THERE’S a scene in Superman II that sees the Man of Steel relinquish his superpowers for his love for Lois Lane. Soon after, his bespectacled alter-ego Clark Kent is in a roadside diner and has an altercation with a trucker who roughs him up with ease.

On seeing blood emanating from a cut lip, Kent’s shocked face tells the whole sorry story. He is human now. Frail and ordinary, just like everybody else.

That scene has come to mind several times this season on watching Liverpool – a side that used to be imperious and impervious – and never more so than at the Etihad last weekend.

Conceding twice in quick succession after the break, Jurgen Klopp’s men gave up the ghost and for all that they have endured a loss of collective form this term – suffering a string of poor results as a consequence – this was a highly disconcerting first.

For so long this has been a side that has responded to going behind with increased vigour, because how dare an opponent score against them. Their relentless press would sharpen. Their energy levels would go up further still. Liverpool would be at their most dangerous when wounded.

Instead, two down to a big rival with 40 minutes still to play, team-mates looked at team-mates and all they saw were mere humans, frail and ordinary.

Frankly, City could have racked up a cricket score if they were as mean as that trucker.

Back Arsenal to score over 1.5 goals this Sunday at 11/10

At Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening they were better but not by much, spared a fourth consecutive defeat by some wayward Chelsea finishing, and even if a clean sheet was secured in an always difficult fixture, at the other end the Reds have scored just once in the last six hours of competitive football.

Elsewhere, there are so many problems at present they must be condensed because otherwise this entire preview would focus only on them. Spaces are routinely afforded in areas that never previously existed. Individuals are struggling, visibly fatigued and devoid of ingenuity and/or confidence. All season long Liverpool have conceded 3.0 big chances per 90. Only Fulham come off worse in that regard.

A bet builder backing the Gunners to have over 3.5 shots on target but Liverpool to win the most corners offers up 19/10

Yet this is still the side that recently blasted seven past Manchester United, perhaps pertinently in their most recent game at Anfield, but maybe an explanation for this is that real life is never as binary as in film. Teams do not suddenly lose their superpowers and become mortal. They still have their good days, just a lot less of them.

Can they remember who they are, and what they’re capable of this Sunday against a superb creation who has already bested them this season, in a five-goal thriller at the Emirates that saw Martinelli and Saka run riot throughout?

Certainly some muscle memory should kick in given that Liverpool haven’t lost to Arsenal in the league at Anfield for over a decade, scoring 3.5 goals per 90 along the way. Eight of that haul was converted by Mo Salah who boasts 12 goal involvements in 14 outings against the Gunners.

Over 2.5 shots by the Egyptian is well worth a punt at 7/10. Only three Premier League players have taken on more in 2022/23

This though, and it’s said with some understatement, is not the same Arsenal who used to roll up and roll over at Anfield, outclassed and mentally fragile.

Each and every week pressure is burdened on them to come up with the goods and sustain their surprising title bid and each and every week they are producing, aware that a single defeat will have the doubters saying I-told-you-so as Manchester City’s eyes light up.

In beating Leeds last Saturday some luck had to be ridden in the early stages but all the great teams need fortune, and what especially impressed was the patience shown and lack of panic until they found their familiar groove. Since losing to City back in February, Mikel Arteta’s men have accrued seven straight wins, scoring 3+ goals in six of them, with 82.6% of them converted beyond the 35^th minute.

The title favourites are 17/10 to win the second half

Deployed on the right last week, for the first time this season, Leandro Trussard stood out and what a January signing he’s been, contributing seven assists in his last six games. Of course, it’s relevant too that the Belgian fired a hat-trick at Anfield last autumn for Brighton.

Bukayo Saka meanwhile should be fresh after being rested following a demanding international ‘break’. The flying winger scored twice in the corresponding clash between these sides and posted seven direct goal involvements across March.

When broadening our scope though it is not in-form players who sway our judgement ahead of this usually entertaining and goal-laden match-up. It is instead a simple thought.

For Arsenal to prevail they must merely continue doing what they’re doing and stay true to type. Liverpool have to change, improve, and quite dramatically so. One is more likely to happen than the other.

Unless Anfield is the Gunners’ Kryptonite, it is the visitors who should be backed with not a phone box in sight.

Arsenal have picked up just six bookings in their last 10 outings. Liverpool are pretty saintly too, averaging 1.3 yellow cards this term. Under 3.5 bookings therefore is a shout at 8/11