Anfield plays host to one of the biggest Premier League games of the season so far as Liverpool take on Arsenal in a massive clash this afternoon.
asserted
Liverpool → play → clash
The reigning top-flight champions head to Merseyside reeling from their Carabao Cup embarrassment at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood, eager to quickly reassert some authority and move back to the top of the table after leaders Manchester City lost again yesterday.
asserted
City → reign → table
But to do so they will need to end their hoodoo at this famous old ground, where they have remarkably not won in the league since 2012.
asserted
they → do → 2012
Arsenal are likely to face a stern test from an in-form Liverpool team who sit fifth and will be harbouring title ambitions of their own under Andoni Iraola after winning their last five matches across all competitions, including holding their nerve in a penalty shootout against Chelsea in midweek.
asserted
who → face → midweek
19-year-old Trey Nyoni makes his first Premier League start for the Reds in midfield, while Mikel Arteta has Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke all fit and available as Christos Tzolis also comes straight back in after injury.
asserted
Tzolis → make → injury
Liverpool vs Arsenal latest news
Live updates
Arsenal weathering Liverpool storm after early goal
21 mins:
asserted
Arsenal → weather → goal
Liverpool have battered Arsenal since that early goal.
asserted
Liverpool → batter → goal
The Gunners are penned in and weathering a storm as Barcola, Gakpo and Isak all ask questions of their defence.
asserted
Barcola → pen → defence
A corner comes to nothing and Timber might be relieved that there was no second look at his risky shirt pull on Isak, who made nothing of it in fairness.
Brilliant Arsenal move to take the lead
Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal
Standard Sport’s Matt Verri at Anfield
That's a brilliant move.
uncertain
That → come → Anfield
Arsenal really brave in the press to start and they get their reward, winning the ball back up the pitch.
asserted
they → start → pitch
Havertz couldn't miss and he really needed that after his recent wasteful run.
asserted
he → miss → run
Liverpool are almost in straightaway for an equaliser following an Arsenal error, but a poor touch from Barcola allows Rice to get back and make a crucial intervention.
asserted
Rice → follow → intervention
The deadlock is broken early at Anfield!
asserted
deadlock → break → Anfield
Arsenal win the ball back in a dangerous area and then go to work, moving the ball quickly to the right as Rice’s excellent low cross is easily dispatched by Havertz at the back post.
asserted
cross → win → post
The Gunners get their reward after dominating the midfield and really coming on strongly in the last few minutes.
asserted
Gunners → get → minutes
Anfield silenced.
asserted
Anfield → silence → ?
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
Standard Sport’s Matt Verri at Anfield
Arsenal on the back foot early on, Liverpool keen to get in their faces.
asserted
Liverpool → get → faces
That's two late tackles from Nyoni, both times stretching for the loose ball.
asserted
That → stretch → ball
Caught Odegaard painfully in the opening minute and now Havertz is fouled.
asserted
Havertz → catch → minute
Nyoni booked for another rash challenge
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
9 mins:
asserted
Nyoni → book → challenge
Havertz looks to get in behind for Arsenal but he’s quickly flagged offside.
asserted
he → look → Arsenal
The German is now caught late by Nyoni, who makes his second poor challenge of these opening exchanges.
asserted
who → catch → exchanges
Again he escapes a booking.
asserted
he → escape → booking
The teenager needs to calm down here.
asserted
teenager → need → ?
A lively start at Anfield as Gakpo looks to test Arsenal once more before the fit-again Tzolis then gallops forward and earns the first corner of the game, which is easily cleared.
asserted
which → look → game
Raya gathers gratefully as Gakpo looks to flick a clever ball over the top for the run of Wirtz.
asserted
Gakpo → gather → Wirtz
Gabriel is unhappy and holding his face after a clash with Isak.
asserted
Gabriel → hold → Isak
He’s now complaining bitterly to referee Andy Madley.
asserted
He → complain → Madley
Gary Neville calls him “embarrassing” on the Sky Sports coverage.
asserted
Neville → call → coverage
Nyoni flies into Odegaard early on
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal
1 min: Nyoni is straight into the thick of the action as he flies into an iffy challenge on Odegaard.
asserted
he → fly → Odegaard
A few minutes later and that could easily have been a booking for the 19-year-old on his first Premier League start.
Kick-off
Here we go!
uncertain
we → go → start
Can Arsenal win a Premier League match at Anfield for the first time since September 2012?
asserted
Arsenal → win → September
We’re about to find out...
asserted
We → find → ?