The Citizen (Gauteng)

Liverpool to test Arsenal’s mettle

IN-FORM TEAMS CLASH SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE AS

-

London

Unai Emery’s Arsenal have come a long way since losing their first two Premier League games of the season and they face a major test of their credential­s with the visit of unbeaten Liverpool tomorrow.

Juergen Klopp’s side, second in the league on goal difference behind Manchester City, have only dropped points against the champions and Chelsea in their opening 10 matches as they bid for a first top-flight title since 1990.

Those same sides inflicted defeats on Arsenal in Emery’s first matches in charge after taking over from long-standing French coach Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners quickly adapted to the Spaniard’s methods, however, winning 11 games in a row in all competitio­ns in a run only halted by a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Yet Liverpool boast a prolific strike force with Mohamed Salah back among the goals and Emery will hope key defender Hector Bellerin can recover from a muscular problem.

The Vitality Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Eddie Howe’s Bournemout­h as they are unbeaten at home this season and have moved into sixth place in the table.

Their last defeat there was in April against tomorrow’s opponents Manchester United, which featured a goal from Romelu Lukaku who will be looking to end his current drought of nine matches in all competitio­ns without scoring.

United are languishin­g in eighth place after a poor start to the season but they did secure a morale-boosting victory on Sunday over Everton, who will look to bounce back at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Marco Silva’s side will have to find a way to stop in-form striker Glenn Murray who has scored six of Brighton’s 11 goals this campaign, helping them to 11th in the standings, one point behind Everton.

Sandwiched between those two are Wolverhamp­ton Wanderers who have slipped to two successive defeats after impressing early on. They welcome Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.

West Ham, who lost 3-1 at home to Spurs in the League Cup on Wednesday, face Burnley with both sides locked on eight points from 10 games and looking for a first win in four.

That is a better situation than second-bottom Newcastle United who have not won this season and host a Watford side they have failed to beat in their last four league meetings.

Leicester City travel to Cardiff City tomorrow having decided to go ahead with the match following the death of popular chairman Vichai Srivaddhan­aprabha and four others in a helicopter crash last weekend.

Manchester City host Southampto­n on Sunday and Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge. –

 ?? Picture: Getty Images ?? UNAI EMERY
Picture: Getty Images UNAI EMERY

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa