An away day at Liverpool is always huge. More so over the past half-decade. Liverpool is an institution, Anfield is a legendary stadium, and Klopp is a top 3 manager in the world.
The stage is set.
Mikel Arteta usually underplays our chances, but the talk was a little different in his press conference.
He’s talking about confidence in the camp, he’s pumping his players, and he’s making no excuses about the expectations that are being put on Arsenal.
We are going to Anfield to win because that’s what Arsenal Football Club is all about.
This game isn’t a litmus test, people need to move away from that sort of chat… it’s a chance to land a blow on a club that has standards we want to reach.
Since boxing day, we’ve accrued more points than Liverpool. What does that tell you? That they are beatable. Klopp’s side has lost a bit of that invincibility force-field this season. They aren’t quite hitting the heights as consistently as they were a couple of seasons ago. There are vulnerabilities in their system.
The main difference? Huge experience and a 5th gear that we don’t have yet. Both teams at 100% and we’re on the back foot.
So what do we need to see?
A smart game plan executed with maximum focus
Our problem against Chelsea and City was that we conceded inside 15 minutes both times. We can’t afford to do that against a Liverpool side we know will come flying out the traps.
I’d love a fast start, but it’s questionable whether that’s the right approach against Liverpool. A game right after the break might take some time to feel our way into. It might be sharp to just be in the match after 20 minutes and work our way into the game by growing with time.
There needs to be a plan for Mo Salah, the best player in the world right now. We need to have ideas for Liverpool’s wide players. We should be set up to counter-attack at speed, because Liverpool have been leaving openings. We have to play a high line and confidently play around their brutal press when it comes.
Arteta said the weakness in the side was that as a team, we don’t have enough collective experience yet. Let’s be clear, this new group of players hasn’t felt pain together yet. We are unbeaten since our new defence was formed. There’s no record of how we’ll react to a battering from Liverpool. That makes this game interesting for a whole host of reasons.
This is a big moment for the project. Lose, well, we expected it and we’ll have to hope the team can bounce back quickly. Come away with a point or more and we’ll really start to believe something might be brewing early.
I’m very excited. I feel confident we can compete. This is a test we could pass, I haven’t felt that way about a Liverpool game in a while. So let’s see where it goes.
See you in the comments. Join for an OTW podcast right after the game!
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This Watford forward Dennis is a good player.
Watford just need to score one more and Ole will have them exactly where he’d want them.
This is hilarious about United but it might mean Ole is sacked before we head up there in a couple of weeks.
2-0 up, loving it.
Ranieri has got Watford playing well, they were solid against us too.
Now watch Ole mastermind another come from behind win.
Tom,
Not sure how I feel about this. On one hand I love seeing United like this. On another hand I really don’t want OGS to go. If this goes on they might have a new manager by the time we play them.
United 😂
United will be shit even under a new manager. So not worried about Ole getting sacked.
CR7, Bruno, Rashford, Greenwood, Fred, Mctominay – not one of them likes to keep the ball. No team with 7 to 8 off the ball players can achieve good results.
Yeah there is a good chance United will still be in disarray by the time we go there, even if they sacked Ole tonight after the game. I don’t think they would even have a plan for a successor, they seem so wedded to Solskjaer. A new manager search could drag on.
WHy Van De beek doesnt gets a game in that boring midfield that has Fred and mctominay is not clear to me
Ole is just a cheerleader and not Football manager.
Paddy V is doing a very good job at Crystal Palace
Not trying to talk Arteta down but you just know he will overthink and come up with a self destructive approach for tonight’s game.
That did not take long . Mctominay off for Van debeek on. And he scores.
Le-Grovers , I am interested in the ManUtd Job . Who will be interested in being my Assistant. Rich are you up for it?
Wouldn’t surprise me if United get something from this game. Van de Beek is making a difference. Sancho not too shabby either. Which tells you everything you need to know about Ole as a manager.
I always said
Van de beek was the transfer I was jealous of
So so good
Major_Jeneral
Double agents, Get them relegated, break their players by fielding teams full of players carrying knocks, then take a giant severance package as a reward for our treachery
I’m in 👍
On another note another defeat for Newcastle? Their run of games leading up to Christmas is horrendous. May not be as easy as some think for them to buy players in January.
The big future their owners speak of may come via the Championship!
Contrasting views in regards the international break from Arteta and Klopp.
Although I feel there are too many international games/breaks, as far as England are concerned I find it so refreshing to see a group of players who genuinely love playing together.
Nerves starting to kick in, such a big game!
Hammers behind at Wolves. Maybe I’m jinxing it but it looks like our luck with results might continue.
If we win today, we go above pools…into the top 4.
#COYG 3-0 to the boys.
Big Head Maguire strikes again😂
This is comedy gold.
”Double agents, Get them relegated, break their players by fielding teams full of players carrying knocks, then take a giant severance package as a reward for our treachery
I’m in 👍”
I cannot wait for us to partner up on this special-Ops Mission.
…..……Ramsdale
……White Gabriel
Tomiyasu……Tavares
……Partey Sambi
Saka Lacazette Smith Rowe
………Aubameyang
what is up everyone
Come on Gunners!
Expecting a defeat,but hoping for a continuation of the decent performance run.
If we could get a win,I would be over the moon.
Expect the worst,hope for the best.
……..…..Alisson
…….Matip Van Dijk
Trent ………….Tsimikas
…..Ox Fabinho Thiago
…….Salah……….Mane
……………Jota
the Gods are with us today. Look at the other results thus far
3 goals for Newcastle and zero for Willock.
Full strength team. COYG.
Team I out….Tets has listened to us…. only one change from Last game with Partey coming in for Niles
What’s happening Guns
Feeling confident?
nice lieunup as before.COYG. Guns of SF, I AM LET’S GO
Yep we will win today… it might be 1 nil tho
West Ham need to drop out of top 4, that just looks so odd.
Strong bench too.
Jeneral
If you want in you gotta sign w raiola
Relieved that Arteta didn’t choose the game against Pool for experimentation. May be we could have gone for AMN instead of Sambi to beef up the defense but no complaints.
Decided to tuck into some football before our game and had to see that dreadful tackle borne out of very sloppy play by Maguire and get red carded. Lolz. Really not sure how he is stealing a living playing football like that. Anyway, looking forward to tonight. I can only echo what others have said this week. If we lose but play well in doing so, I’ll be OK with that defeat. But for some reason, having seen these kids play with their infectious desire to push forward and win, I have this funny feeling that they can so some… Read more »
Hello y’all… ready for this..?. Dont know why but when all the results start going our way.. I start getting nervous.. Haha Wolves even beating the Hammers.
Anyhow… I’m also excited..and glad Teta stuck with the program.. Let’s do it..!!!! It will be tough… with our record at Anfield.. but history doesn’t play the games.
Watford score again. Lovely jubbly
Arteta wedded to this formation, if there’s a time for more pragmatism, it’s probably Liverpool away
Big jobs for Sambi + Tavares to control the threat of Salah + Trent
Wonder if Lacazette will play much deeper, and be asked to do a job on Thiago
Rip Ole
He can’t survive that. That first half was horrendous
4-1
Two goals in injury time 🙂
This guy Dennis is a good player.
Haha Watford player Dennis mocking the Ronaldo celebration after scoring.. 😀
I’m happy to see us stick with that what has been working for us.
United 🤣
In one moment all of ashley youngs bullshit has been paid back in full
OGS will be gone by Monday.
Goonah
They said the same thing about arteta last season. Fingers crossed for ole
Ole is so excellent
Ole waving goodbye to the away fans, holding his hands up in admission of guilt.
That should be it for Ole unfortunately. It’s been a blast.
Onto more important stuff. Feeling good right now. I think we have a shot. And even if we lose, it doesn’t really matter for the 4th place chase considering today’s results. Hopefully the boys can play without too much pressure.
Let’s hold our comments and taunts until after our match guys. Looks like a cursed Saturday full of goals all over.
we love ole
A Bra was removed in celebrating Watfords 4th goal
Auba isn’t offering nothing up front. Hope I’m wrong.
Martinelli and Laca would have been more potent I think Samesong.
Not trying to be negative but results have gone in our favor. Win or lose top 5 is still on.
Not sure Auba should be starting away from home also not happy Oliver is the ref tbh
IAT Bamford still with Willock in his mouth. There’s a little Arsenal match today you know.
Pierre, with this United game … and ours, who TF cares about Joe Willock.
He will be a good player in the championship someday.
God damn lets all take a moment for Bamf_rd sadly this has to be the end of the Ole era.
Bamf.ord power rankings taking a hit for sure.. His second favs Leicester sinking as well.
Ole is gone. Zidane is the only choice now. Cinte with this squad would have had me worried.
I would have preferred a 343 but Arteta is going with continuity. I just hope Tavarez’s inexperience along with Smith rowe and facing Salah and TAA on the same wing won’t be too much. We have exposed ourselves to go for it. I hope it works out. COYG.
Goodbye Ole , thanks for the memories ! It’ll be sad to see him go.
Nah send Brenda to United.. He already has his bags packed.
Rich said it well. Sometimes you don’t want to tinker with a winning formula… but there are special situations where it’s practical and I think wise.
I wouldn’t have gone with Artetas lineup today, but I’m not gonna savage him if we don’t win.
He should’ve atleast hung around until the Arsenal game man . Please Glazers dont sack him yet , nooooo. xD
Leicester were also awful. They should have lost 6 nil. They aren’t a team to worry about for us this season. Spurs under conte and westham along with United are our rivals for top 6.
The worst position we can be in is 5th after this weekend’s results. Everyone is doing us a favor. Let’s see if we can do ourselves a favor too. Win and we are getting away from the pack.
Nope would have hated a formation change … this is what we have been training for.. We dont play the 3 at the back formation well. it turns into 10 men behind the ball every time. And Gabby and our back line is settled for once.
Lets Go!!!
Nigel, what line up.would you have gone with?
Not sure about starting Partey and Auba show time COYG
I’d be happy with a point tonight and a solid performance.
IF ESR scores today will be 4 in 4… Like the sound of that.
I was thinking along the lines of 3 at the back, Tierney left cb with Tavares. Like any lineup, could’ve proved to be bad. It’s all theory really. It’s one reason I don’t attack any manager too much unless I see a glaring error.
# 1 error for me is when Arteta plays Saka on the left. I hate it.
Just wish Tets opted for martinelli or even nketiah instead of Auba.
343
Ramsdale
Tomi White Gabriel
Tavarez Sambi Partey Tierney
Saka ESR
Lacazette
Or
343
Ramsdale
White Gabriel Tierney
Tomi Sambi Partey Tavarez
Saka ESR
Lacazette
Would have been better for us to protect ourselves. Arteta obviously feels he can get at Liverpool without sacrificing Defensive Solidity. But I have my doubts.
Nice selection didn’t see it coming I must day
I dont agree that Tierney gives us defensive solidity ..especially this year. Anyhow… we can do this.. Come on Boys!
I think Arteta is right to go with continuity. Keep the team growing and learning together.
Going too defensive could also prove costly.
Come on The Arsenal!!!!
COYG!
Any streams lads?
Looks like its gonna be a real battle today between White and Mane.
Thiago took a dive to win a free kick in the box.
Kris
Yep.
Klopp thinks that with Chamberlain he will cotton onto the Arsenal way of playing.
The good thing is, he knows the stale, crab football of the past, not the front foot playing team that we have now.
A good mistake from Klopp for us.
Contrary to expectations Liverpool playing ” come hither ”
Reality check for Benjamin White
Arteta is nervous going by his intense micro management
So far Toma and White seem to be neutralizing Mane. Little worried about Tavares on Salah if/when he gets going. Hopefully he is leggy from Intl.
Good start. No low block. Some nice cynical fouls high up on the pitch. Tomi has had Mane in his pocket so far.
Looked like Ramsdale knew that kick under pressure back to Alisson that he did was shit.
Now mane goes down like a sack of spuds. Game is slowly bubbling. Could burst into life any minute.
Auba is no good in these games, he can’t hold the ball up
Tomi scared to support attacks. Leaving Saka exposed.
Good cross by TT… very good game so far.. Holding our own plus some.
Tomi scared to support attacks. Leaving Saka exposed.
He doing what he’s been told to.
do*
Saka has been poor so far. Doesn’t look focused.
Excellent last minute defending by Gabriel.