Liverpool FC vs Arsenal FC, free match prediction 29 Sep 2020

LIVERPOOL FC vs ARSENAL FC Match Preview & Analysis

The biggest testament you can pay Mikel Arteta is that these days matches between Arsenal and the other top teams are closely fought affairs and not one-sided thrashings.

Too often under his predecessors were Arsenal the whipping boys for teams above them. That is no longer the case, as Arsenal proved by beating Man City and Chelsea to win last season’s FA Cup and recently Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Liverpool won’t mind too much – they lost last year’s Community Shield to Man City, before going on to win the Premier League. 

What’s clear is that both teams have started the league season very strongly, with 100% winning records so far and while Liverpool will go into the match as favourites, it’s expected to be a lot closer than in previous meetings.

It should be a great meeting of world-class players.

Teams Preview

Liverpool FC Preview

Predicted 2020/21 finish: 2nd   

Reasons to be cheerful:

     New signing Thiago was sensational in his first match

     Only lost one league game vs. Arsenal since 2015

Reasons to be fearful:

     Arsenal have shown they can beat them recently

     Have looked defensively shaky at times

In the opening weeks of this season, Liverpool have yet again set out their stall as one of the favourites to lift the league title. 

Their best players look as good as last season, if not better, and they have managed to strengthen their squad by bringing in one of the best midfielders in the world in Thiago and a very able squad player Jota from Wolves.

Their defence has not looked quite as watertight as last term, conceding three in their opening match to promoted Leeds, but when they have the forward firepower at their disposal, they can outgun anyone. 

Thiago will come straight in for the injured Henderson, and they will have a decision to make as to who will partner Van Dijk in central defence, but other than that it’ll be the same side who won the league 18 points clear last year.

Arsenal will be better this season than previous years, but Liverpool will still fancy their chances as favourites.

Star Man – Thiago

Likely to start his first match for Liverpool - watch his pass count rise as the minutes tick by. He controls the game with ease.

Arsenal FC Preview

Predicted 2020/21 finish: 6th  

Reasons to be cheerful

     Won their last two matches against Liverpool

     Only conceded one goal in last three matches

Reasons to be fearful

     Could struggle to control the game against Liverpool’s midfield

     First big test of the season

Arsenal’s greatest improvement has been in becoming harder to play against, particularly in the big games, with a much more solid defensive unit.

They’ve only conceded one goal in their past three games, and the acquisitions that Arteta has made at the back have been wise – bringing in Tierney from Celtic and Gabriel from Lille, to play alongside David Luiz who has also improved.

In tying down Aubameyang to a new contract, they also have one of the hottest strikers in world football.

Where they do lack star quality is in midfield, and although the likes of Xhaka and Ceballos are technically gifted, they are sure to struggle against the power of Liverpool’s three.

They’ve shown they can beat Liverpool recently, but in truth they could struggle to hold on to their 100% record this weekend.

Star Man – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

One goal and an assist so far, his goal contribution numbers are among the best in league since he joined Arsenal.