EPL 2017-18 : Liverpool vs Arsenal - 3 Key Battles that could determine the course of the game

When Liverpool and Arsenal lock horns, an old rivalry that dates over a century will be rekindled. The two sides spent considerable time as the power houses in England before having to vacate their respective seats at the top of the hierarchy and are now involved in a struggle to become the elite club in England yet again.

If recent matches are anything to go by (40 goals in the last 10 games between the two sides), it is going to be an explosive game laden with goals and with emotions running high in Anfield on the back of their emphatic qualification to the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal have a tough task on their hand if they are to take anything from this encounter.

The Gunners come into the game on the back of a demoralising defeat at Stoke City and will be keen to put the defeat behind them with a victory at the home of one of their greatest rivals of all times.

While the situation seems grim for the club, Le Professuer Arsene Wenger has been in this kind of situations many times before and has proven that he can turn the season around in a matter of games. He will be keen to get a win against Jurgen Klopp as has lost 2 of his 3 games against the German.

However, every encounter is made up of numerous mini-battles that must be won so as to ensure a victory for the team and in this segment, we take a look at the 3 of the most critical battles from the game to come on Sunday.

Roberto Firmino vs Laurent Koscielny

Roberto Firmino has been in scintillating form thus far for the Reds.

While the news surrounding Liverpool has largely focussed on the future of the Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho, another Brazilian has begun the season in scintillating form.

Roberto Firmino comes into the game against Arsenal on the back of an impressive outing against his former club Hoffenheim in the UEFA Champions League qualifier where the attacker was extensively involved in all the 4 goals scored by the Reds, and will be keen to put the Arsenal defence to sword on Sunday.

If his past performances are anything to go by, the Brazilian has already taken a liking for the Arsenal defence in the short time he has spent in England. After all, in the 4 league matches that he has been involved in against Arsene Wenger’s men since arriving at Merseyside in 2015, Firmino has scored 3 goals and assisted another to make him a definite topic of extensive discussion in the Arsenal dressing room.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will be hoping that their captain and leader of defence Laurent Koscielny will be able to put in a disciplined performance to keep the marauding attacker at bay.

Koscielny is no stranger to going up against the best in the business and coming out on top of them and should he keep Firmino silent, it could lay the foundations for an Arsenal win. The Frenchman excels in aerial duels while also imposing himself on the ground with his leadership and vision and will be hoping to come good after a rather troubled last 12 months which saw him miss several games owing to injury.

Firmino has taken the initiative to create opportunities for the Reds on himself this season and keeping him silent could help the Gunners keep the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamad Salah restricted and if there is one man who could be trusted with the role it has to be Koscielny.

However, it is not going to be easy as the Brazilian has shown that he does not need too much time and space on the ball to turn the game into his side’s favour and with him often dropping deep to create space for himself to operate into, Koscielny has a battle on his hands and will need to bring his A game to the table.

Mesut Ozil vs Jordan Henderson

Ozil can silence Gerrard with a good performance against the Reds.

While the German has put in rather subdued performances thus far, bordering on the prospect of being invisible for large durations of Arsenal’s matches, this is perhaps the right game to make amends for his failures. It is time the German silenced his critics which include former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard who claimed Ozil is a liability away from home when his side does not have possession of the sphere. Yes, there have been claims that Ozil does not do enough to win back possession in the past as well but the creativity he brings to the table far overshadows any of his deficiencies.

Ozil has been Arsenal’s leading creator in chief this season having created a goal scoring opportunity every 18 minutes he spent on the pitch and is perhaps one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League at the moment and Jurgen Klopp will be aware of how deadly he can prove to be if he is handed a free reign.

However, knowing that will not solve Klopp’s troubles as the lack of a proven destroyer is already being touted to be a critical deficiency in this Liverpool side and he simply does not have a midfield that can keep Ozil at bay. He is expected to hand club captain Jordan Henderson another start in a deeper position, a position which many believe is not the right position for him. While industrious, Henderson has a habit of venturing out of his position and that might present Ozil with the opportunity to operate behind in a space in between the side’s midfield and defence, a position from which he has proven to be deadly in the past.

Henderson will need to be smart on the evening as he has to curtail his normal instincts of a central midfielder and look to hold his position deep in midfield while also providing the required attacking support from deep.

This is perhaps the battle to watch in the game. The deficient yet industrious Henderson takes on the magical Ozil and we believe it is this mini-battle that will largely determine the course of this game.

Alexis Sanchez vs Dejan Lovren

The returning Alexis Sanchez is expected to be the biggest threat to the susceptible Liverpool defence

After weeks of speculation regarding his future at the Emirates, Alexis Sanchez is finally expected to make his first appearance for the Gunners in the current season and it comes at the perfect time as Arsenal travel to the Anfield.

With less than 12 months left for his current contract to expire, his future will invariably be the point of discussion but the former Barcelona man knows he has to put his best foot forward so as to ensure that he remains in as much demand as he does at the moment to secure a move of his choice.

The Chilean was Arsenal’s greatest attacking threat last season having been directly involved in 40 goals last season with 27 goals and 13 assists and will definitely bring the much-needed bite to Arsenal’s attack.

Sanchez is no stranger to splitting open even the toughest of defences with his mazy runs and intricate passing ability and will be keen to prove to the footballing world that he remains the man to watch at Arsenal against a rather susceptible Liverpool defence.

Surprisingly, the often marauding attacker has been kept silent by the Reds as he has scored just a solitary goal against them in 5 league gamessince arriving in 2014 and it would be fair to say that the hungry Chilean will be keen to buck the trend in the game to come.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have begun the season on a very poor note defensively with the side largely having their attack for their victories thus far and Dejan Lovren has been the culprit on more than one occasion.

The erratic Croatian who seems to have developed a habit of venturing out of his position and gifting the ball away easily will be the key to Arsenal breaking the Liverpool set up and the intelligent Sanchez would be keen on utilising any opportunities that come his way.

The Croatian gifted Hoffenheim a way into the match in his side’s last game and should he fail to curtail his mistakes, Alexis Sanchez will be more than happy to knock the ball into the back of the net.

When Arsenal lock horns with Liverpool tempers will flair and reputations will be put to test. It is guaranteed to be an exciting fixture but who will come out on top?

Will it be Jurgen Klopp’s enthralling yet defensively inefficient Liverpool or Arsene Wenger’s measured yet subdued Arsenal? We will have to wait and watch.