Players are back from the international break, and are now ready for the stretch run of the Premier League season. Liverpool sit seventh in the table currently, but just five points behind fourth-place Chelsea.
With only nine games to go, every single point is valuable for the Reds, starting this Saturday at Arsenal. There were no new injuries during the international break for the Reds, so they will have everyone available that one would expect. With that in mind, let’s preview!
FYIs
Liverpool are coming into this one as +123 road favorites on Saturday. Arsenal are +210 underdogs at your favorite online casino, with +260 odds coming in on a draw. Given recent trends, the tie might be the play that you want to make here, as that seems to be the best bargain. If you want to bet on the first goalscorer in this one, let’s take a look at the Liverpool men first, with Mo Salah leading the way at +340. Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane are both priced at +550.
Flipping over to Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang are both priced at +500 while Eddie Nketiah is +550. The odds on no goalscorer is +1000. For the latest team news updates, you can go here for Arsenal and here for the Liverpool perspective. The Arsenal starting XI predictions can be found here. Now we commence the Liverpool first team prediction.
Goalkeeper
Alisson has back-to-back shutouts for the Reds, and had a two-week rest with no Brazilian call-up during the break. The Brazilian goalkeeper has to be on his game for Liverpool to salvage something from the season.
Defense
Liverpool seemed to find a center back pairing that worked right before the international break. Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips have been the starters the past two games, and the Reds kept two clean sheets.
Barring injury, that is likely the pairing for the rest of the season. Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t get an England call-up, so he will be well rested for the Reds. Andy Robertson has been a work horse for the squad, and he will start at left back.
Midfield
There has been a noticeable difference in Liverpool since Fabinho moved back into the midfield, and the Brazilian will likely anchor the midfield again.
Gini Wijnaldum also seems like a penciled in starter for the Reds, and is one of Jurgen Klopp’s most trusted players.
With Roberto Firmino coming back from injury, Liverpool have different formation options available to them, but they will likely play a 4-3-3 with Thiago as the third midfielder.
Attack
For the first time since November, Liverpool are fully healthy up front. That gives Jurgen Klopp some valuable options at the most important time of the year.
Diogo Jota had the game-winner against Wolves right before the break, and also scored for Portugal during international duty. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are also likely choices to start.
Roberto Firmino is available, but likely starts on the bench as he returns from injury.
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson, Andy Robertson, Nat Phillips, Ozan Kabak, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Thiago, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Diogo Jota.