Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon in the third round of the FA Cup. Ahead of the action, we at Sportslens have chosen our combined Arsenal Vs Liverpool XI. Read on to find out more!
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have slipped to fourth in the Premier League table after a few poor results. The Gunners lost back-to-back league matches against Fulham and West Ham, and haven’t won since beating Brighton on 17 December.
Liverpool on the other hand have been in fine form. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds beat Newcastle 4-2 last time out and are unbeaten in the league since September.
The two sides faced off in December at Anfield, with the score finishing 1-1.
Arsenal Vs Liverpool Combined XI
In order to pick our Arsenal Vs Liverpool combined XI ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup clash, we at SportsLens have identified the 4-3-3 formation as the most suitable to fit in the best players from both sides.
We are also not selecting players who are currently out with long-term injuries, which explains a few absentees.
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker – Liverpool
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson gets the nod in goal. With six Premier League clean sheets so far, he edges Arsenal’s David Raya, with the Spaniard managing five to date.
Raya is unlucky to miss out, but while he’s been in great form, we think Alisson is the marginally better goalkeeper on his day.
Liverpool’s 18 conceded is also the fewest in the Premier League after 20 matches played.
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is no surprise at right-back. The England international has two goals and four assists in the league this season and has been back to his best in recent weeks.
Ben White is again the unlucky Arsenal man here, but simply hasn’t been quite good enough to dislodge Trent from our combined XI.
Virgil Van Dijk – Liverpool
A key man for Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman is flying this season. One of the main reason’s Liverpool have risen to the top of the table is their defensive ability, spearheaded by Van Dijk.
Also popping up with a goal and an assist as well, VVD is thoroughly deserving of a place in our back four.
William Saliba – Arsenal
Partnering Van Dijk at the back is Arsenal’s William Saliba. The Gunners’ most important defensive player, Arsenal lost last year’s title race when the young Frenchman was injured towards the end of the campaign.
Saliba has been invaluable once again to Mikel Arteta, playing every single minute of his side’s 20 Premier League matches so far.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal
Although he’s picked up a few knocks himself this season, Oleksandr Zinchenko gets into our combined XI ahead of the injured Andrew Robertson of Liverpool.
The Ukrainian international has been unable to to recover from a calf problem in time for the weekend, but has been a key man at the back for Arsenal this season and should be back soon.
Midfielders
Declan Rice – Arsenal
Moving into midfield, Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice has made a strong start to life at the Emirates. Joining from West Ham for £105 million in the summer, the England star has started every game in the league.
Rice has three league goals and one assist, but has been even more valuable without the ball, anchoring Arteta’s midfield and allowing others to roam further forward.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
Another newcomer, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has been a revelation at Anfield. The Hungarian signed from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig and has been a superb addition to a revamped Liverpool midfield.
Although carrying a hamstring issue that rules him out against Arsenal, it’s not a long term injury and he should soon add to his seven goal involvements so far in all competitions.
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is our third and final midfielder in this Arsenal Vs Liverpool combined XI. The Norwegian is statistically the most creative player in the Premier League at the moment, and is essential to everything Arsenal do.
With seven goals and four assists overall this season, Odegaard has led his side from the front. He’s been one of the top performers in the league and will hope to transfer that form to the cup this weekend.
Forwards
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Deployed on the left in our front three, Bukayo Saka has not always been at his brilliant best consistently this season. But with nine goals and 12 assists in all competitions, he’s still been a key man for Arsenal.
The young winger has played on both sides of a front three in the past, and does so once more in our Arsenal Vs Liverpool combined XI.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Although unavailable for Liverpool due to his participation in Egypt’s AFCON 2023 campaign, it’s impossible to leave out Mo Salah.
Only the third player in Premier League history to rack up 20+ goal involvements in seven consecutive seasons, Salah is now the league’s tenth-highest ever scorer.
With 14 goals in 20 league games, he’s been in electric form for the Reds, and walks into just about any team in world football at the moment.
Darwin Nunez – Liverpool
Darwin Nunez rounds off our Arsenal Vs Liverpool combined XI. The Uruguayan has eight goals and eight assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
He creeps in ahead of Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, who have shared the striker responsibilities so far for Mikel Arteta’s side.
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