Liverpool v Arsenal: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news

Andoni Iraola has been in charge at Liverpool since 1 July, and on Sunday he gets the sternest examination of his short reign. Arsenal arrive at Anfield level on 21 points with Manchester City, and they have won seven of their eight league games.

Iraola knows the opposition well. Liverpool's own website points out that he won three of his last four games against Arsenal while in charge of Bournemouth. He also faces his childhood friend Mikel Arteta.

Liverpool are fourth on 15 points and have lost only once. Whether they can live with the leaders over 90 minutes is the question.

Liverpool have 15 points from eight games (four wins, three draws, one defeat). The numbers split sharply by venue. They have won three and drawn one of four away games, scoring 1.8 goals per game. At Anfield they have one win, two draws and one defeat, with 4 goals scored and 5 conceded.

The defeat was a 3-0 loss to Manchester City on 11 October. They have since bounced back with a 2-0 win over Brighton on 25 October, and they won 6-5 on penalties against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek after a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal have 13 goals scored and only 5 conceded in eight league games, with five clean sheets. Their expected goals against over their last eight is 0.46 per game, the sort of figure that explains why they are so hard to break down.

They are also better at home than on the road. Arsenal have scored 9 goals in four home games but only 4 in four away, and have failed to score once, in a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on 19 September. Since then they have beaten Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Everton without conceding more than once. Arsenal won 1-0 at the City Ground on 18 October.

Iraola was careful to talk up the visitors at his Friday press conference. He said: "We know Arsenal, we know how good they are." He added that the work they had done at Bournemouth could not simply be copied, because Liverpool are "a totally different team".

Arteta gave an update on his own injury list.

Arsenal's last eight league games read seven wins and one defeat, with 13 goals for and 5 against. Liverpool's read four wins, three draws and one defeat, with 11 scored and 8 conceded. Arsenal have the better record, the better defence and more possession, averaging 61% against Liverpool's 53.3%. But Liverpool have drawn with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, both after scoring twice, and their shot volume (14.9 per game against Arsenal's 12.6) is actually higher. The surface form favours the visitors, the underlying attacking numbers are closer than the table suggests.

Arsenal are second on 21 points from eight games, level with leaders Manchester City and behind them only on goal difference (+8 against +11). Liverpool are fourth on 15 points from eight, six behind Arsenal and one point clear of fifth-placed Chelsea on 13 points... Brighton are third on 16.

A win would take Liverpool to within three points of Arsenal and put real pressure on the top two. A defeat would leave them nine adrift and let Chelsea close in on the Champions League places. Arsenal can move three clear of the champions-elect chasing pack if they win, or at least stay level with City if the leaders slip.

The last ten meetings (including one friendly) have produced five draws, three wins for the home side in each fixture and two for the away side, an average of 2.9 goals per game. Seven of the ten have seen both teams score (70%) and six have gone over 2.5 goals (60%). The most recent was a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on 8 January 2026. Before that, Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield on 31 August 2025.

The pattern has tightened recently. Of the last three Premier League meetings, two were drawn (2-2 twice, in October 2024 and May 2025) and one went 1-0 and the latest was goalless. The older goal-heavy reading from the H2H, with 70% BTTS, sits oddly against the current season, where both teams have gone Under 2.5 in most games. That suggests a low scoring game, with 1-1 the most natural correct-score lean.

The biggest gap is at the back. Arsenal's expected goals against is 0.46 per game over the last eight, compared with Liverpool's 1.25, and Arsenal have kept five clean sheets to Liverpool's four. If Liverpool concede first, they will struggle to find a way back against that defence.

The second gap is territorial. Arsenal average 61% possession and 5.75 corners per game against Liverpool's 53.3% and 4.75. Liverpool, though, have the edge in shots on target, 4.5 per game against 4. Iraola's side will rely on moving quickly into space rather than controlling the ball.

Both sides have used a 4-2-3-1 all season.

Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez, Van Dijk, Araujo, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Arsenal: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Eze, Odegaard, Havertz; Gyokeres

Liverpool v Arsenal kicks off at 16:30 GMT on Sunday 1 November at Anfield. The game is shown on Sky Sports where selected. The exact channel has not been confirmed, and this page will be updated closer to kick-off. Highlights will follow on Match of the Day.

The strongest angle is the low-scoring draw. Neither side has gone over 2.5 goals in more than one league game of eight this season, with six goals in seven league appearances, is the likeliest scorer on the pitch for Liverpool, and he carries the bet builder.