Arne Slot’s Liverpool have a chance to gain some ground on league leaders Arsenal on Thursday evening as they travel to the Emirates
Liverpool face a challenging task when they travel to the Emirates to face Premier League leaders Arsenal. Arne Slot’s side have drawn their last two top-flight fixtures.
The reigning champions entered this campaign expecting to challenge the Gunners for the crown, but their title defence hit a snag in late September. Liverpool have moved on slightly from a spell of consecutive losses but have failed to win their last two games.
As a result, they currently sit 14 points behind their opponents Arsenal, who have won their last five league matches and lead the challenging Manchester City and Aston Villa. The ECHO brings you all you need to know ahead of the Reds’ trip to north London, including how to watch, when the match begins and team news.
When is Arsenal vs Liverpool?
The high-stakes encounter between Arsenal and Liverpool kicks off at 8:00pm on Thursday, January 8. The match will be held at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool face Arsenal just four days after their latest league outing. The Reds were held to a 2-2 draw against Fulham last Sunday afternoon.
Despite goals from Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool were denied a win by a spectacular 97th-minute equaliser from Fulham’s Harrison Reed.
Arsenal, by contrast, come into this match in excellent form after a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday. This win allowed them to extend their lead at the top of the table over their title rivals.
What channel is Arsenal vs Liverpool on?
In the UK, you can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage typically starts an hour before kick-off at 7pm to provide expert analysis and the latest team updates.
For viewers with compatible 4K television sets, the game is also being broadcast on Sky Sports Ultra HDR. This offers the highest possible picture quality.
If you want to stream the game on a mobile device, tablet or laptop, you can do so via the Sky Go app. This service is included for all customers with a valid Sky Sports subscription.
Alternatively, fans without a long-term contract can stream the match using a NOW Sports Membership. This provides a flexible way to access all Sky Sports channels on most smart devices for a daily or monthly fee.
What’s the Arsenal vs Liverpool team news?
Liverpool boss Slot is managing a significant attacking shortage ahead of the crucial trip to north London on Thursday. With Alexander Isak sidelined by a broken leg and Mohamed Salah away on AFCON duty, the Reds are monitoring Hugo Ekitike’s issue closely.
Florian Wirtz is anticipated to start despite being withdrawn against Fulham. Cody Gakpo remains the primary candidate to lead the line if Ekitike is not cleared by the medical staff to start. The Frenchman missed their clash with Fulham.
Declan Rice proved his fitness by scoring two goals in Arsenal’s last match despite being sidelined for their previous clash and will be a vital presence in the Gunners’ midfield.
Arteta should have Kai Havertz available for selection after the forward was rested as a precaution over the weekend. However, the hosts are still missing Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, both of whom remain sidelined with ongoing muscle and ankle issues.
