Odds:
| Liverpool | Draw | Arsenal | |
| American | +110 | +250 | +240 |
| Decimal | 2.10 | 3.50 | 3.40 |
| Fractional | 11/10 | 5/2 | 12/5 |
Liverpool host Arsenal in the Premier League’s marquee matchup on Sunday, August 31, 2025 in the final league fixture before the international break for each club.
Arsenal arrive fresh off a 5–0 demolition of Leeds United at the Emirates, while Liverpool scraped past Newcastle in a chaotic 3–2 win. Despite going 2–0 up against 10 men, the Reds nearly let the game slip away before youngster Rio Ngumoha’s 90+10’ strike spared them from a late collapse.
Last Season Head-to-Head:
Last season, Liverpool and Arsenal drew both of their matches with the same final score in both – 2-2. Liverpool did however beat the Gunners in the most important matchup last season, which was of course in the race to the Premier League title.
Liverpool Team News
Right back Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. The silver lining for Liverpool, however, is the return of Conor Bradley, who came off the bench against Newcastle on Monday. If Bradley is fit to start, Arne Slot could shift Dominik Szoboszlai back into his preferred central midfield role, likely at the expense of Curtis Jones.
Alexis Mac Allister also missed the Newcastle match through injury, but Slot has expressed optimism that the Argentine will be available for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal come into this match fresh off a 5-0 demolition of Leeds United, with Viktor Gyökeres opening his account for the club by scoring twice — the second from the penalty spot. It was a statement performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, but not without setbacks. Club captain Martin Ødegaard picked up a shoulder knock, while starboy Bukayo Saka limped off with a hamstring injury.
Ødegaard is expected to be in contention for Sunday, though Arteta may take extra precautions and rest him. Saka, however, will miss 3–4 weeks and won’t return until after the international break. Kai Havertz was also absent against Leeds with knee discomfort, leaving his availability for Liverpool uncertain.
Defensively, Ben White is nearing a return, but Christian Nørgaard is unlikely to feature.
Despite the injury concerns, Arsenal fans could see a debut for Eberechi Eze, who joined after the Gunners swooped in to hijack his move to Spurs. The England international adds yet another layer of depth and creativity to Arsenal’s already potent attack.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Liverpool Lineup Notes:
With Conor Bradley expected to return at right back, Szoboszlai can shift back into his natural central midfield role. Beyond that, I don’t see Arne Slot making any other changes to his starting lineup.
Arsenal Lineup Notes:
The severity of Martin Ødegaard’s shoulder injury has been played down, with the midfielder expected to be available if needed against Liverpool. In my view, if Ødegaard is even close to 80% fit by Sunday, he starts. Losing your captain and such a key creative force in a match of this magnitude would be a huge blow for the Gunners.
If he isn’t available, either Eberechi Eze or Ethan Nwaneri could step in to provide creativity on Arsenal’s right-hand side. Eze is also an option to start in place of Martinelli, depending on how Mikel Arteta chooses to set up.
On the opposite flank, Noni Madueke looks the most likely candidate to replace Bukayo Saka, who will be sidelined with his hamstring injury.
Match Preview
I see this shaping up to be a high-tempo, attacking affair, even with Bukayo Saka ruled out, Jeremie Frimpong sidelined, and Martin Ødegaard a question mark.
Arsenal’s identity is clear: they create chances. Quick passing and constant rotations pull opponents out of shape, carving open gaps in defensive lines. That will be Milos Kerkez’s biggest test, especially with Noni Madueke likely stepping in on the right wing.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have defensive vulnerabilities. Ibrahima Konaté has struggled this season, making simple but costly mistakes. One lapse of concentration could be all Arsenal need. Expect Viktor Gyökeres to drift toward Konaté, targeting him as the weaker of Liverpool’s centre-back pairing. With his blend of pace and strength, Gyökeres is tailor-made for fast-breaking attacks which is something Liverpool have repeatedly struggled to contain.
That fragility has shown early in the season: two goals conceded to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, another two to Bournemouth on opening day, and most recently two more against a 10-man Newcastle side who nearly pulled off a comeback from 2–0 down.
Up front, Liverpool face another issue: depth at striker. Once Hugo Ekitike comes off, Arne Slot typically shifts to a strikerless system by adding another midfielder. That leaves the Reds without a focal point in late-game situations, a gamble that could eventually cost them, even if they’ve scraped together wins so far. Ekitike has shown flashes of quality, but he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes, raising questions about his stamina and how Slot intends to manage him.
Liverpool also looked second-best in large stretches against Newcastle – even while up a man – and their struggles on the right flank were glaring. With Frimpong unavailable, Salah was left isolated, registering no shots as the play consistently funneled down the left through Gakpo, Wirtz, Kerkez, and Ekitike. Arsenal will no doubt look to exploit that imbalance.
Beyond the tactics, expect this one to be fiery. Both sides are unbeaten, both are eyeing the title, and there’s lingering tension after Liverpool edged Arsenal in last season’s title race. The Gunners will arrive at Anfield with extra fire, determined to flip the script.
Betting Picks
Pick 1: Arsenal Team Total over 3.5 Shots on Target (SoT)
Odds:
- American: -133
- Decimal: 1.75
- Fractional: 3/4
Even without Bukayo Saka, and with Martin Ødegaard’s availability still uncertain, Arsenal should still be able to establish a foothold and create spells of pressure. Their attacking patterns and fluid rotations are difficult to contain, and Liverpool’s defensive lapses offer openings that a side of Arsenal’s quality can exploit.
Liverpool have looked vulnerable both in their defensive structure and in transition, which plays into Arsenal’s strengths on the counter. Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli, and potentially Eberechi Eze are all well-suited to take advantage of these gaps. In what is likely to be a tightly contested match, Arsenal still have the attacking quality to generate clear chances.
Pick: Arsenal Team Total over 3.5 Shots on Target (SoT)
Pick 2: Both Teams to Receive 2+ Cards
Odds:
- American: -125
- Decimal: 1.80
- Fractional: 4/5
As previously mentioned, I expect this match to be played at a high intensity, with emotions running high throughout. Both teams—and their players—understand what’s at stake in the bigger picture of the Premier League title race. That tension often spills over, and I anticipate several bookings for a mix of reasons: emotions boiling over, reckless challenges, and the classic tactical yellow, where stopping a counter-attack is more valuable than allowing an opponent to break free.
Chris Kavanagh will take charge at Anfield on Sunday. Last season, across 25 matches, he averaged 4.64 cards per game (yellow and red combined).
Given the stakes and the referee’s track record, I expect both sides to end up with multiple names in the book by the final whistle.
Pick: Both Teams to Receive 2+ Cards
