Arsenal vs Liverpool preview: team news, TV, kick-off time, ref, VAR

Here's our Arsenal vs Liverpool preview ahead of the massive Premier League fixture this weekend. The Reds can make a huge statement.

Liverpool travel to take on Arsenal this weekend in one of their biggest games remaining this season. The Reds know they can open up an eight-point lead over the Gunners if they win.

That would arguably force a two-team title race against Manchester City. It makes it an enormous game in the title race but also one of the most difficult.

Arsenal will be motivated and they're in good form. They're also just one of the best teams in the country.

At the same time, Liverpool know they can win there, having done so just last month in the FA Cup. The Reds will be full of confidence as a result - even more so after their 4-1 win against Chelsea.

So what should everyone expect? Here's our preview for Arsenal vs Liverpool.

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DATE, KICK-OFF, STADIUM, REFEREE & VAR

• Date: Sunday, 4 February 2024

• Kick-off time: 16:30 BST / 11:30 ET / 08:30 PT

• Stadium: Emirates Stadium

• Referee: Anthony Taylor

• Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn

• VAR: David Coote

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

This is one of Liverpool's oldest fixtures, with the first meeting happening all the way back in 1893 - one year after the Reds were founded. Liverpool boast a superior record overall winning 95 of the 241 meetings.

Arsenal have replied with 82 of their own, leaving 64 draws after the 1-1 in December. Few teams do actually have a positive record against Liverpool, in fairness.

The Reds boast the superior record in the Premier League era, too. This fixture has happened 63 times under that banner and Liverpool have 25 wins. 21 of them finished in draws, while the Gunners have 17 wins.

Liverpool also boast a lot more goals - 108 to 78 - and have kept a clean sheet in nearly a third of the games (20).

WHERE TO WATCH ARSENAL VS LIVERPOOL ON TV

Sky Sports will show the clash in the UK, as is typical for a Sunday fixture like this.

FUBO broadcasts all Premier League games in Canada, while you can catch them all on various NBC networks in the USA.

For those in Europe, DAZN and Viaplay are among the TV companies with the rights to the game.

Match commentary, highlights and full match replay will be available after the game across the world on LFCTV.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool are slowly getting their full squad back together. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson both played good minutes against Chelsea, while Dominik Szoboszlai played over an hour.

Thiago is even back in training - though, it feels unlikely that he'll face Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp confirmed it's 'incredible' to see him back but we'll all need to wait and see when he's fit to play.

Mohamed Salah, however, definitely won't be back. Klopp stated that ahead of the Chelsea clash - the Egyptian likely won't play against Burnley after this, either.

There's also a minor concern over Alexis Mac Allister who clashed knees against the Blues. Klopp says there's nothing major there but we'll see if he's 100% to play Arsenal.

Of course, Wataru Endo will be out as he's at the Asian Cup.

Arsenal team news

Mikel Arteta admitted that he doesn't know if Gabriel Jesus will be fit to play. The Brazilian has knee issues resulting from surgery - while he likely will feature, it's not certain.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the game as he's at the Asian Cup, while the Gunners also have long-term injuries in Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira.

Thomas Partey may make his big return, though. "We will see," said Arteta when asked if he'd play. "We will see how things evolve and if that’s too short or if he’s okay."

PREDICTED LIVERPOOL LINEUP

We're anticipating a very similar lineup here to the one that faced Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp was able to take quite a few stars off in that one, while the Reds' lead meant they were able to play the last half hour or so at a reduced pace.

One big change we're expecting is at right-back. Conor Bradley was sensational against the Blues but there's only one Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Scouser should be fit to play once again and will surely play. He was decisive in the FA Cup clash and may well be again here.

(4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Jota, Nuñez, Diaz

Prediction

A massive one. Liverpool certainly won't be at full strength as Salah won't play, but this should be a slightly stronger squad than the one that beat Arsenal a month ago.

That's the big fact going into this one, too. Liverpool have already won at the Emirates this season and know that doing so again here would be an enormous statement.

Arsenal are in better form than they were in early January, however. That could make a difference but at the end of the day, Liverpool will likely be happy to take a draw here. It keeps the Gunners five points back and still keeps some momentum.

Maybe that's what everyone should expect here. Liverpool will want to control the game above all - and that could simply see the points shared.

Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool