Two Premier League titans clash in an early season spectacle that promises to shape the narrative for months to come. Forget mere points; this is about setting a precedent.
As the Premier League season gains its early, thrilling stride, the footballing world turns its gaze towards Anfield. Here, two giants, Liverpool and Arsenal – last season`s top contenders and many a pundit`s favourites for this term – are poised to deliver the first true box office spectacle of the campaign. While it might be premature to label this encounter as a title decider, its outcome will undoubtedly cast a long shadow, setting the tone and perhaps even dictating the early momentum for both clubs in the gruelling months ahead.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta arrives with an impressive, if not entirely spotless, record against Liverpool, having avoided a Premier League defeat to them since March 2022. Yet, the ghost of Anfield past still whispers; his last top-flight victory at this venerable ground dates back to September 2012, a 2-0 win when Arteta himself was orchestrating play from Arsène Wenger`s midfield. Both sides are hunting for a perfect three wins from three, with Liverpool`s new helmsman, Arne Slot, acutely aware that his defence, having conceded six goals across their opening league and Community Shield fixtures, demands immediate improvement. Conversely, Liverpool`s attack appears ominously sharp, ready to probe Arsenal`s resolve. The strategic battles unfolding across the pitch promise to be as compelling as the scoreline itself. Let`s delve into the key tactical quandaries facing both coaches.
The Salah Conundrum: Arsenal`s Defensive Chess Match
Attempting to truly shackle Mohamed Salah at full flow often feels like trying to catch smoke. Yet, if any team has consistently given it a good, hard go in recent memory, it`s Arsenal. While the Egyptian maestro has still conjured his share of magic against the Gunners, Mikel Arteta`s meticulously drilled defence has, at times, forced him to subsist on scraps rather than feasts.
Their approach, deceptively simple, often involves deploying a right-footed defender at left-back, specifically tasked with blunting Salah’s signature move: cutting in from the right flank onto his stronger left foot. This defender ideally possesses the rare ability to also cover overlapping runs and tracking Salah down the byline. Takehiro Tomiyasu was once the prototype for this role, and if his fitness were as dependable as his defensive acumen, he might still be Arsenal`s bespoke solution for such occasions. Jurrien Timber, arguably Arsenal`s most adept defensive fullback, showcased this perfectly for 76 minutes at the Emirates last season, only for Salah to find an equaliser minutes later – a moment that, in hindsight, might have significantly dented Arsenal’s title momentum.
A full complement of players might have seen Arteta tempted to once again shift Timber to left-back. But alas, this is Arsenal, and a full complement feels like a forgotten relic from a bygone era. With Ben White, North London`s steadfast defensive linchpin, sidelined, options at right-back are limited. This leaves either Riccardo Calafiori or the young Myles Lewis-Skelly with the monumental task of marshalling Salah. Lewis-Skelly demonstrated surprising effectiveness late last season, but one might wryly suggest he was facing a “satiated Salah,” one who had already conquered his world for the 2024-25 campaign. Nevertheless, the 18-year-old’s CV of defensive excellence is remarkable for his tender age, and entrusting him with Salah might, ironically, be Arteta`s most conservative choice. The alternative, Calafiori, is a more complex proposition. While his defensive capabilities aren`t in question, his exuberance for bombing forward – an agent of joyous chaos who once, quite logically, side-footed a goal from 30 yards at the Etihad – poses a fascinating dilemma. Can he curb his attacking instincts? More importantly, should he?
Midfield Mastery: Wirtz vs. Zubimendi and the Engine Room Battle
It`s a rare sight indeed for a manager to publicly express admiration for an opposition player, rarer still when that player famously spurned their advances just over a year ago. Yet, Arne Slot makes no pretence about his past vision for Martin Zubimendi. The footballing cosmos was well aware of Liverpool`s efforts to make the Spanish midfielder the bedrock of their new manager`s inaugural season, only for Zubimendi to get cold feet, later expressing interest in a move to Arsenal.
“What we liked about him was how good he is on the ball, and how much game insight he has,” Slot recounted. “We thought, and it was true, that we would have the ball a lot in every single game, and then to have someone in front of your defence that is very comfortable on the ball would have been a good fit for us. Especially if he`s also defensively strong enough for the league, which he`s showing now and which we also expected.”
As Slot observed, Liverpool eventually found much of what they needed in Ryan Gravenberch. However, he now faces a truly special talent in Zubimendi, a controlling midfield presence capable of extracting all the air from a high-octane encounter. Paired with Declan Rice in a genuine double pivot – an alignment Arteta has experimented with this season – Arsenal could well dominate the midfield battle against a Liverpool pairing of Gravenberch and an Alexis Mac Allister still striving for full match fitness.
Liverpool`s deeper midfielders will undoubtedly require assistance, and much of that responsibility may fall upon Florian Wirtz. The former Bayer Leverkusen orchestrator has yet to command a Premier League game with possession, but his adaptation to Slot`s off-ball demands has been remarkably swift. A tireless presser, Wirtz is already averaging a recovery in the attacking third every 50 minutes (a caveat, of course, for the nascent sample size). He will need to amplify this off-ball work. Arsenal, naturally, will aim to silence the infamous Anfield roar with spells of controlled possession. But a well-timed regain or two in a dangerous area by Wirtz might just be the spark needed to ignite the Kop and turn the tide.
Madueke`s Moment: A £50 Million Statement on the Flank
Few £50 million signings are greeted with the sheer, unadulterated aggravation that met Noni Madueke`s arrival at Arsenal from Chelsea this summer. Online petitions garnered thousands of signatures, and graffiti lamenting Arteta`s supposed misstep appeared outside the Emirates. It seems every summer serves up fresh evidence that transfer culture is, perhaps, gently melting the brains of some football enthusiasts. This instance felt particularly stark, especially given that Arsenal had acquired a player demonstrably capable of addressing multiple squad needs. Madueke has already showcased his ability to deepen options on the left wing, offering a distinct, cross-first, left-footed alternative to Gabriel Martinelli. Now, he stands on the precipice of a significant opportunity on his favoured right flank.
Last season, Arsenal desperately patched up Bukayo Saka for Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates, a game he initially illuminated with an early goal before fading due to a muscle issue that would culminate in a major hamstring injury two months later. There`s no prospect of Saka returning this weekend from the issue that forced him off against Leeds. This, however, presents Madueke with a prime chance to provide Arsenal with crucial breathing room and, more importantly, a platform to shine.
The 23-year-old impressed against Trent Alexander-Arnold when deployed on Chelsea`s left flank last season. Now, he will fancy his chances against Milos Kerkez, who, despite being the more reserved of Liverpool`s two new fullbacks, is certainly not shy about venturing forward. Madueke`s direct running and searing pace appear perfectly tailored to exploit the spaces behind the champions` backline – spaces that both Bournemouth and Newcastle have relished exploring. This could very well be the defining moment for Arsenal`s new acquisition, a chance to decisively win over the legions of skeptics within the fanbase and prove his worth on the grandest stage.
