TITLE six-pointers in August are rare as hen’s teeth, genuine contenders for the throne typically kept apart until autumn, September at the earliest. Even with the latter, a handful of games have already taken place, allowing us to shape a considered opinion on form and fettle.
When Liverpool visited the Emirates last October, it was very apparent there would be no early struggles under Arne Slot—quite the opposite. While Arsenal looked fully formed and dangerous, if only their players could stop finding new ways of getting sent off.
To the surprise of no one, an entertaining. high-scoring draw played out, with Salah and Saka at the fore.
This Sunday these two brilliant teams meet again, this time at Anfield, and here the sample size concerning their state of health is much smaller. We have just 180 minutes apiece to go off, plus a Community Shield for the Reds that amounts to an exercise in conditioning.
Yet, from these early glimpses, there are still strong clues as to what awaits us on Merseyside.
For one, Liverpool have concerning issues, flaws that may well be rectified as the season stretches out but right now leave them vulnerable.
That may sound a touch hyperbolic given they have begun their title defence with back-to-back victories, but the manner of them has left a lot to be desired, each time relinquishing a two-goal advantage, last Monday evening to ten men. Each time late drama has been required to secure the points.
Clearly lacking balance in midfield, as they adapt to accommodate Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have too often left themselves wide open to counters, situations that have seen Van Dijk or Konate isolated. It hasn’t helped that Konate has started the campaign a shadow of his usual self.
With far less control of proceedings than what we’ve become accustomed to, Liverpool have ceded seven big chances to Bournemouth and Newcastle combined. In their opening two outings last term they ceded just two combined.
Naturally, there are plenty of positives to report on too, the most significant of which is a new striker who has hit the ground running. But the chief takeaway from spirited but chaotic wins over the Cherries and a ramped-up Magpies is that Arsenal last triumphed at Anfield in the league in 2012. This weekend represents their best opportunity to do so in that whole period.
So to Hugo Ekitike, a forward whose output so far is all the more commendable considering that the Alexander Isak transfer saga has run parallel to it. Undeterred, or more likely highly motivated, by his club seeking an expensive upgrade just one month after he signed, the French striker has bagged three in three, making a nuisance of himself elsewhere by winning the majority of his aerial duels.
A fascinating and physical contest with Gabriel on Sunday is a subplot to look forward to.
Additionally, though it’s hardly a niche pick, Mo Salah is another expected to feature prominently. The Egyptian has seven goals from eight previous home games against the Gunners.
Yet what Mo and co face at the weekend is a superbly constructed rearguard, one that already has two clean sheets to their name. Should an opposition navigate a path past the most formidable centre-back pairing in the top flight, David Raya is inevitably at hand, the keeper making seven saves at Old Trafford, the highest number made as 2025/26 kicked off.
Should an attack fail to bring their A-game, they will simply be smothered, their threat nullified from minute one. This Leeds discovered to their cost in Matchweek 2.
Ahead of this strong foundation, Martin Zubimendi has quickly established himself as a key component to Arsenal’s midfield, allied by Declan Rice who was magnificent last Saturday. It is, however, crucial to Arsenal’s aspirations to gain an early advantage in the title race that Martin Odegaard is passed fit, the Norwegian schemer struggling with a shoulder problem.
Latest indications are positive, with Odegaard selected for Norway’s forthcoming internationals.
Bukayo Saka, though, is definitely out, and with Kai Havertz also absent, that offers up the intriguing possibility of Mikel Arteta going with a front three at Anfield made up entirely of summer signings.
On the right, Noni Madueke is set for a second start, already accruing three key passes from 94 minutes in his new colours. The former Chelsea winger will be tasked with supplying the ammo for Viktor Gyokeres, the prolific Swede who to date has scored two from two shots on target.
It is down the left, though, where headlines could be made, with Eberechi Eze anticipated to make his full debut, potentially against Dominik Szoboszlai deployed out of position.
Eze was largely ineffectual vs. Liverpool in the Community Shield but scored the only goal in April last year when Crystal Palace won at Anfield against the odds. He has every attribute to take full advantage of the Reds’ current shortcomings.
Ultimately what’s at stake at Anfield is merely three points, attained with 35 games apiece remaining. In the great scheme of things it is a Malteser in a tin of Celebrations.
Yet we are all aware of how powerful an emerging narrative can be, and furthermore how it can propel a team forward or stall them.
Arsenal are fancied to get at least a draw on Merseyside, with the Reds viewed thereafter to be champions under revision.
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