Liverpool vs Arsenal - Match Preview
Six of the last ten previous encounters between these two sides have ended in draws. Liverpool have won only one, whilst Arsenal have won three.
Team News Liverpool are without midfielder Lucas, who will probably miss the first three months of the season with a thigh injury after he limped off in the opening ten minutes of the clash against Manchester City last week. Jonjo Shelvey replaced him them, and may do so again this afternoon. Arsenal will assess the fitness of goalkeeper Szczesny, who missed his side's 0-0 draw with Stoke last weekend with a rib injury. Defender Laurent Koscielny is back after a calf complaint. Match Preview These two teams meet with considerable problems to tackle in the scoring department. Hosts Liverpool waved a temporary goodbye to striker Andy Carroll as he departed on loan to West Ham, whilst they were helpless in losing another forward, Dirk Kuyt, as he exercised an exit clause in his contract to move to Fenerbahce for a mere £1million, whilst Craig Bellamy departed for Cardiff, leaving the club with just Suarez and Borini as the only remaining senior strikers. Arsenal meanwhile parted with top goalscorer and Golden Boot winner Robin van Persie, and whilst they signed replacements in the mould of Lucas Podolski and Oliver Giroud, they have yet to find the back of the net this season, misfiring in two goalless draws to Sunderland and then Stoke. If Liverpool lose this afternoon it will be their worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1962-63, when they took 1 point from their first three league games. Arsenal meanwhile are the only Premier League team to begin their campaign with back to back goalless draws - they will make Premier League history if they are involved in another stalemate this afternoon. Surely, something has to give. Head to Head Six of the last ten previous encounters between these two sides have ended in draws. Liverpool have won only one, whilst Arsenal have won three.