Arsenal host Liverpool in a mouth-watering fixture on Saturday evening. Liverpool are yet to face defeat in the Premier League this season and Arsenal are on a rampage after an initial stutter.
The impressive run of form for both of these teams can be attributed to tactical and individual brilliance. We take a look at the individuals who made it happen and pick out a combined XI for the big game – and there’s an appearance for a player (or two in the case of Mesut Ozil) who has often been a scapegoat at the Emirates.
GK: Alisson Becker
Liverpool have conceded just four goals this season and have kept six clean sheets in the process. The bearded Brazilian between the sticks deserves a lot of credit for this. Alisson does play behind a sturdy defence line, but with 19 saves in the league, he has ensured that the rare breaches in Liverpool’s defence have been futile.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold has been in splendid form for Liverpool this season after an impressive World Cup campaign with the England. Although the 20-year-old has just one assist to his name in the league so far, he’s been solid defensively and makes the line-up ahead of Hector Bellerin. For all his attacking flair, Bellerin needs to work on his positioning in defence.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
The Dutchman has been the Reds’ ‘captain without the armband’. Van Dijk has marshalled his defence in every game of the season so far and the 27-year-old can even make a strong case for being the best defender in the league. Van Dijk’s inclusion in this line-up should cause very little debate.
CB: Joe Gomez
The Gunners haven’t been convincing at the back this season. Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi have been error-prone and Sokratis’ consistency can be questioned when put into perspective with Joe Gomez’s. Gomez has formed a robust pairing with Van Djik at the heart of defence and the Englishman’s performances also earned him two caps with the national team in the Nations League.
LB: Andrew Robertson
Andrew Robertson.
Robertson completes a Liverpool backline in our combined XI and does so without raising many questions. The left-back has provided four assists, which when allied with his five clean sheets has made the Scot a hugely important Fantasy Premier League asset as well. Nacho Monreal could have made a case for himself without his injury, but the Spaniard’s involvement in Saturday’s game is unlikely.
CDM: Lucas Torreira
Torreira has been a revelation for Arsenal. The Uruguayan has proved to be one of the best buys in the Premier League. The 22-year-old provides a good screen to Arsenal’s defence and has been instrumental in breaking down attacks.
CDM: Granit Xhaka
New season, new Xhaka? The Swiss international has fit in well in Unai Emery’s system. With Torreira alongside him in a double-pivot, Xhaka is no longer isolated and the two bring a lot of stability in midfield. The 26-year-old has scored two goals in the league, including a sensational free-kick against Crystal Palace last week. He just about beats out Gini Wijnaldum here.
LAM: Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane.
Contrary to popular expectations, Mane and not Salah has been Liverpool’s best player in attack. The Senegal international has six goals to his name in nine games and can be lethal on his day. Mane will be a thorn in Arsenal’s troubled defence on Saturday and can potentially be the most decisive player on this list.
CAM: Mesut Ozil
Ozil has been Arsenal’s key player for the past few seasons and this season isn’t any different. The 30-year-old has scored three times this season and provided a single assist. But his influence on the game transcends the statistics as he remains the most creative option on the pitch.
RAM: Mohamed Salah
Last season’s player of the year has failed to continue from where he left off last season. But after a slow start, Salah has managed to get his season back on track with five goals and three assists in ten games. The Egyptian has been popping up in the right places but has suffered from being wasteful in possession. However, he can be a menace to Arsenal’s fragile defence as he looks to peak at the right moment.
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Gabon international can operate both as a wide midfielder on the left and as a pure number nine. Aubameyang has scored seven goals this season, including two goals as a substitute against Fulham. The 29-year-old has scored seven goals at an xG (Expected Goals) of 3.95, making him a very clinical striker, someone who can latch onto half-chances.
