Sunday 27 August 2017 09:14, UK
Liverpool’s record against top-six sides under Jurgen Klopp should have Arsenal worried.
Arsenal were edged out of the Premier League top four for the first time under Arsene Wenger last season and their form against the strongest sides in the competition was a huge factor. Two results against Liverpool, in particular, proved costly.
The Gunners were beaten 4-3 in a dramatic encounter at the Emirates Stadium on the opening weekend and were unable to avenge that defeat when the teams met again in March. Liverpool won 3-1 at Anfield, the only team to do the double over Arsenal.
Klopp described that victory as one of Liverpool's "best performances so far" as they overwhelmed Arsenal during the first half. So concerned had Wenger been that he acknowledged afterwards that he had adopted a more direct game - kicking long to Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck. It did not work.
The six points that Jurgen Klopp's men claimed in those two matches proved decisive as Liverpool only edged out Arsenal by a solitary point in the end. Wenger can have few complaints. These results form part of a wider trend against better-quality opposition.
Arsenal picked up only nine points from their 10 games against top-six opponents last season. That was the fewest of any team in that top six mini-league. Moreover, Wenger did not win a single game against those sides away from the Emirates.
In contrast, Liverpool were unbeaten in their 10 games against fellow members of the top six, winning five and drawing five. Their 20-point haul was twice that of the Manchester clubs and four more than eventual champions Chelsea.
"It should be better," pointed out Klopp himself when asked about the team's record last season. "Remember that offside goal against Manchester United?" That would be greedy. Even without that, all the clues point to a Liverpool win at the weekend.
What can Wenger do to change things? Perhaps the switch to three at the back could help. Tottenham dealt with it easily enough at White Hart Lane in April but Arsenal have since picked up a win over United and enjoyed a couple of Wembley successes against Chelsea.
Even so, Stoke were able to find a way through last time out. Liverpool will expect to cause the usual problems too. So will it be the same old Arsenal on Super Sunday or are the dynamics of this particular rivalry about to change?
