Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 12.
Arsenal
Having lost their last five Premier League matches at Liverpool, conceding 18 goals and scoring only four in that run, it is fair to say that trips to Anfield have been a torturous experience for Arsenal in recent years.
Ahead of Saturday's encounter there is, however, optimism that Mikel Arteta's side will be more competitive this time around.
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Performance levels have improved and during their eight-match unbeaten Premier League run Arsenal have showcased a new identity that appears to suit them.
Setting up in a hybrid 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 formation during the last three matches, Arteta has focused on a back-to-basics approach.
Building partnerships all over the pitch, his starting XI have been more aggressive, hardworking and well-balanced.
Hardworking Gunners
Across the last three matches there have been high levels of collective and individual application.
Arsenal outran Aston Villa, Leicester City and most recently Watford by considerable margins in their last three victories.
Arsenal v Watford highlights
In fact, the only occasion when there was a greater differential between the distance covered was in their memorable 3-1 north London derby success at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Their displays against Spurs, Villa and Leicester were comfortably their best of 2021/22 so far.
Pushing themselves physically appears to bring the best out of Arsenal, and that attitude will certainly be needed at Liverpool.
Arsenal's hard yards
| Opponent | Difference in distance covered | Result |
| TOT | + 7.1km | W 3-1 |
|---|---|---|
| LEI | + 4.4km | W 2-0 |
| WAT | + 3.5km | W 1-0 |
| AVL | + 3.2km | W 3-1 |
Arsenal's improvement in form has also coincided with Alexandre Lacazette's return to the starting line-up.
The Frenchman has been used in a split striker/No 10 role and his positive energy has rubbed off on his team-mates.
He earned penalties against Villa and Watford after being fouled in a second centre-forward’s position, taking up positions in the area that a traditional playmaker may not have occupied.
In general, Lacazette’s off-the-ball work has been invaluable in setting the tone, and the way he drops off to man-mark defensive midfielders has prevented those opponents from playing out from the back with ease.
Aubameyang revival
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also seems to have been enlivened by the presence of a strike partner.
Lacazette regularly drags a defensive player away from central areas and opens up pathways for the Arsenal captain to receive passes.
Firing off eight shots in his last three starts, Aubameyang has looked sharp and less isolated than he was earlier in the campaign.
The 32-year-old striker is working much harder to press central defenders too, applying the second-highest number of "pressures" by an Arsenal player in 2021/22.
Arsenal's top pressers
| Player | Number of pressures |
| Emile Smith Rowe | 383 |
|---|---|
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 374 |
| Martin Odegaard | 304 |
| Bukayo Saka | 300 |
| Albert Sambi Lokonga | 193 |
For any trip to Anfield you need to defend well and Arsenal head there having kept five clean sheets in their last eight Premier League matches.
Aaron Ramsdale's form in goal has been well-documented, but the new centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and Benjamin White has also developed superbly.
Their left foot/right foot balance is a tremendous asset for the side both on and off the ball.
Right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu also slides across to become a third central defender when Arsenal's attacking left-back of either Kieran Tierney or Nuno Tavares pushes forward. This creates a sound balance at the back.
In the eight matches Gabriel, White and Tomiyasu have played alongside one another Arsenal have remained unbeaten, winning six times while recording those five shutouts.
Tomiyasu, Gabriel and White are also much faster across the turf than Arsenal's other central-defensive options and this has made a real difference.
Fleet-footed Gunners
| Player | Apps | Mins played | Top speed |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 8 | 692 | 33.8 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Magalhaes | 8 | 720 | 32.2 km/h |
| Benjamin White | 9 | 810 | 31.5 km/h |
| Pablo Mari | 2 | 180 | 29.7 km/h |
| Rob Holding | 2 | 180 | 29.6 km/h |
| Calum Chambers | 2 | 171 | 27.5 km/h |
The team can squeeze up to press with more confidence, knowing there is plenty of recovery speed behind them.
This added pace will of course be important for Arsenal against Liverpool's rapid forward line.
Partnerships are blossoming at both ends of the pitch and Arteta's side look more settled and hardworking now.
Arsenal will hope these qualities make them more competitive in what promises to be a serious test of their progress.
Tomorrow: Adrian Clarke on the impact of Leeds' in-form Raphinha
Also in this series
Part 1: How Cancelo has become City's most important player
Part 2: Can Leicester stop Chelsea's lively wing-backs?
