This coming Monday, Liverpool travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal, in what will be the first major test of Brendan Rodgers’ new-look side. After back-to-back wins over Stoke City and Bournemouth, the Reds will be desperate to prove our top four credentials by springing a surprise in North London.
Brendan Rodgers will have plenty to think about in the build up to the game – predominately whether to stick with both the formation and the personnel that have inspired our 100% start to the season.
Emre Can and Roberto Firmino, who both came on in our first two matches, will be hoping to make their first starts of the campaign – while the current injury concerns over Jordan Henderson could also cause some changes.
SEE MORE:
Liverpool may not risk Jordan Henderson for Arsenal clash
Ranking all Liverpool’s Spaniards from 18-1 – Morientes 9th, Riera 6th
Asier Illarramendi scout report: Liverpool target’s strengths, weaknesses, stats, & more
Here’s how we expect Liverpool to start this evening…
GK) Simon Mignolet
Has rarely been troubled during our first two matches of the season. He’ll be expecting a much tougher test this time out, having conceded four at the Emirates last season, but will be quietly confident of maintaining his record.
RB) Nathaniel Clyne
The full-back has been one of our stand-out players so far this season. He’ll be given a stern test defensively in this one but he’ll also be relishing the opportunity to get forward and get at Nacho Monreal down the Arsenal left.
LB) Joe Gomez
It’s been a baptism of fire for our teenage prodigy. However, he’s stood up well to the tests that have come his way so far and he impressed during both of our first two games. This will be a chance to show the world his quality.
CB) Martin Skrtel
Skrtel has been on the scoresheet a couple of times against Arsenal over the last two years and would no doubt love to be there again. But it’s his defensive duties that will be at the forefront of his mind as he tackles the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.
CB) Dejan Lovren
The Croatian has done well over the course of the first two games and it seems highly unlikely that he would lose his place for this one, even against such formidable opposition. This will be a real test of how far he’s come over the summer months and it’s important that he performs and keep his confidence high.
DMC) Lucas
We need defensive enforcements in central midfield, and Lucas will provide that. He’s not being loaned to Turkey, and can prove to Rodgers, in Henderson’s likely absence, that he’s a top backup option.
CM) Emre Can
We expect the German will come in as part of a like-for-like switch for captain Jordan Henderson, who is unlikely to start this evening following his injury issues against Bournemouth. He’ll be the deepest lying member of our midfielder but will hope that he can still get forward on occasion as well.
CM) James Milner
Milner will take the armband due to Henderson’s absence. It’ll be an important game for the former Manchester City man, in which he must prove his true value as a central midfield player, as he battles against the wealth of Arsenal’s talent in the centre of the park.
LAM) Philippe Coutinho
The mercurial Brazilian has already scored one stunner this season, against Stoke, and should really have added to that tally against Bournemouth last week. But as someone who seemingly lives for the big games, this should be another match that suits the little wizard down to the ground.
RAM) Roberto Firmino
With Jordon Ibe and Adam Lallana so far disappointing, the Brazilian could well get his first start since his £29m transfer. There can’t be many tougher places to come, but he’s got the talent to show exactly why we brought him to the club this evening.
ST) Christian Benteke
The Reds will be relying on Benteke to be our outlet in a game where we’re going to see considerably less of the ball that we did during our first two matches. He’ll need to be at his best to ensure that he holds the ball up well and brings his teammates into the match as much as possible and take any chances that come his way.
