost his morale.
Prediction - Liverpool 4:0 Arsenal
Liverpool, who also beat Arsenal to the signature of Samed Yesil are likely to make changes to the team which played in the midweek Europa League game. Stewart Downing has vowed to stay at Anfield and has said he is happy to play at left-back to prolong his Liverpool career, will most likely be replaced by Jose Enrique at left-back while Daniel Agger should return to the starting line-up after serving his suspension.
Arsenal are likely to have Carl Jenkinson on the right side of defense so here's hoping either Raheem Sterling or Luis Suarez plays there to give the young defender a hard time. It is unclear which team Theo Walcott will be lining up for this weekend. Though the Gunners have yet to score a goal this season, their attacking trio of Santiago Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Oliver Giroud are capable of giving defenses a hard time and with Reina's and Skrtel's ability to self-destruct, don't be surprised to see one of them break their duck.
But before that happens they will have to get past an impressive Joe Allen. Allen's ability of quickly stealing the ball without seeming to actually tackle and his ability to position himself to make interceptions compensates the loss of Lucas Leiva to injury. A bigger worry for Liverpool would be Luis Suarez's inability to finish easy chances. Hence why here's hoping that Fabio Borini plays up as the main man, and while he's been guilty of missing one or two good chances, another goal for the Italian will boost his morale.
Prediction - Liverpool 4:0 Arsenal
