Liverpool lock horns with Arsenal on May 11 with the Premier League title already decided. The champions will try to avoid defeat, but the Gunners are fighting to save face after another anti-climatic season.
The Reds secured the title at Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs flattered to deceive, taking the lead early before Liverpool gave Ange Postecoglou’s side a 5-1 thrashing.
Liverpool are worthy league champions. They have lost only twice this season (Nottingham Forest and Fulham), going on a 26-game unbeaten run between both losses.
The Merseysiders clinched the title early and will need to find motivation to push themselves for the rest of the season with nothing on the line.
Manager Arne Slot faces a difficult fight to keep his side on their A-game when the North Londoners come to Anfield. It is also a chance to lay down the gauntlet before next season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal must be reeling after another near-miss campaign.
Manager Mikel Arteta and his gang finished second twice in successive seasons, coming so close last term as they pushed Manchester City until the final day.
They were expected to bounce back with a vengeance this season and get over their 20+ year hump. However, Arsenal failed to deliver at crucial junctions and did not have the consistency of champions.
There were slip-ups against Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace that should never have been.
Arsenal should have sealed the win but ended up drawing these matches.
The Gunners have paid the ultimate price for their lack of cutting edge and will have to give Liverpool a guard of honour as penance for their shortcomings.
The stage is set for the best two teams this season to clash, and it will surely deliver with both sides, especially Arsenal, eager to come away with a result.
Get your Liverpool vs Arsenal tickets via Seatsnet.com to watch this cracking showing live at Anfield, where the raucous Kop make every game quite the experience.
Match Preview
Arne Slot has earned plenty of praise for steering Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut campaign at Anfield.
On the surface, it is a commendable achievement. But scratch a little deeper, and it is hard to shake the feeling that this has not been the most competitive season in the Premier League.
Despite clinching the title, their campaign has often felt more efficient than electric, with Mohamed Salah carrying much of the attacking burden.
The title race has been unusually one-sided. Manchester City, the dominant force of the past few years, never looked like making it five in a row.
Chelsea briefly flirted with the top before fading fast, while Manchester United and Spurs disappeared from the conversation entirely.
The lack of meaningful pressure from these supposed contenders paved a relatively smooth path for Liverpool.
Arsenal, on paper their most credible rivals, faltered in key moments. Despite losing just three of their 34 matches, Arsenal drew 13 times. It has been their undoing.
Even converting half of those into wins would have kept the title race alive heading into the final stretch.
Worse still, in five of their last seven stalemates, the Gunners let leads slip, throwing away ten points in the final stages of matches. That kind of fragility has proven fatal.
Arteta pointed out that two of their three losses came with his side reduced to ten men, a detail he may see as mitigating. But when it comes to a title challenge, such excuses wear thin.
Ultimately, Arsenal have fallen short. With the trophy out of reach, their clash with Liverpool is less about the standings.
It is more about salvaging pride and proving they are still a team to be taken seriously ahead of next season.
Head to Head
Arsenal will take confidence from their recent terrific form against Liverpool. The Gunners have secured two wins in their last five games against the 20-time English top-flight champions (D3).
Liverpool and Arsenal drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture. That game produced fireworks, and neutrals will hope to see them put on a show again in Merseyside.
Best XIs
Liverpool
Alisson Becker starts between the sticks, protected by the established back four of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In midfield, the trio of Ryan Gravenberch anchoring the base, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai pushing forward, has provided a dependable blend of control and creativity.
However, it is an area the Liverpool recruitment team will likely look to strengthen over the summer.
Up front, the attacking trio of Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz, and Mohamed Salah has been relentless this season, regularly overwhelming defences with their pace, movement, and sharp finishing.
The Arsenal backline will have a real task keeping them quiet, especially with the Kop backing their own.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Díaz, Salah.
Arsenal
David Raya will continue in goal, with Jurrien Timber likely to slot in at right-back.
William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior should form the central defensive pairing, while promising youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly could be handed a rare start at left-back.
In midfield, Thomas Partey is the anchor, providing the defensive shield, with Declan Rice offering box-to-box energy and Martin Odegaard pulling the strings in a more advanced role.
Their engine room is balanced and blends composure, physicality, and creativity.
The front three of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard offer plenty of pace, flair, and goal threat. This forward line can ask serious questions of the Liverpool backline.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Ticket Information
Want to experience the thrill of Premier League football live? Secure your tickets through official club websites.
For great deals and a wide selection of seats, especially for Liverpool games, buy Liverpool tickets at Seatsnet.com, a secondary marketplace for finding tickets to every Premier League fixture.
How to Watch in the United Kingdom
Watch all the 2024/25 Premier League games live on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video.
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No matter your preference, there is a way to watch your favourite team play on matchday.
