In recent years, welcoming Liverpool at Emirates was a tricky business for Arsenal. However, the Gunners are in such a strong form that they are deservedly considered favourites in today’s match in London.Mikel Arteta and his men will be looking to make it eight wins from nine matches while Liverpool are aiming to return to winning ways having drawn their last two league matches.Even the most ardent Gunners fan may not have predicted such a fast start to the campaign from their side. Arsenal’s expectations undoubtedly raised after acquiring Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from champions Manchester City in the summer transfer window. Among other great results this season, Arteta’s side preserved their status at the top of the Premier League by beating their fiercest rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the North London derby last weekend.The Gunners extended their winning run in all competitions at home to eight matches by beating Bodo/Glimt 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday evening. If they can make it nine in a row on Sunday and keep ahead of Man City at the top of the table in the process, then what previously seemed to be wild dreams may become perceived as more realistic ambitions.Liverpool are the only team who have managed to keep pace with Pep Guardiola’s Man City in recent times, making Sunday’s clash an extremely exciting and potentially telling one in terms of anticipating how the rest of the season may unfold.However, the Reds are suffering their poorest start to a season in several years, with Jurgen Klopp’s side heading into Sunday’s meeting 11 points behind their forthcoming opponents – albeit with one game in hand.The German feels his side are capable of visiting an in-form Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium, especially as it is surely a must not lose game if they are to harbour any realistic hopes of winning the Premier League this season.🗣️ “ [Gabriel] Martinelli, very early I was excited about him. He’s become exactly the player I expected. [Bukayo] Saka, phwoah. Young team, very exciting. They are in the position they are, well deserved.”Jürgen Klopp praises Arsenal and Arteta.👏 pic.twitter.com/pMvshaysZh— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) October 7, 2022 Both managers will have their work cut for them in terms of finding the right formula, given the availability of the squads.Klopp’s main dilemma will be whether to revert to his usual 4-3-3 formation or stick with the 4-2-3-1 system that secured a win against Rangers on Tuesday, with the former likely to be preferred given Arsenal’s slick possession game in midfield.Liverpool are expected to travel without midfielders Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur and Curtis Jones due to injury, although the latter is edging closer to a return after returning to training on Thursday.Ibrahima Konate was named among the substitutes for the first time this season against Rangers after suffering a knee injury in pre-season, but Klopp is unlikely to make any changes to his back line, especially with Andrew Robertson still sidelined with his own knee issue.As such, Fabinho could replace Darwin Nunez, with Salah and Luis Diaz dovetailing either side of Diogo Jota, although Firmino does offer an alternative option given his excellent start to the season.Arteta, meanwhile, made eight changes for his side’s victory against Bodo/Glimt in midweek, with Zinchenko rested after missing Wednesday’s training session as a precaution following his recent calf injury.Captain Kane downs Poterless SeagullsThe Ukraine full-back was a surprise starter against Spurs last time out in the Premier League, and he should be fit enough to replace Kieran Tierney at left-back on Sunday.Martinelli, Xhaka and Gabriel were the three players to retain their places in the starting eleven and the trio will almost certainly start once again against Liverpool, with club captain Martin Odegaard set to return in the attacking midfield role despite Fabio Vieira adding to his tally from that position in midweek.Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny are expected to remain sidelined with muscle injuries.Elsewhere, London Stadium will set stage for a ‘capital clash’ between West Ham and Fulham. David Moyes believes West Ham are “building momentum” after they picked up a sixth win in nine matches by beating Anderlecht 1-0 on Thursday night. That result maintained his side’s 100% start to the UEFA Europa Conference League proper (W3), whilst a 2-0 defeat of Wolves in their last Premier League game also lifted them out of the relegation zone.The Hammers were able to make nine changes in Belgium, so there should be no signs of weariness with the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Declan Rice and Kurt Zouma, all likely to return. They’ll now be hoping to help build on a three-game unbeaten run at the London Stadium (W2, D1), although they have only triumphed in three of their last 11 games on home soil (D4, L4).Perhaps the visit of Fulham will give West Ham the boost they need, given the Cottagers have lost their last four trips to their London rivals, and have won only three of the 20 H2H meetings between the two sides since 2005 (D5, L12). As if that didn’t make Fulham wary enough, Layvin Kurzawa and top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović are struggling with injury, whilst Nathaniel Chalobah is suspended.Moyes on Paqueta: “We are seeing someone who is talented and a different sort of player we have had at the club for a long time.I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but maybe Dimitri Payet was the last one.” pic.twitter.com/MqLE40mOZM— Will Lebeau (@WillLebeau18) October 8, 2022 The former Chelsea man was sent off in a 4-1 demolition to Newcastle last weekend, a performance that Marco Silva branded as “sloppy.” He’ll be expecting a reaction as they look for just a second away win of the season (D1, L3), having seen his side lose back-to-back league games just once since taking charge in July 2021.To close the day off, Manchester United head to Liverpool where up-spirited Everton side awaits them. The Toffees are building a head of steam as their 2-1 Premier League win over Southampton last weekend saw them score more than once in the league for the first time this term, while extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches (W3, D4). Everton’s recent form has clearly pleased manager Frank Lampard, who subsequently described their two consecutive league wins as proof of his side’s “strength of character”.That should give them a lift as they bid to repeat last term’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Goodison Park – their only clean sheet in four home H2Hs (W1, D1, L2). Toffees fans may have time to relax into their seats though, as there’s been no Premier League goal here this term before the 40th minute.🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo is dismayed at Erik ten Hag’s training and stubborn tactics. He believes Manchester United would be better off playing a different way.(Source: @TimesSport) pic.twitter.com/cbgibUEUYd— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 8, 2022 As Manchester United’s last five competitive goals were all scored by substitutes, that Goodison trend could continue as they’ve also taken time – far too much during last weekend’s 6-3 thumping by Manchester City – to get going. They huffed and puffed in an eventual 3-2 victory over minnows Omonia Nicosia in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League tie too, with manager Erik ten Hag saying ahead of this match, “We have to react, we have to give the best performance we have.”That’s what Man United fans have come to expect and they might vote with their feet again if the Red Devils start poorly after several left at half-time last week. It’s been all or nothing away from home in the league for Red Devils recently though (W3, L8), culminating in them conceding six in a league away game for the first time since October 1996.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 10SaturdayBournemouth – Leicester 2-1 (0-1)/Billing 68, Christie 71 – Daka 10/Chelsea – Wolves 3-0 (1-0)/Havertz 45+3, Pulisic 54, Broja 90/Manchester City – Southampton 4-0 (2-0)/Cancelo 20, Foden 32, Mahrez 49, Haaland 65/Newcastle United – Brentford 5-1 (2-0)/Guimaraes 21, 56, Murphy 28, Almiron 82, Pinnock 90 og – Toney 54 og/Brighton – Tottenham 0-1 (0-1)/Kane 22/Sunday16.00: (2.24) Crystal Palace (3.40) Leeds (3.60)16.00: (1.84) West Ham (3.70) Fulham (5.00)18.30: (2.70) Arsenal (3.40) Liverpool (2.80)21.00: (3.60) Everton (3.50) Man.Utd. (2.19)Monday22.00: (3.40) Notth. Forest (3.35) Aston Villa (2.35)***odds are subject to change©SportsMole/FlashScore
