A heavyweight Premier League night awaits at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday 8 January (8pm), with the league leaders facing the reigning champions in a fixture that rarely needs extra spice. The table does that job anyway. Arsenal come into the game top on 48 points from 20 matches, while Liverpool are fourth on 34 from 20, leaving a 14-point gap that underlines how different the first half of the season has been for two sides who went toe-to-toe in the title race last term.
Momentum is firmly with the hosts in league terms. A dramatic 3–2 win away at Bournemouth on Saturday 3 Januaryextended their excellent run and kept the Emirates as one of the division’s toughest visits, with seven straight home league victories in the bank. Liverpool’s most recent outing offered a more mixed feeling: a 2–2 draw at Fulham on Sunday 4 January that contained quality and response, but also dropped points in a contest where control swung back and forth. Before that, there was a 0–0 at home to Leeds on 1 January, a reminder that the current version can be made to look blunt when rhythm is disrupted.
Selection and availability could be decisive, and it’s a match shaped by what each manager can and can’t call on. Arsenal have confirmed defensive absences with Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori ruled out, while Kai Havertz has trained in the build-up and is in contention to be involved as he continues his return. Liverpool’s list is longer and includes a major January factor: Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON. Wataru Endo remains out with an ankle issue, while Alexander Isak is sidelined for the foreseeable, and long-term injuries include Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns. A key attacking note ahead of kick-off is Hugo Ekitiké, who has been carrying a hamstring issue and will be assessed.
Beyond the headlines, this also brings together two sides whose strengths look different right now. Arsenal’s campaign has been built on consistency, a strong defensive base and an ability to win at home even when performances aren’t perfect; David Raya’s nine league clean sheets tell their own story. Goals have been shared rather than funnelled into one name, with Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard leading the league scoring for the club on five each, and support arriving from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. Liverpool’s output has leaned more heavily on a smaller group, with Ekitiké the top league scorer on eight when available, and creativity coming from a midfield that can still produce moments of high class — illustrated at Craven Cottage when Florian Wirtz found the net during the comeback effort.
The tactical picture feels familiar but still fascinating. Expect Arsenal to lean on their usual control, pressing with purpose and trying to pin Liverpool in while protecting against the counter. For the visitors, the challenge is balancing aggression with stability, especially with midfield options stretched and a key forward away on international duty. That could place greater emphasis on transitions, set-plays and the kind of decisive actions that have often defined this rivalry.
There’s also recent history to frame it. Liverpool won the reverse league fixture at Anfield earlier this season thanks to a spectacular free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, and Arsenal have repeatedly stressed the need to “prove it” against top opponents when the stakes are highest. With a title lead to protect and a Champions League place to reinforce, Thursday night has the feel of a match where one moment — a dead-ball, a press win, a single lapse — could echo well beyond 90 minutes.
