Arsenal v Liverpool

**Raptor** · 4th April 2015

Arsenal

Liverpool

Raheem Sterling is Liverpool's joint-top scorer this season with 10 goals

Barclays Premier League

Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Saturday, 4 April

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal will assess forward Danny Welbeck, who has a slight knee problem.

Mikel Arteta, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and Abou Diaby won't play despite returning to training, but Jack Wilshere has not been ruled out.

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel begin three-game suspensions but Lucas is back following a thigh injury.

Daniel Sturridge should return from a hip injury and Raheem Sterling has recovered from a toe problem, but Adam Lallana is a doubt with a groin injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

Despite the feel-good factor around the Steven Gerrard versus Jamie Carragher charity match,* which saw Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres return to play at Anfield, it has not been the best couple of weeks at Liverpool.

As club bosses consider the messages being sent by Raheem Sterling in this week's interview with the BBC's Natalie Pirks, the damage done in the defeat by Manchester United is still being keenly felt.

The loss of three points to a rival was bad enough, but the loss at Anfield also leaves them without suspended duo Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard - and possibly without Adam Lallana through injury.

That's a body blow for a team with a five-point gap to make up in only eight games. If Liverpool were to lose at Arsenal it might put a top-four place out of their reach.

Arsenal are flying at the moment with 14 wins from their last 16 games, including nine victories in 10 league matches.

Arsene Wenger's side are certainly looking at the possibility of overhauling Manchester City to take second place and, on current form, will fancy their chances of upsetting champions-elect Chelsea when they face them at the Emirates at the end of the month.

Lawro's prediction
"After their defeat to Manchester United last time out, this is a game that Liverpool cannot afford to lose if they are going to finish in the top four."
Predictions: Lawro v Phil 'The Power' Taylor

Liverpool's own form had been excellent until that Manchester United defeat. Their tendency for appalling days at the back seems to have been dealt with, and United are the only English side to have beaten them over 90 minutes since November.

Nevertheless, you suspect that - barring a Monaco-esque aberration from Arsenal - Brendan Rodgers' side will have to play well to draw - and that may not be enough.

If so, then the FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn on Wednesday will become even more important to Liverpool - and to trophy-hunting Sterling.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Arsenal have only lost one of their last seven league and cup games against Liverpool (W4, D2) - with that defeat a 5-1 thrashing at Anfield in February 2014.
The Reds have won just one of their last 18 matches away to the Gunners in all competitions (D7, L10). Their solitary victory in that sequence was by 2-0 at the Emirates in August 2011.
This game has produced five Premier League hat-tricks - more than any other fixture.

Arsenal

The Gunners have only won one of their last 11 home league games against sides in the current top five (Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool), drawing seven of those matches and losing three.
Arsene Wenger's side have won 14 of 16 games since New Year's Day, including nine wins from 10 league matches.
They have won eight consecutive home league games. It is their longest winning streak since moving to the Emirates and their best overall since a 13-match run in 2005.
Arsenal have scored in all 22 of their league and cup games at the Emirates this season.

Liverpool

Liverpool can set a club record by keeping a clean sheet in a seventh consecutive top-flight away match. Their current six-match streak equals sequences recorded in 1966 and 1972.
The Reds have claimed 26 Premier League points in 2015 - only Arsenal, with 27, have a better record.
Defeat to Manchester United was their first loss in 14 league games (W10, D3).