Christian Benteke will be key for Liverpool when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in what will be the first big test for both outfits.
The Gunners, meanwhile, will look to Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Alexis Sanchez to cause damage to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Liverpool managed to beat Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth each with a single goal thanks to some Brazilian wizardry from Philippe Coutinho and a touch of fortune with Benteke’s first competitive goal for the Reds.
On the other hand, Arsene Wenger’s side were surprised by a barnstorming West Ham United on the opening day, and scraped through to all three points against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, after Giroud blasted home an acrobatic volley.
Neither team has looked overly convincing, nor kept pace with English Premier League front-runners Manchester City. Tuesday provides a stage for these two giants to build a foundation and catapult their season into gear.
For the Merseysiders, a victory will be centred on the performance of Benteke, given the Gunners’ fragile defence and inability to deal with aerial balls or set pieces, which is exactly what the big Belgian feeds off. The combination between Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech is still in its infancy, and that was evident against the Hammers when Cheikhou Kouyate headed home the opening goal.
Although not adept in utilising crosses, the Reds’ midfield linked up with Benteke far smoother against Bournemouth than at the Britannia Stadium, and that partnership is only going to develop over time. Individually, Mertesacker will most likely mark the Belgian in the air, while the Frenchman will attempt to shut off service along the ground. There is a massive opportunity for Liverpool in this space. Based on recent form, the advantage has to lie with the former Aston Villa forward.
Stoke City are renowned as a direct football team, yet Benteke was able to out-jump the Potters’ back line 64% of the time, or seven from 11 contests. In comparison to Mertesacker, the German’s percentages from both matches were higher (80% and 75%), however those statistics are based off just four and five challenges. It is safe to say he will be in the thick of much more action at the Emirates.
His partner in crime will also endure a tougher and more physical joust and it will be imperative for Koscielny to nip in front of Benteke as often as possible. Otherwise, the Belgian will shield the ball and either turn with pace or lay it off to Coutinho or Adam Lallana, which then causes trouble for Arsenal’s midfield, who will need to rapidly track back.
The view from Arsenal also pinpoints individuals in Liverpool’s back four: Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez. The Croatian centre-back who has looked awkward and nervous at times, but in stark contrast, also composed and calm. The inconsistency is a potential downfall and that is followed up by his form in flight. Bournemouth’s Tommy Elphick was harshly disallowed a goal at Anfield after being deemed too aggressive in his jostle with Lovren in the penalty area. It was soft, and what is worrying for Liverpool is the fact that Lovren barely put up a fight.
Giroud is a classy footballer with sublime technical ability, but the Frenchmen has a fierce figure and brash mentality from set pieces. If the former Ligue 1 striker can single out the Croatian, Rodgers could witness some unbearable moments from the touchline. Kolo Toure is popular among the Kop and the Ivorian may be the better option if Mamadou Sakho is still AWOL.
Arsenal could aim to exploit Gomez at left-back. The former Charlton Athletic defender surprised everyone throughout Liverpool’s preseason tour and earned himself a place ahead of Alberto Moreno in the starting XI. Although the teenager has not been problematic thus far, he has, at times, looked out of his depth.
His debut saw him mark Stoke’s Jonathan Walters, and the plucky attacker just edged Gomez overall, despite not damaging Liverpool on the scoresheet. Bournemouth threw Matt Ritchie at the youngster, and again, the Cherries attacker probably had the better showing, especially towards the end of the match.
Wenger has been easing Sanchez into the side after his international duty with Chile, so the former Barcelona attacker should be fresh to take on the Reds. The Frenchman may elect to use Oxlade-Chamberlain instead, who has looked sharp since his goal in the Community Shield against Chelsea. Both are of world class quality, and may be too stern a test for such a young defender, more so the fact Liverpool are away from home in front of a hostile crowd.
You cannot win the Premier League in August, but you can certainly lose it. Just look at the massive gap Chelsea pulled on the rest of the competition last season. A fixture of this magnitude is a must-win, and it is these individual battles and sub-plots that will make up the available three points. Liverpool and Arsenal have similar strengths and weaknesses, which makes this match interesting, and it will most likely come down to some solo brilliance or a heartbreaking mistake that settles it.
Whether that is a dominant performance by Benteke over Mertesacker, or a cunning Koscielny diving in front of the Belgian and starving him of service, or perhaps Gomez overcoming the odds and teaching Sanchez a thing or two, silencing thousands of Gunners singing about the speedy Oxlade-Chamberlain. Then again, Giroud could produce another special strike and send the Londoners silly.
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