So far this season we have seen Liverpool, under their German coach Jurgen Klopp, perform above all reasonable expectations as they challenge at the top of the Premier League table, for a team to have performed so well last season, when they reached the Champions League final, and to have kicked on again this year is extremely impressive. Unfortunately for the side from Anfield, however, their impressive start to the season has been overshadowed by that of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
Coming into this match against Arsenal, expectations amongst the Liverpool fanbase would be high with the belief that the side need to keep winning in order to reach new heights in their pursuit of their first league title in the modern era. This desire, however, would be tempered with realism as the match unfolded and Liverpool found an Arsenal side with steel running through its spine, a significant departure from the malleable Arsenal of old.
There are still numerous positives for Liverpool to take from this match despite only managing a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, not least of which comes with the way that their central defensive partnership of Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez continues to flourish. Flanked by youthful full-backs in Trent Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson Liverpool have a defensive unit that could be present and effective at the top level for at least the next 5-6 seasons without the need for any significant investment.
If there are questions around the performance of Liverpool in this match then they come in the midfield three where the choice of Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Fabinho was solid and effective in the defensive phase but less present when looking to link in with the attacking unit in the attacking phase.
Team News
The significant news from Liverpool saw them maintain their impressive partnership in defence after a period of rest for right-back Alexander-Arnold that had seen Dejan Lovren introduced in the centre with Joe Gomez moving over to the right-hand side.
