We look ahead to Sunday’s Premier League game at Anfield with our Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction and preview. Which way will this clash of the title rivals go?
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Liverpool vs Arsenal: Preview
Liverpool having maximum points from their opening two Premier League games is not, on the face of it, a surprise. But that would be without taking into account the smash-and-grab nature of their 3-2 win over the 10 men of Newcastle United on Monday.
And that is also before adding in that in both of their league outings this term, Liverpool have thrown away 2-0 leads.
Federico Chiesa turned the game from the bench against Bournemouth at Anfield on Matchday 1, and then Rio Ngumoha became the fourth-youngest scorer in Premier League history to seal that remarkable win over Newcastle.
If we were to make a sweeping statement just two games into the season, then it seems that Liverpool’s firepower is getting a vulnerable defence out of trouble.
Arne Slot admitted that Liverpool struggled with Newcastle’s physicality last time out, and when it comes to physicality and fierce defending, there aren’t many teams better than their next opponents.
The pressure is on Mikel Arteta to go one step further this season after Arsenal have finished second in the top flight in each of the past three campaigns.
Arsenal brought in Viktor Gyökeres to fill their need for a striker, while they have added former Liverpool target Martín Zubimendi to the midfield, and Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze to the attack.
But it’s at the back where Arsenal continue to shine. They have kept two clean sheets, beating Manchester United 1-0 and Leeds United 5-0, one of only two teams yet to concede in the Premier League this season along with Tottenham.
So, it will be a stern defence going up against an excellent attack in an early tussle between two likely title contenders.
Indeed, this is the earliest the previous season’s top two sides are meeting in a Premier League campaign since 2017-18, when Chelsea won 2-1 at Tottenham in Matchday 2.
But while Liverpool may have fallen short of their standards defensively, Slot’s team have been excellent going forward, as they have been since the Dutchman took charge.
In fact, Liverpool have found the net in 98% of their Premier League matches under Slot (39/40) – the highest percentage of games scored in by any manager with 15 or more games in the competition’s history.
The Reds have scored 93 league goals since the start of last season. They have netted 17 more goals than any other top-flight team in that time, while also having the highest xG (86.4).
Liverpool are now on the joint-third-longest Premier League scoring streak, having netted in their last 36 games in the competition. Only Arsenal (55, between 2001 and 2002) and Tottenham (39, between 2023 and 2024) have scored in more consecutive matches in the competition, and Slot’s team are approaching a full calendar year since they last failed to find the net in a top-flight game (1-0 vs Nottingham Forest on 14 September 2024).
Liverpool were clinical in the extreme against Newcastle, scoring from three of their five attempts. Indeed, between Liverpool scoring their second goal through Hugo Ekitiké in the 46th minute, they did not have another attempt until Ngumoha curled home deep in stoppage time.
On top of their scoring streak, Liverpool also love a late goal. They have won more Premier League games via last-minute goals than any other side in the history of the competition, with Ngumoha’s strike being the 46th. Arsenal rank second on the list with 34.
It was a teenage dream for Ngumoha, who became just the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in a Premier League game, after Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton vs Arsenal.
He also became the second-youngest debut Premier League scorer in history (16 years, 361 days) with his goal against Newcastle, behind James Vaughan (16 years, 270 days in 2005). The current youngest player to score in his first two games is Federico Macheda in 2009 (17 years, 232 days).
Arsenal’s 5-0 defeat of Leeds did come at a cost, with Arteta losing both Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka to injury.
Saka went off with a hamstring problem just before Gyökeres opened his Arsenal account to make it 3-0 to the Gunners, while Ødegaard had gone off with a shoulder problem in the first half.
Saka looks set to be out for up to a month. Ødegaard, meanwhile, was named in Norway’s squad for their upcoming international fixtures, though he did look in extreme discomfort as he left the field.
Visiting the home of the champions without two key attackers would put even more strain on Arsenal’s defence, of course, so it is a good job for Arteta that the Gunners have been so resolute.
When Saka has not featured for Arsenal in the league since he broke into the team, the Gunners’ average goals per game drops to 1.5 from 2.0 with the England winger in the side, though in Madueke, they now have a very capable player to step into his shoes.
Should Ødegaard also miss out, that could see Eze make his Arsenal debut, but there could also be even more onus on Arsenal’s set-piece threat.
Since the start of 2023-24, Arsenal have scored 33 corner goals in the Premier League – more than any other side in Europe’s big-five leagues in that timeframe. The Gunners have scored from a corner in their last three games – they have never done so in four games in a row before.
And if Arteta’s team were to come away with a win and a clean sheet, it would be the first time Arsenal have won their opening three league matches without conceding since 1924-25.
Jurriën Timber could well be decisive at both ends. He has had a hand in five goals in his last five Premier League starts (two goals, three assists).
In the win over Leeds, the Dutchman became the first defender to score two goals and get an assist in a match since Martin Skrtel in March 2014 for Liverpool against Cardiff City.
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Head-to-Head
Liverpool are winless in six Premier League encounters with the Gunners (D4 L2), which is their longest run without victory against Arsenal in the league since a run of eight between October 2007 and April 2011.
However, Arsenal are winless in their last 12 games at Anfield since a 2-0 victory in September 2012, when Arteta featured in midfield for the Gunners.
The last four games between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in all competitions have been drawn, including in May when Arsenal clawed themselves back from 2-0 down in a game that came after Liverpool had already won the Premier League title.
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Liverpool’s winless run vs Arsenal | 6 games (D4 L2) |
| Arsenal’s winless run at Anfield | 12 games |
| Last four Anfield meetings | All drawn |
| Arsenal’s last Anfield win | September 2012 |
Salah, meanwhile, has netted 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal, with only Harry Kane (14) and Rooney (12) scoring more against the Gunners.
One of Salah’s goals against the Gunners came for Chelsea, while the other 10 have been for Liverpool – only Roberto Firmino has more against Arsenal just for the Reds (11).
And despite Arsenal’s defensive record, you should expect goals in this one.
Only Liverpool vs Spurs (206) has seen more goals of all Premier League fixtures than Arsenal vs Liverpool (198). Since the 2015-16 campaign, it has seen the most goals of any fixture (78 in 20 games).
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Team News and Predicted Lineups
Liverpool – Team News
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has plenty of options to choose from as he mulls over who to start against Arsenal.
The reigning Premier League champions host last season’s runners-up hoping to make it three wins from three at the start of the season after dramatic victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle.
It is seven goals scored in two games for the Reds, though they have been rather shaky defensively. Including the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, Slot’s side have conceded two goals in each and have let 2-0 leads slip in their league outings.
However, their perfect record in the league remains intact thanks to Rio Ngumoha’s 100th minute winner at St James’ Park on Monday night as Liverpool came through a bruising encounter unscathed.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference on Friday, Slot confirmed captain Virgil van Dijk is fit to face Arsenal after being on the receiving end of a nasty tackle that resulted in Anthony Gordon being sent off.
Furthermore, the Dutchman confirmed there were no fresh fitness worries with Conor Bradley and Alexis Mac Allister – who missed the win over Newcastle – taking part in training this week.
Slot said: “I think the positive is that Conor Bradley only had one or two training sessions before the Newcastle game, he has trained this week the whole week – [well] not the whole week as there are still two days to go. Mac Allister has also started training again so I don’t think we had any injuries coming out of that game [at Newcastle], no. And Virgil is also OK.”
As a result, Slot’s two big selection decisions centre around Bradley and Mac Allister. With summer signing Jeremie Frimpong sidelined, there is an opening at right-back.
Dominik Szoboszlai got the nod there at St James’ Park and played well enough to retain his place. That said, Mac Allister is likely to replace Curtis Jones in midfield, thus reuniting with Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool’s front three is expected to remain unchanged for the fourth game in a row as Hugo Ekitike leads the line as he goes in search of keeping up his goal a game record.
Liverpool – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Alisson
- Defenders: Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez
- Midfielders: Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz
- Forwards: Salah, Ekitiké, Gakpo
Arsenal – Team News
Arsenal could be without as many as seven first-team players for Sunday’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all definitely sidelined due to injury, but manager Mikel Arteta is also sweating over the fitness of four more members of his squad.
Ben White, Christian Norgaard, Leandro Trossard and captain Martin Odegaard are all doubts for the match against Liverpool.
Saka is missing due to a hamstring injury picked up last week, but Arteta is hopeful the issue is not serious.
“Bukayo is doing better, but he will be out for a few weeks unfortunately,” said the Gunners boss. “It is not as bad as the previous one [hamstring injury]. Obviously he is very unfortunate to pick it up, it is on the other side.”
Eberechi Eze is available to make his Arsenal debut on Merseyside after training all week with his new team-mates following a £67.5million move from Crystal Palace last week.
“I am really impressed with him,” said Arteta. “I heard a lot of things about him. I spoke to a lot of people about him. Really bright. Very special energy, a special aura around him. Really willing, he’s already gathering a lot of information, the things that we want to see on that pitch. But especially make sure that he has the freedom and the capacity to express his quality, which is the reason why we brought him here.”
Noni Madueke is primed to start for the second game in a row in the absence of Saka, but this time on the right flank.
Arsenal – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: David Raya
- Defenders: Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
- Midfielders: Rice, Zubimendi, Eze
- Forwards: Madueke, Gyökeres, Martinelli
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Prediction
This promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between Liverpool’s relentless attacking threat and Arsenal’s defensive solidity. Despite Arsenal’s impressive record of keeping clean sheets in their opening two games, Anfield presents a different challenge entirely.
Liverpool’s home record against Arsenal is daunting – the Gunners haven’t won at Anfield in the league since September 2012, spanning 15 matches across all competitions. The last four league meetings at Anfield have all ended in draws, suggesting this could be another closely-fought encounter.
Arsenal’s injury problems, particularly the absence of Saka and potentially Ødegaard, will test their squad depth. However, the additions of Eze, Madueke, and Gyökeres should provide adequate cover, and Arsenal have shown remarkable resilience in big games over recent seasons.
Liverpool’s defensive frailties have been exposed in both games this season, throwing away 2-0 leads against Bournemouth and Newcastle. Arsenal’s set-piece prowess – they’ve scored 33 corner goals since the start of 2023-24 – could exploit these weaknesses.
However, Liverpool’s incredible scoring streak (36 consecutive Premier League games) and their record of winning more games via last-minute goals than any other Premier League side makes them dangerous opponents, especially at Anfield.
With both teams likely to score given the historical goal-fest nature of this fixture (198 goals in all Premier League meetings), this has the hallmarks of an entertaining draw that keeps both title ambitions intact.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
Where and When to Watch Liverpool vs Arsenal in India? Broadcast and Streaming Details
Liverpool will host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, August 31, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 9:00 PM IST. Indian football fans can catch all the live action on the Star Sports Network, particularly Star Sports Select HD 1, which holds the broadcasting rights for Premier League matches in India. The match will also be available for streaming on JioHotstar (previously Disney+ Hotstar), which now holds the digital streaming rights for Premier League matches in the Indian subcontinent.
A valid subscription to JioHotstar will be required to access the live stream on mobile devices, tablets, or smart TVs. Given the prime evening kick-off time, this presents an ideal viewing opportunity for Indian audiences, avoiding the typical late-night or early morning slots that Premier League matches often occupy. The match will feature comprehensive pre-match build-up starting from around 8:30 PM IST, with expert analysis and team news updates. All Premier League matches of the 2025-26 season will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and streamed live on JioHotstar.
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FAQs
When did Arsenal last win at Anfield?
Arsenal’s last Premier League victory at Anfield was in September 2012, when they won 2-0 with Mikel Arteta playing in midfield for the Gunners.
Which key Arsenal players are missing for the Liverpool match?
Arsenal will definitely be without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, while Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Christian Norgaard and Leandro Trossard are all doubts.
How long is Liverpool’s current Premier League scoring streak?
Liverpool have scored in their last 36 consecutive Premier League matches, the joint-third-longest streak in Premier League history.
Will Eberechi Eze make his Arsenal debut at Anfield?
Eze is available after his £67.5million move from Crystal Palace and could start given Arsenal’s injury problems.
What time does Liverpool vs Arsenal kick off?
The match kicks off at 9 PM IST on Sunday, August 31, 2025, live on Star Sports Network, particularly Star Sports Select HD 1. The match will also be available for streaming on JioHotstar.
