Arsenal vs Liverpool: Where the match will be won and lost

Tony Mogan3 November 2018

Not many Premier League fixtures have the promise of goals quite like Arsenal vs Liverpool.

Over the years, it has so often survived becoming a victim of its own hype, with 27 goals scored in the last five meetings, offering a promising average of 5.4 goals every time these two come together.

One-sided thrashings and chaotic, goal-laden draws have been regular occurrences over the years, with both sides living with a reputation of being defensively suspect in recent years.

That is changing, however. Liverpool have improved immensely at the back over the last 10 months while Arsenal are beginning to look a more formidable unit under the guidance of Unai Emery.

But with the attacking talent available, there is reason to be optimistic if you are a neutral tuning in on Saturday evening.

Looking back at how these two have started the season, Standard Sport analyses where this match will be won and lost.

Arsenal face difficult task in breaching Liverpool early on

The Gunners have been slow starters of sorts this season. Despite their hugely impressive run of form they have not held a half-time lead in the Premier League under Emery.

They have still managed to score six of their 24 goals in the opening 45, but on Saturday they come up against a side used to going in at the break with a clean sheet intact.

Van Dijk and Gomez have been a formidable duo this season.
Getty Images

Liverpool have conceded just one league goal in the first half this season – that coming at Chelsea where they still managed to escape with a point. Not even Manchester City can match those early rear-guard performances.

Liverpool at their most dangerous just before the break

Arsenal aren’t shy about hitting the back of the net before the half-time whistle themselves – scoring four times between the 30th and 45th minute – but it is the visitors who pose the biggest threat during this stage of the match.

In all competitions, Liverpool have struck eight times in the final 15 minutes before the break, their most potent period.

And while Mohamed Salah is still clicking into gear this term; it is the first half of games where he has generally come alive – scoring six of his seven goals this season in the opening 45.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thriving in the second half

The opening 15 minutes of the second half is where Arsenal have been their most potent in the league, hitting seven before the 60th minute, often teeing up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to cause havoc.

Aubameyang comes alive in the second half.
Action Images via Reuters

Six of the seven goals the striker has scored in the league this term have come in the final half hour of matches this season – with the only exception last Sunday’s effort against Crystal Palace which came after 56 minutes.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker has scored four of those after coming on as a second-half sub with Alexandre Lacazette perhaps Emery’s first-choice centre-forward at the moment.

Liverpool’s tiring defence Arsenal’s best chance to inflict misery?

While so strong in the opening halves of games, Liverpool have been prone to letting goals slip during the closing stages of matches. Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded just nine goals in all competitions this season – with six of those coming in the final 15 minutes.

Twice this season they have been stung by heavyweight opposition in the latter stages, with Chelsea’s quick-fire double sending them crashing out of the EFL Cup and Napoli inflicting their first defeat of the season with Lorenzo Insigne’s winner.

With Arsenal a growing force in second halves; Liverpool may be wary of a nervy ending at the Emirates.

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