MX23RW : Monday, December 23 00:35:02| >> :60:2218:2218:
[monks data]
Attendance: 59,993
Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 11
Nov 3, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

1-1

Lacazette (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Milner (61')

Combined XI: Arsenal vs. Liverpool

Sports Mole selects its combined XI from the Arsenal and Liverpool squads ahead of Saturday's top-four showdown between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium.

Two of the top four go head to head on Saturday evening when Arsenal welcome unbeaten Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium.

The match will pit two impressive records against each other as Arsenal look to extend a run of 13 games without defeat - including 12 wins - while Liverpool bid to make it 11 games unbeaten at the start of a Premier League campaign for only the second time.

Jurgen Klopp's side go into the weekend sitting level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table, whereas Arsenal are two places and four points further back.

Here, Sports Mole selects a combined XI from both squads, only using players who are available this weekend.



Combined XI: ARS vs. LIV

Liverpool dominate the combined XI for this match, particularly in defence where the back five all come from Klopp's side - starting with goalkeeper Alisson Becker chosen ahead of both Bernd Leno and Petr Cech.

With Arsenal suffering a defensive injury crisis ahead of the match, including doubts over Hector Bellerin, the main dilemma is whether to choose Joe Gomez as a right-back or a centre-back, but Klopp has preferred the youngster out wide recently with Dejan Lovren therefore selected ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The rest of the back four is more straightforward, though, with Virgil van Dijk continuing to have an immeasurable impact on the Liverpool defence and Andrew Robertson establishing himself as one of the best left-backs in the division, despite being rested against Cardiff City last weekend.

Rumoured Liverpool target Aaron Ramsey might usually challenge for a place in the team, but he has been out of favour under Unai Emery in recent weeks. Georginio Wijnaldum is also unfortunate to miss out as Mesut Ozil narrowly earns a place ahead of the Dutchman as Arsenal's first representative in the team.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is expected to return from a hamstring problem this weekend and so takes his place in the team alongside James Milner, who is also expected to be brought back into the Liverpool XI after being rested against Cardiff.

It could quite easily be an all-Liverpool front three too, but Sadio Mane is the unfortunate one to miss out despite scoring twice last time out. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gets the nod on that left wing having scored five goals in his last three league games and a joint-league leading seven this season.

Roberto Firmino has not been in the goals as much as Mane and Mohamed Salah - or indeed Alexandre Lacazette - but his importance to the Liverpool team cannot be overstated, and his recent performances have been instrumental in helping Salah to get back on the goal trail with four in his last three.

ID:340255: cacheID:340255:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4926:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in action during the Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on August 25, 2018
Read Next:
How Liverpool could line up against Arsenal
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!