The last time Liverpool lined up against Arsenal, which doubled up as the first time Jurgen Klopp was Arsene Wenger’s opponent as Reds boss, Joe Allen ousted Petr Cech at his near post in the final attack of the game to earn a 3-3 draw.
That decisive goal, fired in as snow fell at Anfield, delivered on the German’s demand for his side ‘to decide when a game is over.’ Now, seven months later, the Merseysiders will look to execute more of his instructions at the Emirates.
Klopp taunts 'long ball' Arsenal
Liverpool head into Sunday’s encounter - the pick of the Premier League’s opening weekend fixtures - in aggressively sharp shape after an intensive pre-season. The players who were not involved in tournament duty this summer reported to Melwood on July 2, with the club having engaged in four matches before Arsenal tackled their first friendly.
They have been incredibly well drilled, and have designs on being completely dominant.
Last time out, Wenger admitted Klopp’s side had the Gunners “on the back foot,” and Liverpool will target a similarly rapid start in their first game of 2016-17.
Adam Lallana has revealed the directive is unambiguous: “The manager has made it very clear that he doesn’t want us to be passive.” Expect Liverpool to probe, press, pounce, pull apart and power forward at every opportunity.
Arsenal know they will come up against such pressure just as they did in the January meeting between the sides, when the long ball was used to negate the Reds’ harrying.
At Anfield, their most frequent passing combination was Cech to Olivier Giroud; a tactic in contrast to their usual keep-ball method, but one which nearly secured maximum points for the Gunners. The French striker is not fit for Sunday’s game though, and Wenger will be averse to using such an approach at home.
A makeshift Arsenal backline is thus predicted to look to construct from the back, which is exactly what Liverpool - the highest scoring team in the league for 2016 - will want to exploit by looting possession and speedily transitioning into attack through the likes of Sadio Mane.
Historically, the Reds have struggled away to Arsenal, with their only victory in their last 20 visits in all competitions registered in August 2011.
But more recently, Wenger’s side have proved to be really slow starters and given their lighter pre-season plus their defensive woes, Liverpool should be confident of reversing the above trend.
Arsenal have lost two of their last three home games on the opening weekend of the season and Klopp’s men will feel primed to make that three out of four by Sunday evening.
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