Summary
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Follow live as Arsenal host Liverpool in Premier League
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Gunners will go eight points clear at top of table with win
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Liverpool are currently fourth, nine points behind third-placed Aston Villa
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Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live 's Thursday Night Club at top of page
Send us your views
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KICK-OFF published at 20:00 GMT
Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool kick-off and away we go!
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Post published at 20:00 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
A hug between the two managers, huddles from both sides and we 're ready to go...
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'It 's a big opportunity ' published at 19:59 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, speaking on Sky Sports a little earlier: "It 's a big game, but every game is big in this league, and every game is tough. Thursday night under the lights at home, so I 'm looking forward to it.
On the chance to go eight points clear: "We have to focus on ourselves anyway, but we know what we 're playing for. It 's a big game, big opportunity. We 're ready."
On his form: "I feel very good now. I was struggling to find the rhythm at the beginning of the season with injuries, different things. I feel good now and happy to help the team win games."
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get involved Get Involved published at 19:58 GMT
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Liverpool nine unbeaten yet they are still in a terrible situation and still look at risk of taking a battering tonight, no Salah, Ekitike or Isak and a team struggling to create is a recipe for disaster against an Arsenal team with a defence like no other.
Jack, nervous Liverpool fan
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Post published at 19:57 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Andros Townsend
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source,
Getty Images
Because Man City have done it before, even if Arsenal win tonight and go eight points clear, it 's always going to be in the back of their mind mentally that this isn 't enough.
Mentally, it will be difficult to keep out Man City.
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Post published at 19:56 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
The players are lined up in the tunnel. Kick-off is not far away at all.
In fact, here they come...
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Fan display before kick-off published at 19:55 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates StadiumArsenal did a good job of hyping this match up with a pre-match video.
There 's due to be a fan display before kick-off to give the finishing touches to what is already a big game feel.
It 's such a big chance for Arsenal to take a big step in the title race.
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Your verdict - An Arsenal win all the way (well, almost) published at 19:54 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Chris Sutton
BBC Sport football expertBBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has gone for a comfortable Arsenal win tonight, and most of you appear to agree with him.
More than 30,000 of you have made your prediction so far, and 71% of you (more than 20,000) are backing the Gunners. The most popular scoreline is a 2-1 win for Arteta 's side (22%) followed by 2-0 (19%) and 3-1 (14%) home successes.
While 18% of you have gone for a draw, only 10% (around 3,000) reckon Liverpool will take all three points.
AI 's verdict is a 2-2 draw, by the way. Less than 2,000 of you have gone for that as the final outcome, making it the sixth-most popular result with the BBC readers.
Disagree?
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Four in a row for Saka? published at 19:51 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Image source,
Getty Images
Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last three Premier League home games against Liverpool.
In their league history, no Arsenal player has ever scored in four consecutive home games against the Reds before.
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'We have to focus on what we have to do ' published at 19:49 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking on Sky Sports about whether this is a big opportunity tonight: "Absolutely. For the opponent we are facing, for the stage of the season that we are in, as well as the opportunity to win three points."
On the opportunity after title rivals dropped points last night: "We can only focus on what we have to do. We know the consistency we need in this league and achieve what we want.
"When you come to your house against a big opponent, you have to make it count."
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Heavy rain in north London published at 19:47 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates StadiumThe rain is absolutely hammering down in north London.
The teams are out warming up and all of the TV crews are pitchside under umbrellas.
Arsenal assistant coach Gabriel Heinze is getting all of the defensive players into a huddle pre-game as he does before every match.
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Post published at 19:45 GMT
BBC Sounds
Here’s a reminder to all the Liverpool fans that the full series of Sporting Giants: Mo Salah is now available to listen — just search ‘Salah ’ on the BBC Sounds app.
His future might well still be up in the air but Arne Slot and Liverpool would love to have the Egyptian forward available to them tonight.
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get involved Get Involved - 'I fear for Liverpool tonight ' published at 19:42 GMT
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I fear for Slot and the Red Men tonight. Arsenal’s superiority in physicality, athleticism, desire, playing style and ability to create chances will be evident. It’s going to be a long evening and Arsenal scoring 4 or 5 is wholly possible. It’ll be Arsenal’s league to lose.
Ian, LFC fan - Reading
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'Hard to hear 'fans call us dull and boring - Slot published at 19:39 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Media caption, It is 'hard to hear 'fans calling Liverpool dull and boring - Slot
Perhaps part of the reason for the ongoing feeling of disappointment among Liverpool fans is the style of football in recent weeks.
Arne Slot clearly felt the need to sure things up after those heavy losses I just mentioned, results have picked up but the spark has not yet returned for the Reds.
It has all been a bit safety first.
When asked about his team being "dull and boring ", Slot replied: "I find it really hard to hear (those words) but it 's not that I completely disagree.
"I would use different words, take certain things into account.
"I want to win as many trophies as I can but I think I 'm also known for the fact that my teams always try to play attacking football and can only say that we are trying to do so."
He added: "We are struggling to create a lot of chances. But as I 've said many times, we are not the only team that struggles to create a lot of chances.
"I don 't think the number we create is that different to some other teams that are doing really well in the league."
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Post published at 19:36 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
There it is, then. A nine-match unbeaten run for Liverpool.
After shipping 10 goals in three games to lose heavily at Manchester City then at home to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, few would have expected that.
Yet they arrive at the Emirates with very little optimism.
Dropped points at home to Leeds and away at Fulham, courtesy of a 97th-minute screamer, meant they missed the chance to put real distance between themselves and the chasing pack in the Champions League race...
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Liverpool 's unbeaten run published at 19:34 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
- West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
- Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
- Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
- Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool
- Liverpool 2-0 Brighton
- Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool
- Liverpool 2-1 Wolves
- Liverpool 0-0 Leeds
- Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
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'Going to be a tough night for Liverpool ' published at 19:32 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Daniel Sturridge
Former Liverpool striker on Sky SportsLiverpool have to be ready mentally for the battle. It 's going to be a tough game for them tonight. Physically, all over the pitch, they 've got to impose their will on Arsenal, which is a difficult task for any team. And try and create chances as well. They 've been missing that cutting edge in front of goal.
It 's going to be a tough night. We know they 're not in their best moment in terms of performances and the standards they 've set over the six, seven seasons, particularly last season when they won the league, but in the end, these are the type of nights, as a top player, you want to perform in.
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Post published at 19:30 GMT
Revenge, Kieran?
Revenge for what? The game earlier in the season?
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get involved Get Involved - 'Tonight is a huge game ' published at 19:28 GMT
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Arsenal will get an early goal and go on to dominate. Tonight is a huge game and at full time the Emirates will roar. Revenge is sweet.
Kieran
Win this and I fully believe we will go on to win our first title in 22 years, but we still got to be cautious Liverpool are a good side that can 't be underestimated.
Simon
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'Should be comfortable for Arsenal ' published at 19:26 GMT
Arsenal v Liverpool (20:00 GMT)
Image source,
BBC Sport
Liverpool badly missed Hugo Ekitike in their draw against Fulham and put in another lacklustre display.
Arne Slot 's side are nine games unbeaten now, so their recent results have been all right on paper.
It 's their performances that are the problem, though. When you see them with your own eyes, they are miles off where they were when they won the title last season and are nowhere near where Arsenal are at now either.
When Liverpool beat them at Anfield in August, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was criticised for being too cautious, as he often is in big games like this.
It has to be different this time. This Liverpool team have been leaking goals all season, so Gunners fans are not going to accept Arteta sitting back.
I doubt Arteta will do it this time, because Arsenal are at home and Liverpool are there for the taking.
The Gunners should go for it, because they are on a different level to Liverpool and they may as well be in a different league.
No-one thinks Slot 's side are going to win the Premier League anymore, even though they are fourth, and they don 't look capable of flexing their muscles and going on a long winning run, either.
It should be pretty comfortable for the league leaders too.
Declan Rice is just majestic in the middle of the park, he is just phenomenal, and they have got lots of different ways of scoring goals.
Sutton 's prediction: 2-0
Match report to appear here.
Related topics
Premier League Scores &Fixtures
Premier League Table
- Arsenal , Position 1 , Points 48
- Liverpool , Position 4 , Points 34
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 14 | 26 | 48 |
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| 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 19 | 26 | 43 |
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| 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 43 |
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| 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 34 |
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| 21 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 7 | 33 |
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| 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 32 |
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| 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 32 |
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| 21 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 31 |
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| 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 31 |
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| 21 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 21 | 22 | -1 | 30 |
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| 21 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 29 |
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| 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 29 |
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| 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 28 |
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| 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 27 |
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| 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 40 | -6 | 26 |
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| 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 37 | -8 | 22 |
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| 21 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 21 |
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| 21 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 43 | -21 | 14 |
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| 21 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 13 |
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| 21 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 41 | -26 | 7 |
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Key
- Position 1, 2, 3, 4 : UEFA Champions League
- Position 5 : UEFA Europa League
- Position 18, 19, 20 : Relegation
Team Lineups
home team, Arsenal
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
Substitutes
home team, Arsenal
away team, Liverpool
Manager: Arne Slot
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
away team, Liverpool
Match Officials
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Video Assistant Referee:
- John Brooks
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Gary Beswick
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Adam Nunn
- Fourth Official:
- Simon Hooper
- Assistant VAR Official:
- Dan Robathan
Match Stats
Key, Arsenal v LiverpoolBasic Stats
Overall possession
Shots
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0Shots on target
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0Goalkeeper saves
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0Fouls committed
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0Corners
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0Season so far
Premier League
Goals scored
Arsenal 40 Liverpool 32Form guide
All competitions
Previous meetings
All competitions
Played 215
Previous scores
All competitions
- Skip to match facts
- Skip back to previous meetings
- Skip back to form guide
- Skip back to season so far
Premier League
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- Skip back to season so far
Match Facts
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Against no side have Arsenal lost more Premier League games than they have against Liverpool (26, level with Man Utd).
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Liverpool are looking to complete the Premier League double over Arsenal for the eighth time, and first since 2021-22. Their seven ‘doubles’ is already the most any side has against the Gunners in the competition.
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Arsenal have conceded in each of their last 20 Premier League games against Liverpool since a 0-0 draw in August 2015. Only against Man Utd (30 between 1953 and 1968) and Tottenham (24 between 1955 and 1967) have they had a longer run without a clean sheet in their league history.
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This will be the first ever Premier League game between Arsenal and Liverpool on a Thursday, with their last Thursday league meeting coming at Anfield in December 1947 (3-1 win for Arsenal). The Reds will be just the second team Arsenal have faced on all seven days of the week in the Premier League after Southampton.
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Arsenal have won their last seven home Premier League matches – only once under Mikel Arteta have they had a longer home league winning run, winning 10 consecutively between April and December 2022.
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Only Burnley’s Premier League matches this season have seen more goals in the 90th minute or later (10) than Liverpool’s (9 – 5 for, 4 against). Only in 2023-24 (13), 2008-09 (12), and 2010-11 (10) have the Reds seen more 90th minute goals for and against in a Premier League season.
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Arsenal have won their last two home Premier League matches against the reigning champions, beating Man City in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. They last did so in three consecutive league seasons between 1961-62 and 1963-64, when they beat Spurs, Ipswich and Everton.
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Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last three Premier League home games against Liverpool – in their league history, no Arsenal player has ever scored in four consecutive home games against the Reds before.
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Only Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more open play sequences ending in a shot in the Premier League this season (116) than Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai (103), while, per 90 minutes, of players to play 1,000+ minutes, only Jérémy Doku (7.2) and Fernandes again (7.1) have been involved in more than Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (6.4) in the competition this season.
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Cody Gakpo has scored three away league goals this season, all of which have come in his last four league appearances in London (goals at Chelsea, West Ham, and Fulham); he had only scored four goals in his first 18 Premier League games in the capital before this. Gakpo could become the second different Liverpool player to score in four different away matches in London in a Premier League season, after Mo Salah (twice – 2017-18 and 2020-21).
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