Can Gunners Make A Title Statement At Anfield?
Jan 12th, 2016 by 'holic
“Every time we go to Anfield, we face a team who is up for it. It’s always a ferocious battle, no matter who the manager is. They had a very strong manager before, they have a very strong one now, and Klopp has the personality to do well there.”
Arsene Wenger’s response to being asked if he had noticed anything different at Liverpool under the much-hyped Jurgen Klopp. With Mourinho gone there is less snap, crackle, and pop about Arsene’s press conferences. So little have the assembled throng got to get under his skin these days he gets a relatively calm ride. They even asked him about the passing of David Bowie and his wonderful response showed he was prepared for that eventuality.
“I must say, the message he gave to my generation was very important because it was after the Second World War and it was basically – be strong enough to be yourself. That is a very strong message and very important for my generation.”
All thoughts at the club will now have turned to preparing the side that will face Liverpool in front of the Kop, with both sides missing key players through injury. Liverpool have lost even more than us numerically, and we must use the belief that the squad team will have generated beating Sunderland at the weekend to our advantage at Anfield.
Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey, and Mesut Ozil can probably expect to be recalled. Arsene’s most difficult decision will be which two to perm from Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Theo Walcott in the wide roles, which probably boils down to Theo or the Ox, frankly.
Recent history suggests we can approach the match with confidence. Liverpool have beaten us just twice in our last seventeen meetings in the Premier League, and we have lost just once in our last seven trips to Merseyside.
The hosts have signed Queens Park Rangers defender Steven Caulker on loan, and also have Mamadou Sakho and invincible Kolo Toure returning to the defence. There is also talk of returns for Jordan Henderson, Jordon Ibe and James Milner, but perhaps they do not make up for the absence of key players like Sturridge, Coutinho, Lovren, and Skrtel. Jurgen Klopp has won only five of his 12 league matches in charge and they have scored only 14 goals in those fixtures. Not surprisingly the new man on Merseyside was cautious about opponents he became very familiar with in his time at Dortmund.
“Arsenal and Arsene have their own style. It’s possession football, so it’s clear that if we want to play the same way we will be without a chance because they’ve been doing it for longer. Arsenal are not only a good possession team, that’s the problem, they have good counter-attacks too and that’s what you have to be aware of.”
The ‘holic pound
The likeable head-the-ball that is Klopp talks of an Arsenal that hasn’t turned up for every match this season, but he does capture us at our best and it is in this second half of the season that if we can build on a remarkable run of one defeat in ten then we can be considered very serious title challengers.
I choose to have confidence in a side that contains Cech, Koscielny, Ramsey, Ozil, and Giroud. I also choose to take the 13/1 offered by one bookie against a 0-2 away win that would send a massive signal to the rest of the Premier League. Clearly the market doesn’t agree and favourite outcome is a 1-1 draw. We will have to agree to disagree. I fancy Arsene may be able to quote the deeply missed Bowie again post-match, saluting his ‘Heroes’.
As ever I hope the travelling Gooners are rewarded for their fantastic support, and I am confident that you/they will be. The only benefit I can claim is that it really will be much warmer where I will be, behind the sofa. And with that I am off to make a cup of tea. Yes, tea. It’s that time of year again.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
126 Responses to “Can Gunners Make A Title Statement At Anfield?”
No drinks?
Tea, little milk and half a sugar please.
bt8 in previous drinks –
Sal Solo
http://www.kopleft.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Jonjo-Shelvey-England-Debut.jpg
Jonjo Shelvey
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f4-2hOekhVw/TQpzmUW7XoI/AAAAAAAACdA/Nm_el3sC1qI/s1600/107105349.jpg
The bar will offer freshly baked bread and cakes plus the tea until the 24th.
Then my friends we shall drink like never before! 🙂
‘Holic, http://tinyurl.com/zcolhav
Chew and spit dose propah vile nobs cause ya can’t digest the scouse.
Been there, trying to undone it for decades.
Tea? No, thank you. Also indigestible.
Haha Ned. The first of the season, honest 😉
Evening H
belated birthday greetings my friend,and thanks for another year of top blogging.
Unfortunately now you have quoted the stats of our good recent record at Anfield,and our overall healthy record in the past few seasons,you have in all probability bloody jinxed us. !!
They outplayed us there last season,and yet somehow they needed an injury time goal to earn a point.
They have one of the best crowds in the league behind them,which is like having an extra player,so i don’t expect anything other than a battle royal for the 90 mins.
Looking at their home record this season,they have only scored 11 goals in their 9 fixtures,and have conceded the same.
So certainly not the freewheeling Liverpool of old.
My only query with us,is that our recent away record has been pretty average,and in the back of the players minds will be our recent 4 nil shellacking at Southampton.
And don’t think Klopp hasn’t watched the video of that game a few times.
As always the first goal in these big games is absolutely vital,so we need to stay tight defensively and draw the sting out of their attack.
I am sure Pool will target Hectors side of the defence,as for all his attacking qualities,he is still vulnerable positionally when defending.
So i would definitely pick Campbell on the right to help out defensively.
Plus he and Hector have forged a good understanding going forward.
Defensive midfield is the other conundrum,and for me is still a major problem.
One would assume Flamini will start with Ramsey,with the insurance of Arteta and Chambers on the bench.
I feel we really need the 3 pts from this one,for as good as our recent record at Anfield is,it is the polar opposite at the Britannia where we go at the w/end.
Both these fixtures whilst not season defining,will tell us a lot about the squad’s intestinal fortitude.
4pts will do me,anything more will be a huge bonus.
I’d settle for a draw but believe we will win 2-1. I’d play Campbell in one of the wide positions with Theo and leave Ox to come on with twenty two and a half minutes left( I’ve watched Arsene’s subs for a long time.
Elneny is apparently flying in tomorrow so by the weekend we will have midfielders coming out of our ears!
This Newcastle match is a proper stonker.
Agreeing to disagree with the market? Sounds like socialism to me. 😉
My sympathies to the families of the 8 odd Germans and the 1 Peruvian who were killed by an ISIS sympathizer in Istanbul, outside the Blue Mosque apparently. I don’t know what these idiots think they are accomplishing but they are not doing it.
Mint tea please, barman.
Cheers Guv.
I expect us to rock up and do the business in Mickeylandia tomorrow.
UTA.
Fine preview, H. I think it will be a bit of a scrap and I would definitely start Joel for his work rate and ability to help out Hector. I would be delighted with a 2-0 victory to commemorate the result of 1989 but as ever will take any kind of win. Hope your Holic pound strikes gold again.
A fennel tea and a flapjack please Guvna. 🙂
Long Island teas for the monks, if you would be so kind.
Evening Clive, et al.
Hot work keeping this kettle going. Might have to turn it into a juice bar. 🙂
Only for twelve days. Then that there Liffy had better not be low. 🙂
This is a opportunity for Arsenal to break away from the other
contenders. Beware thoughthere are no easy games in the epl.
Pool may have an injury crisis but nothing surprises me in the epl.
When I read about wc forward to be signed by Arsenal ,I wonder why the gunners cant have the deal done now when the title is within grasp.
MU had a reality check when the y got a dose of their own medicine.
They could mount alast minute chage up the table if they can get two/three quality guys.
Nice one, Holic,
new posts arriving like Aaron Lennon – thick and fast.
0-2 would be just grand. I have to admit to feeling a bit confused about Liverpool’s injury crisis, with every source of information seeming to suggest a different set of returnees tomorrow evening. They may not turn out to be quite as weakened as was being suggested a few days ago.
Joel and Hector on the right for me. I might be tempted to play a front three of Joel right, Ox left and Theo in the middle. That would give Giroud a rest as he will be needed against Stoke on Sunday and can probably expect a battering there again. I quite fancy the pace of that front three against Sakho and, while I like dear old Kolo, he is 47 now.
A pacy, mobile attack running onto Mesut’s masterful midfield probings would test the newly repaired hammies in the ‘Pool defence too.
A cup of good old English Breakfast and a Hobnob please, sir. ?
Belated Birthday wishes Holic.
0-2 would be a wonderful result, but to be honest, I’d take any win whatsoever at Anfield anytime you get it. The year before last burns brightly when we were 4 down after 20 minutes. I think the real secret is to keep everything tight for the first 20 minutes and try to leave the complacency at home. Any result here will require focus.
I agree entirely with Trev. I would opt for pace up front – but at the back too, which is why I’d prefer to see Gabriel play.
I must admit, a 2 week curfew from alcohol is a serious undertaking Holic. If I were you, I’d just take it one day at a time mate 🙂
Cheers Holic. On the waggon eh…trust the wheels won’t fall off 😉
Same goes for our next two difficult away matches.The Scousers have been pretty erratic under Klippity-Klopp. They do look vulnerable at the back,especially with their injuries, so there is a good oppotunity to take advantage of that. Your 2-0 looks a good investment – hoping I haven’t jinxed it for you!
I’m with Trev too. Playing Theo in his preferred spot would be reward for the excellent defensive contributions he’s made of late, which have been too much at the expense of his offensive game in my opinion.
I’d also like to see Belle given a run as an out and out winger, with Debuchy as RB – or Cal if Deb really is on his way out soon.
Last I heard Poo had lost 7(?) players to hammies. If that is anything like right then I can’t see many of them returning any time soon. Or are Poo hammies less than those that cost our guys 6 weeks+? Either way 0-2 would be a statement and a half, ‘holic, but no surprise either. We might even score more, but a two-goal margin sounds about right.
Oskar
Belated birthday wishes, young man. If I knew the date earlier, I would have left Esso a wee taster of Scotland’s finest.
Even though I bet he’d have scoffed it down before it got to you. 😀
Intriguing game tonight. I have to “suffer” the 3am alarm clock but I hope it would be worth it.
UTA.
In the other football news, Silent Stan has got a go-ahead to move his St Louis Rams to Los Angeles, likely with the Chargers stadium-sharing. NFL owners have voted to back the plans.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/35299879
I’ll take an IOU until I see you Steve-o 😉
Morning all.
I will be honest and say I have no idea what to expect this evening. It will all depend on what Arsenal side pitches up I’m hoping for the more consistent Arsenal side rather than the erratic and lacklustre Arsenal that has made too many appearances for my liking this season. We surely have more quality and strength in depth than Liverpool? We also have far less in the treatment room so we can’t use that as an excuse. So let’s be professional and just get the job done.
Ned, I had just read that. I wonder if any of that will have implications for us? I know that was dismissed by many when I mentioned it a few weeks back but I can’t see that it does us any favours. Time will tell I guess.
I’m not even going to contemplate a January without ale so I will raise a glass to what will hopefully be a convincing win.
I know exactly what to expect.
Arsene Wenger will be cold and unless Bouldy does his coat up for him before kick off, we’ll have hilarious scenes (with commentary) of his struggles with the zip and/or pockets.
Klopp will also at some stage do that angry face, that makes him look like he has dislocated his jaw, with fists clenched.
On the pitch? Fuck knows…
Have we signed anyone yet??????
I thought the deal for the Egyptian wonder kid was signed and sealed at the back end of 2015???
Do we get bonus points for dragging out transfers longer than anyone else in football history??
And the weather’s bloody awful.
Steve T at 27. It could be we drag out transfers just to get our new signings used to the 3 week rule. In Elneny’s case his near certain signing announced in the press on Dec. 31 would put Arsenal’
S official announcement of his signing right about Jan. 20. on average. 😉
Not sure what Silent Stan’s move of his colonial football franchise to Los Angeles will have on the Arsenal. Surely the costs of the new stadium and entertainment facilities will run in the billions of dollars, but it appears that one other team (San Diego Chargers) will be moving into the same stadium, either as a partner or a tenant, so that would absorb some costs.
The Rams have to play matches in temporary facilities until the new digs are ready in 2019/2020, so expect to see them host a match or two in London in the meantime. And someday Stan’s side might host a colonial football game in Levy’s new Shite Fart Lane crapper.
Jerry Jones, a-hole owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is on the telly right now, saying that Stan Kroenke is a true asset to the NFL. And Stan was on; actually said three full sentences.
More on Silent Stan:
He has not spoken to the St. Louis media since 2012 (silent on both sides of the Atlantic, evidently.)
His full name is Enos Stanley Kroenke; named after two St. Louis (baseball) Cardinal greats, Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial. Just like Reg Dwight’s renaming from Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.
Steve T@25: I doubt it means very much for us. Kroenke is a hands-off manager of his sports teams, so it is not as if the Rams’ move will divert significant top management time from our affairs. Financially, he doesn’t need to leverage his investment in us to pay for the move or build his new stadium in Inglewood.
More even that putting the team back into America’s second largest TV market, I think the stadium is key to understanding the deal; it will be as much as performing arts venue as a football stadium, married to a multi-billion dollar retail and housing complex. It is a massive property development, which is how Kroenke made his money in the first place. Just by way of comparison, the Ems sits on a 17 acre site. Inglewood is 298 acres.
Bayonne, Elton John’s cousin, Roy Dwight, once scored a hat-trick against Liverpool. Let’s hope that is a good omen for tonight.
Bayonne, LA Times quoting up to $3 billion for Inglewood stadium.
…which is four to six times cost of Ems.
There is a artists rendition in this:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-la-chargers-rams-20160113-story.html
A bit reminiscent of the Ems from the inside.
St. Louis Rams’ move to LA approved by only 30 of the league’s 32 owners in the final vote but the identities of the two dissenters appears to be secret. What is certain is that Kroenke must pay $550 million to the league as a “relocation fee” (an officially sanctioned bribe in all practicality) in order to accomplish his implicit goal of deserting the fans of St. Louis. It is enough to make me sick.
http://m.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/goodbye-st-louis-rams-owners-approve-move-to-la/article_ae537abe-8471-5ac3-9edc-2c3174ce7fd9.html?mobile_touch=true
Steve took the words of my mouth, it depends on which Arsenal turns up tonight to foresee a result. If it is the saints one, then we are bound to lose, if it is the newcastle one, expect a draw, the united one and hallelujah we will romp home.
As usual the first goal is crucial in these games and i hope we score it. Flamini and ramsey better realize that the defensive stability is crucial in this game and we do not need them bombarding forward, specially flamini.
Time for an Ozil assist or two isnt it?? It feels its been long or should i say we are used to have him doing it every game. Come on magician we need you tonight to pull the strings.
Draw as well for me but desperately want a win for stoke away is not a prospect endearing by any means.
Cheers H!
Come on you Arsenal!
You’ve all heard of Elvis. Elvis the Pelvis he was called. But did you know he had brother? His name was Enos..
An oldie and not a goodie.
As I suspected Ox starts on the bench. Campbell may well be a starter even after Alexis returns
I doubt that, personally. But we’ll see.
Here are the official line-ups (from Arseblog):
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Milner, Can, Lallana, Ibe, Firmino
Subs: Ward, Caulker, Smith, Lucas, Allen, Teixeira, Benteke
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Campell, Giroud
Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Gabriel, Chambers, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi.
Come on guys!
C’mon boys, three points
we’re playing a risky game in the box.
Hoof it Theo ffs
Shit, Theo loses the ball and Liverpool score.
and there the risk comes to haunt us. what was theo thinking trying to dribble the ball out?
theo’d better score a hattrick today, given his “improved defense” seems to have gone missing so far.
Get in!!!
aaaaroonnnnnnnnnn
Gry on tere Rambo!
Get in Aaron!
Here we go boys
fucking hell, what a shot that was. credit to mike jones for not stopping play.
Campbell to Ramsey who equalizes.
also, great, great, great pass from jc. he has such a nice touch.
Oops get in there rather Polish dictionary kicked in 🙂
Great touch and vision from Campbell!
og out due to concussion protocol? or?
Theo, you’re not playing for the red shirts tonight!
good, og back in the game!
Wth
keeeeerist. our defense looked awful on their second.
Oh dear come on Arsenal!
Liverpool in front again and the team that couldn’t score has scored two. Unbelievable. COYG.
fuck me ..few lucky ricochets X_X
i can’t tell. did özil start?
do we have a DM tonight
Oh yeah – flamini
Oh dear
Oh Giroud u beauty!
Giroud!!!’m
Enough of these bootlickers, crush em
my only hope in this, aside from getting through to the second half about the 75th minute with it close, is that they tire due to their pressing.
almost another for aaron, there. and there it is, OGGGGGGGGGGG
GET IN!
giroud, that was fabulous. agreed, bmgedo, let’s smash these scouse cunts.
How could he miss that ffs?
How did Giroud miss that.
oh, how did he miss that? on a PLATE.
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Brilliant by Giroud. How he managed to keep that out was world class. Great defending.
?
Sorry? What was that? He was trying to score?????
Really????
jc’s ball for theo’s cross was delightful, as was theo’s cross.
Almost another for Ramsey at the far post. Mignolet an accident waiting to happen.
Bizarre first half.
almost another for firmino in stoppage time. that would have been even further disaster.
nailed it, steve t. 🙂
This can go either way, both teams pretty shaky in defence, shame about that OG chance, but lucky that Firminhos strike went out off the crossbar, must be a great spectacle for neutral….I..however am shitting bricks here and have my nails bitten off down to my elbows.
BT Sport must be creaming themselves this week. We’ve done well to stay in this but the pace has exposed BFG and Flamini. Ramsey and Campbell have not stopped running
A little more clinical would be good….
COME ON!!!
Didn’t we know that the Pool play a pressing game and there is no time to sit on the ball, obviously Feo didn’t. Goodness knows how the HFB failed to convert the Feo cross, did he get to the ball too soon?
The Liverpool defence looks all over the place. If we can calm down at the back there is no reason to think we can’t leave with 3 points. Surely they can’t keep this pressing game going for 90mins, let’s hope not!
COYRs
Klopp’s BD would do the same BS.
Press like maniacs for the first 60 minutes and hope to be out of sight by then when they run out of gas.
Come on Arsenal!
C’mon Theo ffs
Oh Giroud u beauty x 2
Giroud!!!
YESEEEESSSSSSSSS
Terrific team goal and a beautiful finish by Giroud.
another assist for joel?
what a nice stepover by OG.
going for the yellow card
bang!
beautiful interplay through midfield. should be a yellow card for emre.
Come on, boys. That’s the way to go. Massive opportunity
nicely done by ozil surrounded by 4-5 red shirts, to get the throw.
great tackle by campbell to win it back on the right, then across to og who had a good shot…thought there might have been a hint of handball there, though.
Lot of tired bodies in this end to end game. Got to hang on for 30 mins and try score one more to make it safe.
Liverpool’s 8 days rest against our 4 days is showing?
Good shift JC
i don’t know, ksn. but we’re getting two speedsters to replace theo and jc, so we’ll see if we can take advantage of their slowing down.
jc had a great game. i can’t listen to the crowd noise, i hope he got a rousing sendoff.
Chelsea and Man City draw and Spurs trail.
mikel! on for mesut. good move, mr. wenger. a tired ozil, worked hard but didn’t make much that worked…
probably what, 4 minutes added time? ugh. my arms are bitten to the quick.
3-3!
Argh!!!!!!
shitshitshitshit.
three minutes. and the sleet comes down. fuck.
We had three, got one, damn
Cech had an ordinary day by his standards. Still top the league on goal difference. Feels like a loss, though.
exciting and agonizing. why was benteke allowed a free header to allen? damn it!
So we’re going to lose the title to…Leicester?!?!?!
😀
Definitely feels like a lost..
Positive aspect….Would start Campbell though he’s up for it and in form!
Alexis.. wherefore art thou?
Not a bad result on the face of it considering the City result, but I can’t help but feel we’re doing our best to throw this title away. We should be 5 points clear of City, instead we are one defeat away from being overtaken by them.
Oh well, roll on Stoke away.
BB we have two very tough games coming up, away at Stoke and at home against Chelsea. Leicester play Aston Villa and Stoke while City take on Crystal Palace and West Ham away. We may temporarily lose the top spot but all to play for.
Nerves were shot after 80, so took a look at Foxes LWCs online. Huth scores on a corner at 83, and Leicester did a master class in closing the match out. Looked impressive; of course it was against LWCs, so you can’t tell that much really.
I can’t even have a drink 🙁 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@ksn
..and then the FA cup against Burnley and Southampton at home.
I do hope we can keep the players fit and motivated. Maybe put some fresh legs…but keep Campbell in… and ALEXIS needs to return ASAP!!
All that and some luck please.