The Premier League concludes for the international break with a mouthwatering clash as last season’s top two meet at Anfield on Sunday (4.30pm), both putting their 100% starts on the line as they seek to strike an early-season psychological blow.
You have to go back to September 2012 for our last triumph at Anfield when Mikel Arteta was patrolling our midfield, but there are many reasons for Gooners to feel optimistic. We are unbeaten in our last six games against the Reds, haven’t suffered a league defeat on the road since November and are unbeaten against the ‘Big Six’ in our last 22 matches.
All that, coupled with the momentum built following our victories against Manchester United and Leeds United mean we head to the home of the champions filled with confidence and looking to make a statement regarding our own title ambitions this time around.
CHAMPIONS’ CHALLENGING START While ourselves and Liverpool are the only two sides with a perfect record after two games, the Reds have had to do it the hard way. They have conceded twice in all of their three competitive matches so far, letting leads slip in all of them, starting with their penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield which came after a 2-2 draw.
They then let a 2-0 advantage slip against Bournemouth at Anfield in the first defence of their crown, but late strikes from Enrico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah salvaged a 4-2 win, and on Monday night a two-goal lead disappeared again at 10-man Newcastle, before 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha got them out of jail in the 100th minute to clinch a 3-2 success.
Hugo Ekitike scored all three of those games and could become the first player to net in each of his first three Premier League appearances for the Reds, and he’s been part of a near-£300 million recruitment drive that includes Florian Wirtz, who broke the British transfer record of £105 million, as well as Milos Kerkez, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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