EPL: Arsenal v Liverpool preview
Arsenal v Liverpool preview
Jurgen Klopp has called on his players to maintain their defensive solidity when they face Arsenal at the Emirates on Friday Night,
Liverpool suffered a resounding defeat in their last game against a north London side when Spurs beat them 4-1 at Wembley in October but since then they have conceded just four goals in their last nine league games.
Klopp said: "We have to be ready for a different challenge on Friday. It is Arsenal and they have quite a talented group there and they can create chances.
"We need to be spot-on, but all the players need to be spot-on in this specific part of the game."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he has been pleased with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain since the 'first day' the former Arsenal man arrived
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, expects a response from his players following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the reverse fixture in August.
Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge handed Liverpool a commanding victory in what proved to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's final game as an Arsenal player.
"When you have such a long career as I have, you have some defeats unfortunately that hurt you for the rest of your life," Wenger said.
"I believe what is interesting in football is you always have a time to make up for it. When you can put things right, do it.
"So let's focus on what is in front of us and turn up on Friday night with a completely different performance."
Arsenal will be without Olivier Giroud after the striker was forced off in Tuesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman is likely to miss the majority of Arsenal's festive fixtures.
"It doesn't look very good for him," said Wenger. "I think he's out of Friday night."
Francis Coquelin also hobbled out of that game but could still be in contention although Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) is missing, as is long-term absentee Santi Cazorla (ankle). Wenger should be able to call on defender Shkodran Mustafi following a thigh injury.
Alberto Moreno (ankle) and Nathaniel Clyne (back) will definitely miss out for Liverpool while Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) and Joel Matip (muscle) are highly unlikely to feature.
On Matip's fitness, Klopp said: "Joel Matip was back in training yesterday. We're not sure if he's ready for Arsenal but, for the games coming up, we're pretty sure."
Adam Lallana could be in contention to make his first start of the season after coming on for the final 20 minutes against Bournemouth last weekend having overcome a hamstring injury.
Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Dejan Lovren, meanwhile, are all in danger of picking up a one-match ban if they are booked in the game which would rule them out of their club's Boxing Day fixtures.
Klopp said: "We have to be ready for a different challenge on Friday. It is Arsenal and they have quite a talented group there and they can create chances.
"We need to be spot-on, but all the players need to be spot-on in this specific part of the game."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he has been pleased with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain since the 'first day' the former Arsenal man arrived
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, expects a response from his players following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the reverse fixture in August.
Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge handed Liverpool a commanding victory in what proved to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's final game as an Arsenal player.
"When you have such a long career as I have, you have some defeats unfortunately that hurt you for the rest of your life," Wenger said.
"I believe what is interesting in football is you always have a time to make up for it. When you can put things right, do it.
"So let's focus on what is in front of us and turn up on Friday night with a completely different performance."
Arsenal will be without Olivier Giroud after the striker was forced off in Tuesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman is likely to miss the majority of Arsenal's festive fixtures.
"It doesn't look very good for him," said Wenger. "I think he's out of Friday night."
Francis Coquelin also hobbled out of that game but could still be in contention although Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) is missing, as is long-term absentee Santi Cazorla (ankle). Wenger should be able to call on defender Shkodran Mustafi following a thigh injury.
Alberto Moreno (ankle) and Nathaniel Clyne (back) will definitely miss out for Liverpool while Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) and Joel Matip (muscle) are highly unlikely to feature.
On Matip's fitness, Klopp said: "Joel Matip was back in training yesterday. We're not sure if he's ready for Arsenal but, for the games coming up, we're pretty sure."
Adam Lallana could be in contention to make his first start of the season after coming on for the final 20 minutes against Bournemouth last weekend having overcome a hamstring injury.
Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Dejan Lovren, meanwhile, are all in danger of picking up a one-match ban if they are booked in the game which would rule them out of their club's Boxing Day fixtures.