By Joel Lefevre

Seeking to pad their lead atop the Premier League table, Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium in London on Thursday evening.

The Gunners began 2026 with a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth, putting them six points clear in first place, while the Reds are fourth following a 2-2 draw away to Fulham on Sunday.

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Another dramatic victory for Liverpool evidently was not on the cards against Fulham as they conceded a 97th minute equaliser after going in front three minutes earlier.

Late drama has become a trademark of Liverpool games this season with nine goals in their Premier League outings coming in the 90th minute or beyond, with only Burnley having more (10).

While Arne Slot’s men are unbeaten in their last eight top-flight affairs, they have dropped points in their first two matches to begin a new year for a second successive campaign.

A triumph on Thursday would extend their unbeaten run away from home in this competition to five games and mark the first time they have won both Premier League outings against Arsenal in the same campaign since 2021/22.

This week’s fixture will be the first time these two teams have met on a Thursday since the Gunners beat the Reds 3-1 in December 1947, and after this upcoming match, Liverpool will become just the second team to play Arsenal on every day of the week after Southampton.

Liverpool have not dropped a point in their opening two Premier League away fixtures in a calendar year since losing their first two games outside of Anfield in 2023.

While the Reds dropped points again last weekend, the opposite was true for Arsenal, who consistently find ways to win.

They enter this contest on a five-match winning run in the top-flight, coming from a goal down to win for only the second time this season against Bournemouth.

Although the Gunners boast the Premier League's top defensive unit in terms of goals conceded (14), they have allowed at least one in their previous 20 matches in this competition against the Reds.

Arsenal have won seven straight top-flight outings on home soil, their longest run of victories at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta since claiming 10 consecutive triumphs between April and December 2022.

The Gunners have suffered 26 defeats to Liverpool in this competition, level with Manchester United for the most against one single Premier League opponent.

At the same time, the North Londoners have won their last two Premier League home contests against the defending champions and can do so on three straight occasions for the first time since 1961/62 to 1963/64.

Squad News

Ankle injuries are likely to keep Alexander Isak and Wataru Endo out of the Liverpool fold on Thursday, while Hugo Ekitiké and Stefan Bajcetic are questionable due hamstring strains, and Giovanni Leoni is dealing with a knee injury.

Mohamed Salah is still on international duty with Egypt at AFCON, leaving much of the playmaking duties down to Dominik Szoboszlai.

Cody Gakpo is a player to watch with the Dutch international netting three goals away from home in the league this season, all of which were in London, as he and Florian Wirtz scored in the draw at Fulham.

On the Arsenal side, Riccardo Calafiori is doubtful due to muscle tightness and is struggling to return to full fitness for this team.

Meanwhile, ankle injuries may prevent Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera from seeing the field.

A brace courtesy of Declan Rice and one from Gabriel enabled them to outlast Bournemouth last weekend, while Bukayo Saka has scored in his last three games against the Reds at the Emirates and could become the first Gunner to score in four successive home matches against Liverpool.

Predicted XI's

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Gakpo

Pre-Match Verdict