Opinions, analysis and commentary
Arsenal arrive better prepared, though not by a landslide. They have won seven of their eight league games, sit second on 21 points, and carry far stronger underlying numbers than Liverpool, who are fourth on 15. Injuries to Bukayo Saka and William Saliba narrow the gap, and Arsenal’s last league win at Anfield dates back to September 2012. Matchday 9 kicks off at 4:30 pm GMT on Sunday 1 November, and the contest looks finely balanced, with both managers still waiting on fitness updates.
Iraola’s debut campaign in the league has brought solid results without much sparkle. Four wins, three draws, and one defeat add up to 15 points and fourth place. City visited on 11 October and won 3-0, the only loss so far, and the club’s form in front of its own supporters has been hard to trust. The record is respectable but rarely convincing.3
The draws came against Fulham (0-0), Forest (2-2) and Newcastle (2-2). Recovery has followed lately, with a 2-1 win at Brentford and a 2-0 victory over Brighton, which was their first league win at home all season. That sequence suggests a team finding its feet, even if the early stumbles still cost points that rivals have banked.
The reigning champions have taken seven wins from eight, with a single slip. On 19 September, Brighton beat them 3-0. They bounced back by overcoming Leeds 2-1, edging Forest by a single goal and then seeing off Everton 2-0, with Ezri Konsa and Gabriel on the scoresheet in that final game.
Twenty-one points put Arsenal second, alongside Manchester City, who lead on goal difference. Only a narrow margin separates the two sides at the top, and every dropped point from here would shift the race. The response to their one defeat tells you plenty about the character of this group.
The underlying data supports Arsenal’s record. Their expected goals read 12.53 created and 7.02 allowed, a net of +5.51, while Liverpool sit on 11.05 created and 9.59 allowed, a margin of only +1.46. Defence is where the visitors separate themselves, with five goals conceded and limited chances given away. That gap in quality is the clearest sign of better preparation.
Venue splits tell a similar story. Arsenal bring a haul of nine points across four road fixtures, whereas Liverpool picked up just two from their first three league matches at home. Those figures explain why the champions look more settled, even though history at this ground complicates any simple prediction. Liverpool must find a way to protect that fragile home record.
| Team | Played | W/D/L | Goals For | Goals Against | Expected Goals | Points |
| Arsenal | 8 | 7/0/1 | 13 | 5 | 12.53 | 21 |
| Liverpool | 8 | 4/3/1 | 11 | 8 | 11.05 | 15 |
Arsenal are missing Saka, who hurt his quad against Bayern Munich and has no return date, and Saliba, whose back problem should keep him out until at least December. Calafiori, Madueke and Rice are all doubtful, while Max Dowman is reportedly suspended following his Carabao Cup red card. Mikel Arteta described the Rice concern as something very small. Their depth will be tested at once.
Liverpool must cope without Jeremie Frimpong, whose hamstring injury will keep him sidelined until the international break has passed, so Ronald Araujo is covering at right-back in his absence. Doubts surround Victor Munoz and Dominik Szoboszlai, and Iraola admitted he was unsure about either. Both camps will wait on final fitness checks before naming a team.
The edge in form, goals against and expected-goals data belongs to Arsenal, but absentees close that gap. Liverpool’s home form has been patchy, yet Arsenal have gone without a league victory here since September 2012. That drought is a psychological factor worth weighing against the statistical advantage. The numbers lean one way while the venue leans the other.
Recent history is tight. Liverpool took a narrow home win last August, and the January 2026 fixture in London ended 0-0, so another cagey contest is likely. The Liverpool vs Arsenal Premier League 2026 preparation debate will hinge on team news, with both managers due to speak before kick-off.
Do you back Arsenal’s numbers to end the Anfield drought, or will the home crowd decide it? Let us know in the comments.
What time does Liverpool host Arsenal on Sunday?
Kick-off is at 4:30 pm GMT on Sunday 1 November 2026. The game is at Anfield, and the Emirates return leg is set for 6 February 2027, which completes the season series.
Will Bukayo Saka be fit for the trip to Anfield?
No, he is ruled out. Saka has a quad injury picked up against Bayern Munich, and the club has given no return date for the winger, which weakens their attack.
When did Arsenal last win a league game at Anfield?
It was in September 2012. Since then, their trips to Merseyside have produced a 2-2 draw in May 2025 and, three months later, a 1-0 defeat.
How did the last league meeting between these clubs end?
It finished goalless. The 0-0 draw was played in January 2026 at the Emirates Stadium, preceded by a narrow Liverpool victory at Anfield that previous August.
Where do the two clubs sit in the league table now?
Arsenal are second, and Liverpool are fourth. After eight games, the Gunners have 21 points, while the Reds have collected 15 so far this season.
cricket
football