Jurgen Klopp’s squad is gearing up to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday, with a keen focus on solidifying their lead in the Premier League standings. A triumph in this clash would propel Liverpool eight points clear of rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, although the latter possesses two games in hand.
Liverpool’s recent form has been formidable, winning four consecutive Premier League matches since their 1-1 draw with Mikel Arteta’s team on December 23. Notable victories against Newcastle and Chelsea have marked their ascent. Darwin Nunez’s stellar performance has notably contributed to Liverpool’s recent success.
Despite a slow start after his £85 million transfer from Benfica in 2022, Nunez has become the first Premier League player this season to achieve double figures in both goals and assists across all competitions. In the recent 4-1 victory against Chelsea, Nunez reached a tally of 11 goals and 11 assists. Although he was initially seen leaving Anfield in a protective boot, his full participation in team training on Friday indicates his likely presence in the crucial clash against Arsenal.
However, Jurgen Klopp faces challenges as six key first-team players are still unavailable. Thiago Alcantara, Kostas Tsimkas, and Stefan Bajcetic are on the brink of returning from injuries but are not expected to feature. Wataru Endo, having exited the Asian Cup with Japan’s defeat, will return to Merseyside, but the Arsenal match comes too soon for his inclusion. Joel Matip (ACL) and Ben Doak (knee) remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
With Nunez overcoming the injury scare, Liverpool hopes he can extend his remarkable streak of scoring or assisting in five consecutive Premier League games, thereby bolstering their title aspirations and potentially disrupting Arsenal’s chances.