Arsenal guns for revenge
THE two remaining teams with 100 per cent Premier League records this season go head-to-head this weekend when Liverpool hosts a newlook Arsenal at Anfield.
Unai Emery’s Gunners have had wins at Newcastle United and at home to Burnley, but they do not need to look too far into their history to realise this will be a very different challenge.
Clearly, Sunday’s encounter (2.30am AEDT) will act as a barometer of the London club’s progress.
In December, amid talk of progress in Emery’s first season, Arsenal was crushed 5-1 at Anfield with Roberto Firmino helping himself to a hat-trick.
It was a display that emphasised how far it had fallen behind the title contenders and was the latest in a series of crushing losses at Liverpool.
The two previous meetings at Anfield ended in 4-0 and 3-1 defeats for Arsene Wenger’s teams, but there is a fresh optimism around the club after a successful transfer window.
Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos, on loan from Real Madrid, has made the biggest impression, but Brazilian defender David Luiz has also made a solid start.
A real buzz, though, surrounds winger Nicolas Pepe, who could provide ammunition for the strike pairing of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Pepe, signed from Lille for a club-record $129 million, has yet to start but showed flashes of his talent when subbed on in the 2-1 win over Burnley.
European champion Liverpool, however, has won a clubrecord equalling 11 straight Premier League games.
The weekend kicks off tomorrow (5am) with Aston Villa at home to Everton.
Manchester United will look to return to winning ways when Crystal Palace travels to Old Trafford (Sunday, midnight) in a match that will pit new United defender Aaron Wan Bissaka against the club he left in the close-season.
Manchester City faces a tricky trip to the Vitality Stadium to play Bournemouth on Sunday (11pm), while Spurs take on Newcastle (Monday, 1.30am), which has lost its opening two games under new manager Steve Bruce.