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| Photo: Colin Pyle, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
The biggest match of Matchweek 9 comes last on the biggest stage. Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1 November, kick-off 16:30 UK time — fourth against second, and a match that could reshape the top of the table.
What is at stake
Arsenal, the defending champions, sit second on 21 points, level with leaders Manchester City and behind them only on goal difference. Liverpool are fourth on 15 points. Win on Sunday, and Liverpool close the gap to the top two to just three points. Lose, and the gap grows to nine — a long way back, even in November.
The form guide
Liverpool's last five league results read D-W-L-W-W. The one defeat was a heavy one — 3-0 at home to Manchester City — but Andoni Iraola's side have responded with two straight league wins, including a 2-0 victory over Brighton last weekend, and they knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Arsenal's last five read W-L-W-W-W: four wins from five, the league's best defence (only five goals conceded), and a 2-0 win over Everton last weekend. But their week turned sour on Tuesday, when League Two side Fleetwood Town knocked them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties — one of the great cup shocks.
Team news — what we know on Thursday
Arsenal's list is the story of this match. Bukayo Saka is out with a thigh injury suffered last week and is expected to miss several weeks. William Saliba is also unavailable with a back problem. On top of that, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke are all doubts after missing the Fleetwood tie with knocks, and young Max Dowman is suspended after his red card in that game. Mikel Arteta could be missing up to seven first-team players.
Liverpool have problems too. Hugo Ekitike is a long-term absentee with a ruptured Achilles, Conor Bradley is out after knee surgery, and Jeremie Frimpong's hamstring makes him unlikely to feature. Dominik Szoboszlai has been managing a hamstring issue, while Florian Wirtz returned in midweek after an ankle problem and will be assessed.
Please note: this team news is what was reported on Thursday 29 October. Friday's press conferences and late fitness tests — especially on Rice — can still change the picture before Sunday.
Head-to-head
History is firmly on Liverpool's side at this ground. Arsenal have not won a league match at Anfield since September 2012 — 13 visits without a victory. Liverpool also won last season's meeting here, 1-0 in August 2025, thanks to a famous Szoboszlai free-kick, while the return match in London in January finished 0-0. Across all Premier League meetings, Liverpool lead the series 26 wins to Arsenal's 18, with 24 draws.
Our view
Anfield, a Sunday afternoon crowd, and an Arsenal team held together by its defence and its spirit: everything points to a tight, tactical match. If Rice is fit, Arsenal can frustrate Liverpool for long spells. If he is not, Liverpool's midfield may finally get the space to end this one early. Either way, do not expect a goal-fest — expect a battle.
Follow Goal Circuit for the match report and all the Matchweek 9 fallout.