Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with the two teams seeking to continue their perfect start to the season.
Read on as we look at five battles that could determine the outcome of the fixture.
Mohamed Salah vs Riccardo Calafiori
Salah has not started the season brilliantly, but has still recorded two goal involvements and has created three big chances – the most in the league.
He boasts 11 goals in 18 games against Arsenal – he has registered more against just five teams.
Calafiori has got the nod over youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back in Arsenal’s first two games and will be saddled with the responsibility of stopping Salah.
Viktor Gyokeres vs Virgil van Dijk
Gyokeres opened his goalscoring account with a brace against Leeds United last weekend and is now set to face Van Dijk.
The Dutch centre-back has started the campaign brilliantly despite the Reds’ defensive woes. He has made 15 clearances – the most in the division.
Gyokeres was subdued by Matthijs de Ligt against Manchester United and must avoid suffering the same fate when he faces his compatriot on Sunday.
Hugo Ekitike vs William Saliba
Ekitike has scored in every game for Liverpool this season but will now face a stern test when he comes up against Saliba.
Saliba’s solidity is one reason Arsenal have yet to concede this term, ranking first for clearances, second for interceptions and third for tackles per game in the Gunners’ squad.
He must ensure that Ekitike does not continue his brilliant goalscoring form.
Gabriel Martinelli vs Ibrahima Konate
Martinelli was dropped for the Leeds game but should return to the starting line-up for this clash. He has been a thorn in Liverpool’s side, scoring six goals in 12 games.
With Liverpool’s right-back likely to be positioned further up the pitch, Martinelli will come up against an out-of-form Konate, who has won just 15 percent of his duels.
Ryan Gravenberch vs Martin Odegaard
Gravenberch started his first game of the season against Newcastle United on Monday and scored. He is expected to be the deepest-lying midfielder and will be tasked with stopping Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain appeared to have picked up a shoulder injury against Leeds but has been named in the Norway squad for next month’s international games, suggesting he should be fit to start this clash.
Stats from transfermarkt.com, sofascore.com & fotmob.com.
