Under the bright lights of the Emirates Stadium, a Thursday night heavyweight clash beckons. The air in North London is crisp, but the atmosphere is reaching a boiling point as Arne Slot’s Liverpool prepare to face a high-flying Arsenal side that currently sits 14 points clear of the reigning champions.
For Slot, this isn’t just another fixture; it’s a test of resolve for a squad stretched thin by the mid-winter grind.
The Striker Dilemma: Gakpo Steps Up
The biggest storyline heading into tonight is the “No. 9” vacancy. With Mohamed Salah away at AFCON and Alexander Isak sidelined with a long-term injury, all eyes were on Hugo Ekitike. However, the Frenchman remains a major doubt after failing to train on Wednesday due to a hamstring tweak.
Enter Cody Gakpo. The versatile Dutchman, fresh off a goal against Fulham, is set to lead the line once more. “I can do whatever the team asks me to do,” Gakpo told club media, and tonight, he’ll need to be at his clinical best against the formidable Saliba-Gabriel partnership.
Midfield Chess: Jones Gets the Nod
In a move to inject fresh energy into the engine room, Curtis Jones is tipped to return to the starting XI. While Alexis Mac Allister remains a vital cog, Slot is looking for the ball-carrying tenacity and defensive work rate that Jones provides in high-stakes away games. Alongside him, Ryan Gravenberch—the breakout star of the season—will look to dictate the tempo.
Defensive Stability
At the back, Conor Bradley continues his audition at right-back, likely tasked with the unenviable job of shackling Bukayo Saka. Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez and Andrew Robertson are battling for the left-back spot, with the veteran Robertson’s experience potentially winning out for such a high-pressure environment.
Liverpool’s Possible XI (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player |
|—|—|
| Goalkeeper | Alisson Becker |
| Defenders | Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk (C), Robertson |
| Midfielders | Gravenberch, Jones |
| Attacking Mids | Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz |
| Forward | Cody Gakpo |
The Stakes
Arsenal are the “runaway leaders,” as Slot himself admitted, but Liverpool have a psychological edge, having won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier this season. A win tonight wouldn’t just be three points; it would be a statement that the champions are not ready to pass the torch just yet.
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