Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1 Match Thread : FT!

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KO 12:45

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Anfield

Date: Saturday, 8 February

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Live Scoreboard:

Liverpool - 5 - Skrtel 1′, 10', Sterling 16′, 52', Sturridge 20′

Arsenal - 1 - Arteta 69′ (pen)

Liverpool Line Up:

Mignolet, Flanagan, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge.

Subs:

Jones, Kelly, Ibe, Moses, Aspas, Allen, Alberto.

Arsenal Line Up:

Szczesny, Sagna Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.

Subs:

Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Rosicky, Gnabry, Podolski, Bendtner.

TEAM NEWS:

Liverpool remain without injured defenders Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger, although both are expected to return to full training next week.

Mamadou Sakho, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva are also ruled out.

Arsenal will assess midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is nearing a comeback from an ankle injury.

Mathieu Flamini serves the second game of a four-match ban, but Mikel Arteta is fit despite limping towards the end of the win against Crystal Palace.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Having last month maintained that Liverpool would "never give up the fight" for the Premier League title, Brendan Rodgers has now conceded that his team's aim this season is to make the "big jump into the top four".

With Everton and Tottenham snapping at their heels and Manchester United not far behind that's still a tough assignment, but one that Liverpool have suggested all season that they can manage.

It does appear to be the Reds' level right now too - they have beaten all of their immediate rivals for fourth, yet failed to earn a point against the three teams above them.

That includes Arsenal of course - the only team to have prevented both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge from scoring in the last 12 league games they've played together.

Indeed, Liverpool's 2-0 defeat at the Emirates on 2 November was the last game the team failed to score in at all. In 16 matches played since they've racked up 45 goals - 24 of those from 'the SAS'.

Arsenal aren't quite so prolific, but they are proving relentlessly consistent (as two goals in each of their last five league games testifies), and the title challenge many maintain will 'blow-up' is still looking strong.

The squad is dovetailing nicely too - as one player drops out another comes in to replace them almost seamlessly. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's return to coincide with Theo Walcott's injury is a case in point, although we still haven't found out the answer to the oft-cried question 'what happens when Olivier Giroud gets injured?'

Now comes a huge spell of matches in the Gunners' season, with this followed by a four-game home run of Manchester United, Liverpool again (in the FA Cup), Bayern Munich and Sunderland. We should know in a fortnight's time whether Arsenal are 'blowing-up' or not!

Liverpool might not end up title winners themselves this season, but they could prove the difference in deciding who will be. Chelsea and Manchester City will be visiting Anfield in April.

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head:

Liverpool have won just one of the last 13 league meetings between the two sides, although seven of those ended in draws (W1, D7, L5).

Arsenal are chasing a third successive league win at Anfield. The last time they managed that feat was between 10 February 1973 and 9 November 1974.

Meetings between these sides have produced more hat-tricks (five) than any other Premier League fixture.

Liverpool:

The Reds are unbeaten in their last 10 league and cup games at Anfield (W9, D1), scoring 33 goals and conceding seven in that run.

Daniel Sturridge's goal against West Brom was his 50th in the Premier League. He is the 10th English player to reach that landmark before turning 25.

Sturridge has scored in 13 of his 16 league appearances this season, scoring 14 in total.

According to Opta statistics, Liverpool have made 29 errors leading to a goal or attempt at goal this season - the most in the top flight.

Arsenal:

The Gunners are unbeaten in eight league games (W6, D2) despite failing to score a first-half goal in seven of those matches.

Against Crystal Palace, 10 Arsenal players ended with pass completion rates of over 90%.

Arsenal's tally of 26 points won away from home is the joint best in the top flight, along with Tottenham.

Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny has kept 11 Premier League clean sheets - more than any other top-flight goalkeeper.

Prediction: 2-1 to the Arsenal!

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COYG!