Things could hardly feel more different ahead of Thursday’s reverse fixture against Arsenal than they did back in August.
In that game, Liverpool secured a 1–0 win thanks to a late Dominik Szoboszlai free kick—still a contender for goal of the season—and the tight contest hinted at a proper title race between the reigning title holders and the perennial runners-up.
Now, the Gunners finally appear on the brink of their first Premier League title since 2003, having pulled clear of the rest of the league through quality and consistency—six points ahead of second-place Manchester City and a remarkable 14 points clear of fourth-place Liverpool.
In fact, Thursday's match carries an eerie familiarity to last season, when Liverpool sat comfortably atop the table ahead of a clash with City at the Etihad, and the Reds’ 2–0 victory felt like a true passing of the baton from champion to challenger. Can Arne Slot’s men delay that same sense of turnover for Arsenal?
Beyond pride, Liverpool also still have plenty at stake, as a positive result would extend their unbeaten run to ten matches while strengthening their grip on a place in next season’s Champions League.
So, which XI will Arne Slot deploy in a match that all eyes will be fixed on?
Starting XI:
Alisson Becker- Still the clear choice at keeper, but he needs to be a bit more careful. His distribution and eagerness to come off his line have nearly cost the Reds in recent matches, and Arsenal’s clinical edge could punish any major mistake.
Virgil van Dijk- Far from his best against Fulham, but given the lack of depth at the position and his leadership as captain, he remains an obvious choice to start.
Ibrahima Konaté- I came close to giving Joe Gomez the nod, but since this is a predicted XI rather than my preferred selection, it would still be a surprise not to see the Frenchman start after partnering with Virgil for the vast majority of the season. There's no doubt Arsenal have identified him as the weakest link and will target him accordingly, meaning a top-level performance will be required if Liverpool are to come away with a win.
Andrew Robertson- Milos Kerkez was one of Liverpool’s brighter performers on Sunday and might have earned another start against most opponents, but with a frenzied atmosphere expected in the English capital, Slot may very well lean on Robertson’s veteran presence. The Scotsman struggled on this ground last season—turned inside out before Bukayo Saka’s goal—so he will need to be sharp on Thursday.
Jeremie Frimpong- Liverpool’s new full-back has been in outstanding form over his last four appearances. A deflected delivery in a cameo against Spurs led to a goal, he claimed an assist versus Wolves, looked like Liverpool’s most dangerous player before Rio Ngumoha’s introduction against Leeds, and provided what should have been the match-winning assist at Fulham. More than deserving of a start as his injury seems to have healed.
Ryan Gravenberch- Arsenal trail only Manchester City in goals scored this season, with 40, making Gravenberch’s defensive qualities an obvious reason to start him against the Gunners. Their midfield boasts immense talent, especially with Declan Rice playing some of the best football of his career, so he’ll need to be at his most alert.
Curtis Jones- A close call over Alexis Mac Allister, but given Macca’s dip in form and lack of physicality so far this season, the Scouser gets the selection. He’ll need to string together quality pass after quality pass after failing to do so at any real volume against the Cottagers.
Florian Wirtz- After four straight games on the left wing, it feels like the right time for Wirtz to return to his natural attacking midfield role. Hopefully, a positional shuffle won’t disrupt his current run of form with two goals across his last three games, but given the versatility he’s shown this season, he seems ready to go wherever he’s deployed.
Cody Gakpo- Cody’s display against Fulham should earn him a spot in the team at the Emirates. He met the challenge of playing center forward last time out with aplomb, and although his tap-in for what should have been the match-winner required little skill, he looked dynamic and dangerous throughout. Hopefully, that performance will inspire another classy shift back in his preferred left-wing spot.
Dominik Szoboslai- Liverpool’s do-it-all man should be set to feature on the right with Mohamed Salah still away on AFCON duty. He’s been a bit subdued since his crucial winning penalty at Inter Milan, but given his aforementioned strike against Arsenal earlier this season, there’s hope he can turn it up again versus a team he’s already made an impact against.
Hugo Ekiteke- His return couldn’t have come at a better time. A mild hamstring injury kept him sidelined at Craven Cottage, but he should be ready for this crucial clash. He wasn’t heavily involved in the fixture at Anfield, but that was largely due to a lack of service. Over the season, his on-ball skills have evolved to a sublime level, and they could prove key if Liverpool are to unlock this stout Arsenal defense.