Liverpool vs Arsenal
Premier League // Sunday 2nd September, 1:30pm kick off // Anfield
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday with both sides looking for their first win of the new season.
Brendan Rodgers’ options in attack are limited following the failure to sign anybody on transfer deadline day so Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini – the only senior forwards left at the club – will start alongside youngster Raheem Sterling attack.
Sterling was impressive last week in the 2-2 draw with Man City where Liverpool should have beat the Champions but for Martin Skrtel’s mistake to let Carlos Tevez in on goal.
Midfielder Nuri Sahin is expected to make his Liverpool debut after joining on loan from Real Madrid. He will replace Lucas who faces up to three weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Daniel Agger returns to the side after a one match ban he served last week for his sending off in the defeat to West Brom on the opening day.
EA Sports Stats
• Liverpool came close to victory over reigning champions Manchester City after a very promising performance made up for their opening weekend defeat to West Brom
• New signing Joe Allen was prominent throughout, and covered the most ground among the Liverpool players with 6.78 miles
• That makes Allen’s performance the fifth highest distance covered by a player in an individual game so far this season
• Raheem Sterling also looked bright and was second only to Allen with 6.29 miles on the clock
• Luis Suarez was on the scoresheet for Liverpool and also registered the fastest top speed among the Liverpool side with 22.78 miles per hour
• Suarez has had 12 attempts at goal this season, more than any other player, but he has only got 5 of those on target
• Steven Gerrard is second in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses delivered with 11 so far this season
• Arsenal were held 0-0 by Stoke in their last game
• Santi Carzola again looked bright, attempting six shots at goal, the joint highest in the last round of game with North London rival Jermain Defoe
• Carzola has now had 9 shots at goal, but is yet the score, the most shots without reward in the league so far this season
• Carzola has also completed the third highest number of passes in his opponent’s half with 92, but is yet to register an assist
• Arsenal can consider themselves unlucky not to have scored so far this season, having four of the top five players for dribbles completed in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index (Gervinho – 7, Carzola – 6, Walcott – 5, Arteta – 4)
• Arsenal also have three players in the top five for forward passes this season (Mertesacker – 64, Arteta – 58, Vermaelen – 49) as fans must rue no longer having van Persie to get on the end of their impressive attacking play
Fan Comments