LFC vs Arsenal Preview

Good Day, fellow Reds!!!  On Monday the “Reigning, Defending, Undisputed” Champions look to take on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, hoping to produce a different result than the last two losses versus the Gunners. Although I do not consider those two losses as “real” results… the first was after we already wrapped up our NINETEENTH league title and the Serving Tray Cup (Ed. – aka the Community Shield) came down to basically a coin-flip? Anyway, I digress… The weather at Anfield looks to be in the upper 50s with about 25% chance of rain. Like most things nowadays, the match will be shown on Peacock, so here is hoping you have it.

Injuries

For Liverpool, Joel Matip is still out with an undisclosed injury.  Jordan Henderson has a quadriceps injury which will keep him out until early October.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.  The good news is Joe Gomez was back in training this week and looks to be fit for Monday’s clash. Billy “the Kid” Koumetio was also back in training this week as well.

For Arsenal, the injury list is a little bit longer:  Shkodran Mustafi is still out with his hamstring injury. Pablo Mari is out with an ankle. Emile Smith Rowe is out with a shoulder injury. Gabriel Martinelli is still out with a knee, as is Calum Chambers. Kieran Tierny is a minor doubt with a muscle issue.  Cedric Soares and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are both minor doubts with calves.

Klopp’s Quote of the Week

When Jurgen was asked about Naby’s progress since joining the team, he gave this cheeky response:

“Naby is doing really well. For some reasons it was in the beginning… well not really in the beginning, in the very beginning it was very good. I didn’t speak a lot to him about football, I just wanted to let him do his natural stuff so that was really good. Then I started coaching him and he got worse! That’s maybe not the main reason, but then he was a bit unlucky with injuries, that was the main reason. Naby had to learn the language, to feel really settled in the squad and all these kind of things.”

Line Up and Prediction

In between the wickets, Alisson takes his place back in goal. Robbo comes back in at left back with Virgil and although Gomez is fit again, do not be surprised to see Fabinho partner Virg if Thiago gets to start at holding midfielder. So let’s go with that: Thiago takes up his #6 position with Naby and Gini on both his flanks. Up front, forget MSN – the most devastating front three in world football history come back into the fold – with Sadio, Bobby and Mo.

MOTM – The pressure is on here, as I have correctly predicted the first three of the season. Since Sadio got it against Chelsea, I think it is Mo‘s time to shine once again, and look for him to score a brace while running Arsenal’s defenders ragged.

The Reds win 3-1 and stay the course on attacking their second undisputed premier league title.

Questions, comments, criticisms let me know in the comments below.

YNWA

Hooch.