Preview: Liverpool v. Arsenal

The Diminutive Russian scored this many at Anfield in April 2009. Pic via Daily Mail.

Anfield, Liverpool

Sunday, August 15

16:00 BST, 11:00 a.m. EDT

• Referee: Martin Atkinson
• This Match, Last Year: Liverpool 1 - 2 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 74 Arsenal wins, 81 Liverpool wins, 53 draws
• Arsenal's End of 2009/10 Form: W-L-L-D-L-W
• Liverpool's End of 2009/10 Form: D-D-W-W-L-D

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Almunia

Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Clichy

Wilshere - Nasri - Diaby

Walcott - Chamakh - Arshavin

Subs from: Fabianski, Gibbs, Frimpong, Eboué, Denílson, Rosický, Vela
Doubts: Denílson (abdomen), Diaby (calf), Fàbregas (match fitness), Van Persie (match fitness)

Out: Song (calf), Djourou (hamstring), Bendtner (groin), Ramsey (leg)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Alex Song is 95% expected to be out with a calf problem and may not make the trip to Anfield.
• Denilson faces a fitness test on Friday or Saturday, as does Abou Diaby, though the latter has returned to full training.
• Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are yet to return to match fitness after their trip to the World Cup final. Even though Spain thought it was fine to play Cesc for 45 minutes in Mexico on Wednesday. Thanks, Spain. They are not necessarily out.
• Jack Wilshere made his debut for England on Wednesday, but was limited to ten minutes of playing time, because apparently he was hospitalized on Tuesday with stomach pains. Well, that's a new one... Arsenal players will never cease to pick up weird injuries...
• Andrei Arshavin has been dealing with an unspecified muscular problem, but should be available.
• Nicklas Bendtner's remains out with recurrent groin problems and Aaron Ramsey's still out with his broken leg; he could be back by November.
• After conceding a late equalizer to drop points at Birmingham City in March, Arsenal only won two of their last eight matches last season, across all competitions.

Liverpool News and Notes

• A disappointing 7th place finish in the league last year dropped the Reds into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. They defeated FK Rabotnički 4-0 on aggregate and have drawn Turkish side Trabzonspor in the upcoming play-off round.
• Striker Fernando Torres is a doubt to appear in the side on Sunday with a groin strain which he's suffered from on and off since before Christmas. He has not been ruled out, though the Liverpool physios have stated that it's probably too early for him to return.
• This is Liverpool's first league match under new manager Roy Hodgson. Arsenal's last league match last year was against Roy Hodgson as well, while he was with Fulham.

Match Facts

• In all time league matches between the two in Liverpool, the Reds have won 48 of them while Arsenal have won just 22. 16 were drawn.
• In this fixture last year, Arsenal trailed 1-0 at halftime after a lackluster 45 minutes, Arsene Wenger screamed at the team in the interim, then the Gunners leveled on a Glen Johnson own goal and won on a beautiful strike from Andrei Arshavin.
• Arsenal also defeated Liverpool twice at the Emirates last year; 2-1 in the Carling Cup and 1-0 in league play.
• Liverpool's last win over Arsenal knocked the Gunners out of the 2008 Champions League, with the winning goal coming on a penalty in the 86th minute of the second leg. This came two minutes after Emmanuel Adebayor put Arsenal ahead on away goals.
  

Referee

• The referee is Martin Atkinson.
• Last year, he was the only referee to show an Arsenal player a red card; that was Thomas Vermaelen, sent off for a last man foul in a 2-0 win against West Ham.
• Atkinson also worked a 1-0 Arsenal win at Fulham, the FA Cup loss at Stoke City, and the 2-1 loss at Blackburn in May.
• Liverpool won only one match with Atkinson as the referee last year, while they lost two and drew three.

Around the League

• Saturday: Tottenham Hotspur v. Manchester City; White Hart Lane, London
• Saturday: Aston Villa v. West Ham United; Villa Park, Birmingham
• Saturday: Blackburn Rovers v. Everton; Ewood Park, Blackburn
• Saturday: Bolton Wanderers v. Fulham; Reebok Stadium, Bolton
• Saturday: Sunderland v. Birmingham City; Stadium of Light, Sunderland
• Saturday: Wigan Athletic v. Blackpool; DW Stadium, Wigan
• Saturday: Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Stoke City; Molineux, Wolverhampton
• Saturday: Chelsea v. West Bromwich Albion; Stamford Bridge, London
• Monday: Manchester United v. Newcastle United; Old Trafford, Manchester