A few months ago, few people would have bet on such a scenario for the next poster between Arsenal and Liverpool. However, it is indeed the Premier League leaders Gunners who have been hosting a feverish Liverpool since the start of the season in the league (9th), this Sunday (5:30 p.m.), on behalf of the 10th day. In view of the last few weeks, the balance of power between these two English cadors for many years now (1 victory for Arsenal in the last 10 confrontations) seems to have reversed. The reigning vice-champion is struggling to regain his level, where the Londoners have found their cruising speed.
In full swing from the top of their 9 successes in 10 games this year, Mikel Arteta’s men will be able to kill two birds with one stone at the Emirates Stadium. Intractable since the start of the 2022-2023 season, the Canonniers will (already) have the opportunity to push their rivals, who are already 11 points behind in the standings (with one game less), while still asserting a little more their new conquering face in Her Majesty’s Kingdom, a week after bringing down Tottenham in the North London derby.
There is an emergency in Liverpool
For its part, Liverpool is unrecognizable. The loss of Sadio Mané, replaced by Darwin Nuñez, seems to have done more harm to this collective than one might have thought. Jürgen Klopp’s troop, who have won only twice in 7 Premier League games, are certainly going through the worst pass since the arrival of the German technician on the banks of the Mersey in 2015. Less serene defensively, less sharp in transitions and less formidable in the last 20 meters, Mohamed Salah and his partners are struggling to find the right formula on the green rectangle.
“The teams have figured out how to play against us when we are not at our besttried to analyze Klopp at a press conference on Friday. Teams surrounded us years ago, but it didn’t always work out because we were exceptional. Whatever system we play with, there is no system in the world without weakness. It’s about our performance. We are still working to come back better. So you can’t say we’re back, we need consistency.”
The Emirates Stadium, land of awakening?
And the former BvB coach to continue, with requirement. “We have to defend everyone’s garbage. I’m not interested in the short term. We have to be good until we are exceptional.” Jürgen Klopp’s players no longer have the right to make mistakes. They will especially have to wake up on Sunday, in the London capital, because a very complicated schedule awaits Liverpool. After Arsenal, the residents of Anfield will travel to Glasgow to challenge Rangers (October 12) in the Champions League, before receiving Manchester City (October 16) and West Ham (October 19). Enough to make Klopp confess: “I can’t say ‘yes, we crossed [la mauvaise passe].”» The Reds would be well advised to get out of it as soon as possible. The Gunners dream of putting them at the bottom of the hole. This historical shock with a surprising context promises.
