Liverpool Vs Arsenal: 5 questions that’ll be answered this weekend

As Liverpool and Arsenal will go head to head on Sunday, memories of last fixture between these sides will be fading from the memory of both teams. While the ruthless strike force of Suarez and Sturridge for Liverpool has been replaced by stagnant forces of Rickie Lambert, Arsenal’s defense has also gown down the drain as the scarcity of clean-sheets suggests. But no matter whether it will be a goals-galore or a tactically dominated match, victory is much needed for both sides. Here are 5 talking points before the game:-

#1 Could Sanchez perform against his adorers?

When Arsenal eventually signed Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for a hefty price tag of 31 million pounds in summer, Liverpool felt foolish as the reds had already bid 35million pounds for the Chilean. But for the issues that were described to be geographical by the Chilean, he chose Arsenal over Liverpool much to the delight of Arsenal fans.

Liverpool gone forward and signed Mario Balotelli and the rest has been a turbulent phase of history for reds.

While Sanchez has already managed 9 goals in the league to his name with assists coming as a bonus, Mario Balotelli is still searching for his 1st goal in the Premier League. And at a time when Mario Balotelli is banned from football thanks to his tweet, a goal by Alexis Sanchez on Sunday could provoke painful memories for the reds.

However if you look at the recent performances of the Chilean, it wouldn’t be easy for Sanchez to come firing against Liverpool. Since signing for Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez has featured in 6 games against the top 7 of last season but his record in these matches is not good at-all. After starting the match in 5 of them, Sanchez has managed only 1 goal to his name against the top sides. So with Liverpool coming up against his side, Sanchez will have a point to prove.

#2 Could Brad Jones finally come of age?

Since signing for Liverpool in the days of Rafael Benetiz, the Australian goal-keeper was never in goal for Liverpool for long. From the days of Pepe Reina where the Spaniard always stood in goal at kop to the current misery Liverpool fans feel when they see the Belgian Simon Mignolet standing in goal, Brad Jones has survived 4 managers still he was not the favorite child for any.

But as they say time changes, Brad Jones has been given the opportunity of his life-time by Brendan Rodgers this season. After some abysmal performances by Simon Mignolet and the constant criticism of Liverpool Legends thrown towards’ the Belgian’s way, Brad Jones started in goal for Liverpool against Manchester United last weekend.

And now with talks of Liverpool going for Ochoa surfacing on the web, it is expected that this will be another short-term stint for the Australian in Liverpool goal before someone better arrives. But since there are 3 matches till now and the start of January transfer window, Brad Jones has 270 minutes to give his career at Anfield a pleasant U-turn.

#3 Will Raheem Sterling again start as a striker?

In that fateful day against Manchester United last weekend where Raheem Sterling missed open chances and inflicted misery on Liverpool boss, it was expected that the experiment of playing Raheem Sterling up-front will be short-lived.

But as it became evident against Bournemouth where Sterling managed a brace, Brendan Rodgers will be looking towards the 20 year old for more goals from now on.

And when a team like Arsenal will visit Anfield on Sunday whose defenders like to commit forward, Raheem Sterling can prove to be a potent weapon for Rodgers’ side. And if you keep in mind the way he run riot over Arsenal defense last season, Liverpool fans might urge Brendan Rodgers to start Raheem Sterling as a lone striker. And in addition to the form that Sterling showed against Arsenal in the past, the in-experienced defense of Arsenal can also encourage Brendan Rodgers to go with the 20 year old.

#4 Can Santi Cazorla continue his blistering form?

Even though eyes will be on Alexis Sanchez when he will feature on Sunday, it’ll be the Spaniard Santi Cazorla which will pose the main threat for Brendan Rodgers’ reds.

Being in the form of his life for Arsenal, Santi Cazorla has undergone a twist in fate this season for the gunners. After seeing a summer of speculations that linked him with a move away from the Emirates, the Spaniard has responded in perfect fashion this season.

After scoring in the 3-0 win over Manchester City in the community shield final in August, the Spaniard has never looked back in terms of form. Evading the injury monster that has engulfed the whole Arsenal squad, Santiago Cazorla has scored 3 goals in the last 3 matches for gunners.

And coming against a relatively naïve Liverpool midfield on Sunday with only Steven Gerrard proving otherwise, Cazorla can create havocs for Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure.

#5 Brendan Rodgers to continue with 3-4-3?

As Liverpool were short of creating chances before that match against Manchester United, Brendan Rodgers opted to go with a more fluid 3-4-3 with Raheem Sterling at its center. Even though Liverpool lost that match courtesy to some heroic performance by David De Gea, the reds weren’t short of creating chances as evident by the stats.

Fast forward three days and this time playing against a Championship side Bournemouth, Rodgers was brave to apply the same formation that leaked 3 goals in weekend. But as they say luck favors the brave, it was Rodgers turn to be lucky as Liverpool scored 3 goals for only the 3rd time this season.

Thus with Arsenal coming on the weekend and Mario Balotelli being banned with Daniel Sturridge still on the sidelines, Brendan Rodgers will have the backing of his supporters if he goes with 3-4-3.