Preview: Liverpool vs Arsenal – stats, team news, line-ups

The City of Brotherly Love is set to witness a fierce Premier League battle this Thursday when Liverpool and Arsenal square off at Lincoln Financial Field.

The highly anticipated pre-season clash will be a taste of things to come as both teams gear up for the 2024/25 campaign.

Under the new leadership of Arne Slot, the Reds head into the match with a mixed pre-season record. The Gunners have also recorded a win and a draw in their two fixtures.

Both teams were locked in last season’s title race with Manchester City, but Liverpool’s quadruple dreams were dashed in a dramatic end-of-season slump.

Despite keeping up with Arsenal and Man City for much of the campaign, Jurgen Klopp’s troops managed just three wins in their final six games (D2, L1), which saw them fall by the wayside in the title race.

However, they managed to salvage some pride by ending the season with the Carabao Cup title in their coffers.

Now, under the fresh leadership of highly-rated Dutch mastermind Slot, the Reds are hungry to mount another title challenge this season.

Whether they challenge the established dominance of Man City and Arsenal remains to be seen, but they’ll be confident in their ability to at least keep pace with last season’s top two.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are back for another tilt at the title after finishing runners-up for a second consecutive year.

Despite a valiant effort in their final game against Everton, the Gunners ultimately fell short of Man City’s relentless pursuit of glory.

Determined to prevent a hat-trick of second-place finishes, manager Mikel Arteta has instilled a “win-all” mentality in his squad, urging them to seize every opportunity in the upcoming season.

His unwavering optimism has resonated with the fans, with tickets for Thursday’s clash against Liverpool and the rest of Arsenal’s fixtures for the season already flying off the shelves at seatsnet.com.

Although key players are still returning from various commitments, Arsenal are expected to field a strong squad as they aim to kick off the campaign with a statement win.

Match preview

The echoes of Klopp’s charismatic touch still reverberate at Anfield, but the reality of a post-Klopp era is gradually settling in for Liverpool.

The German’s shock announcement to step down last season sent shockwaves through the footballing world, with the Reds still in contention for an unprecedented quadruple.

While a League Cup triumph provided a fitting farewell for the iconic manager, the subsequent campaign fell short of expectations.

They were eliminated from the quarter-final of both the FA Cup and Europa League and finished nine points behind the champions in third place.

Now, under Slot’s stewardship, Liverpool are navigating the complexities of a new era. The Dutchman is renowned for his attacking philosophy but is already facing a baptism of fire as he prepares his side for the new season.

A shock defeat to Preston North End in a behind-closed-doors friendly served as a humbling experience despite fielding a strong line-up that included the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah.

However, the Reds responded with a 1-0 victory over La Liga side Real Betis thanks to Szoboszlai’s first-half strike. Their performance was marked by controlled possession and offered glimpses of the Slot era’s potential.

Liverpool remain the only team in the Premier League yet to make a first-team signing, forcing Slot to utilise the immensely talented pre-existing squad for pre-season.

Their third friendly pits them against familiar foes in Arsenal in a high-profile clash that could set the tone for the upcoming season.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a first Premier League title since the Invincibles era once again fell agonisingly short.

Arteta’s side pushed Pep Guardiola’s Man City to the wire for the second consecutive season, only to be pipped to the post.

A dramatic final day saw the Gunners secure a 2-1 victory over Everton, but it wasn’t enough as Man City comfortably dispatched West Ham United to clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League crown.

Arteta will be determined to break the Man City stranglehold on English football and guide Arsenal to glory in the upcoming campaign.

A gruelling pre-season schedule that saw the Gunners beat Bournemouth on penalties and historical rivals Manchester United suggests the Spaniard is leaving no stone unturned in his quest for silverware.

The Gunners drew 1-1 in their opening friendly against the Cherries, defeating them in a penalty shootout, before coming from behind to beat Man United 2-1 in their most recent outing.

The Gunners face a stern test against Liverpool in their next friendly before clashes with Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyon round off their pre-season preparations.

As the new season looms, Arsenal fans will be hoping their team can finally end their title drought and lift the coveted Premier League trophy.

Team news & potential line-ups

Liverpool and Arsenal are set to field heavily depleted sides when they clash, with both clubs suffering from a mass exodus of players due to international duty.

The Reds have been particularly hard hit, with as many as 14 players involved in either the 2024 European Championships or the Copa America.

The majority of these stars are yet to return to the fold after reaching the knockout rounds, leaving Slot with a skeletal squad.

Only Andrew Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Vitezslav Jaros have returned to the club following their countries’ early exits.

To compound Liverpool’s problems, Curtis Jones is sidelined with an injury sustained in the friendly against Betis, leaving Slot with limited options in midfield.

Wataru Endo, Tyler Morton, and Szoboszlai are the most likely candidates to fill the void.

Defensively, the situation is even more dire, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Sepp van den Berg, and Robertson the only available options.

Arsenal are also without several regular starters due to international tournaments. Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, David Raya, and William Saliba are all absent and will not play a part on the tour.

However, the Gunners have received a boost with the return of Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli, who have already featured in a victory over Man United.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri has continued to impress, earning a starting spot in both of Arsenal’s pre-season matches so far. The young midfielder will be looking to maintain his momentum against Liverpool.

With both teams facing significant squad challenges, the pre-season friendly promises to be an intriguing contest, providing opportunities for fringe players to stake their claim for a first-team spot.

Liverpool potential starting line-up:

(4-2-3-1): Caoimhin Kelleher; Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Sepp van den Berg, Andrew Robertson; Wataru Endo, Tyler Morton; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ben Doak; Harvey Elliott.

Arsenal potential starting line-up:

(4-3-3): Karl Hein; Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri; Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli.