Amidst the fixture congestion of the festive period, Arsenal will host Liverpool tomorrow night in a mouth watering fixture with heavy top four race implications. Tis the season for matches that will ultimately have heavy consequence on Champions League qualification next year.
Liverpool head into this one holding down the fourth and final UCL qualification slot, with 34 points in total. The Gunners are just one behind them, so this is a huge opportunity for Arsene Wenger’s men. This could be a match decided in crunch time as there have been 17 goals scored in the 90th minute or later during the Premier League era of this series.
That’s more than any other match-up in the competition’s history.
Arsenal starting XI prediction: go to this link
In other words, high drama could be in store, so let’s take a look at the injury and fitness situation for both sides. Starting with the visitors, defender Joel Matip is a doubt, but he has returned to training following his injury.
Forward Daniel Sturridge, set back by illness, is also doubtful. Alberto Moreno remains a long term absentee do to his severe ankle injury.
However, midfielder Adam Lallana is in contention to feature, but won’t see starters minutes.
An update from Ben Dinnery, who writes for numerous major outlets:
“Sturridge, is bit a ill [or was], could be back. Moreno, who sustained an ankle injury vs Spartak won't be available "Unfortunately, he is still not even on the [training] pitch so that could still take a few weeks.” Lallana is in contention but his minutes will be managed. #LFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) December 20, 2017
Flipping over to the other side, Aaron Ramsey has a hamstring issue that will keep him out “at least another 10 days.”
Forward Olivier Giroud, considered by some the most handsome man in football, is also out of commission due to the same problem.
Stellar defender Shkodran Mustafi returns to action having recovered from his thigh injury. Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee due to his Achilles injury, and all the surgeries that have been required to try and fix it. You really have to feel for the midfielder, given all that he has gone through.
In other team news, we learned today that Manchester City will not be acquiring Alexis Sanchez in January, and if it does indeed happen, not until summer.
Odds: Arsenal 6/4, Draw 13/5, Liverpool 15/8
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Arsenal 3
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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