Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates for the first massive home match of 2026 for the Gunners as the second half of the season begins with the league leaders looking to notch a 6th straight win in league play.
The title race is still far from decided, but the Gunners have answered the bell in emphatic fashion. After a series of unconvincing displays in December, they ended 2025 on a high note by pasting Aston Villa before facing a highly-motivated and energetic Bournemouth side, delivering the Cherries their second home loss of the season. In the midst of a 6 match run of fixtures where they dropped points last season, they have taken all 3 points from the first four. It wasn’t easy, nor was it pretty at times, but Mikel Arteta’s side navigated their holiday fixture list exactly how a club vying for their first title in over 20 years should.
The cherry on top of the weekend were a few key results going their way. Manchester City gave up an equalizer to a manager-less Chelsea in stoppage time on Sunday, widening the gap between the Gunners and the chasing duo of City and Villa to 6 points. Arsenal now find themselves firmly in the driver’s seat as January rolls on with a little cushion and a side brimming with belief.
Now, all eyes turn to the Emirates for another title-race defining matchup – just not the way most would have foreseen a few months ago. Arsenal and Liverpool’s seasons have gone completely different directions since the Reds’ week 3 victory over the Gunners at Anfield, and they enter Thursday’s match on the back of a demoralizing draw, looking for anything to give them a sense of confidence and identity, while the hosts aim to notch their 11th home win of the season.
After a double fixture week that saw the gap at the top grow, the spotlight burns brightly on the league leaders. They have played some of their best football in the biggest matchups this season, and few are as big as this one. Can they stay sharp and focused with a desperate Liverpool side on deck and the world watching?
Here are three talking points ahead of Thursday’s match:
Know the Enemy
Liverpool enter Thursday’s match in 4th place in the Premier League with 34 points and a record of 10W/4D/6L.
How the tables have turned.
When Arsenal traveled to Anfield for the third match of the season, Liverpool were in the middle of a run that had plenty of fans and pundits assuming it was going to be a second consecutive title run for Arne Slot’s Reds. After an eye-wateringly expensive summer, they pipped a Saka and Saliba-less Arsenal for the win with a late free kick as they rattled off 5 wins to open the season and looked the side to beat, leading Arsenal by 5 points by the end of match week 5.
And then, the wheels didn’t just fall off, they exploded in spectacular fashion. Their penchant for leaving matches late evaporated, their scintillating attack hit a slump, and they proceeded to lose their next four matches in the PL and six of their next seven across all competitions. Now they come to the Emirates 14 points behind Arsenal and looking a far cry from their title-winning selves halfway through the season.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where or why it all came undone for them. Between the transfer of Trent Alexander Arnold, the tragic death of Diogo Jota, a downturn in form for veterans Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, and their big money signings finding it hard to kick on or facing injuries, you can certainly take your pick.
Many, though, have placed a huge amount of the blame on manager Arne Slot’s shoulders. He has struggled to recreate the same magic that saw him guide the Reds to a title in his first season at the helm in 2024/25. He earned a lot of credit after a successful debut season, but it looks like most of the goodwill he accrued has dried up, with more vocal portions of the fan base ready to see him gone already.
They have managed to stop the bleeding in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in their last 8 league matches and have clawed their way back into a Champions League spot, but their last two matches have seen them drop crucial points, first in a goalless draw at Leeds, and then when a stoppage time wonder goal by Fulham saw the points split at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
The pressure is firmly on the Reds as they come to the Emirates, where they have failed to beat the Gunners in their past three visits. A win gives them a shot in the arm and the belief that they can mount a second half charge. A loss, though, could spell disaster as they cling to 4th place by three points. If it gets ugly, Arne Slot could potentially join Enzo Maresca and Ruben Amorim at the unemployment office in what has already turned into one of the wildest Januarys in recent memory.
Injuries & Suspensions
Despite Arsenal’s end-to-end, exhausting match away at Bournemouth, they came out of it without any new injuries. Kai Havertz, who made the bench for Aston Villa, missed the trip with reports that he picked up an illness and others stating he wasn’t match fit yet. His availability is still in question, but hopefully he is back in time for Arsenal’s FA Cup tie on the weekend.
OUT: Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Riccardo Calafiori (knock)
DOUBT: Kai Havertz (knee)
Predicted Lineup
Attack: Trossard, Gyökeres, Saka
Arteta had the luxury of giving Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka some rest at Bournemouth, with both coming on late to cement the result. Trossard has been the most consistent attacker this season, and Bukayo Saka is a difference maker like no other, providing the assist for Rice’s match-winning goal. Both of them love a goal against Liverpool, too, and will look to be big factors on Thursday. The big question, as always, is at the striker position. Though he hasn’t set the back of the net ablaze, Gyökeres’ influence and understanding of his teammates has grown, and the Gunners tend to look better with him on the pitch.
Midfield: Rice, Zubimendi, Ødegaard
The midfield has picked a heck of a time to return to form. Both Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard were at their best on Saturday. It was an incredible performance from Rice, who had just returned from a knock that saw him miss the Aston Villa match to score a brace to win it for the Gunners. Ødegaard’s two assists over the past two matches have been brilliant reminders of his influence when he is healthy and buzzing. Martin Zubimendi just makes things tick. They will need to put in another commanding performance on Thursday to secure all three points.
Defense: Hincapie, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber
The defense was given a bit of a gut check at Bournemouth. They struggled at times with the press, as the Cherries tried to make them uncomfortable all night.Thankfully, it was the kind of gut check where they still came out on top. A uncharacteristic Gabriel gaffe gave the hosts a lifeline, but the defense knuckled down and responded beautifully as the king of Brazil made amends with a goal just 10 minutes later. Arteta will go as strong as possible on Thursday, and I think the side from Saturday is the strongest back line with who we have available. It would be great to have Calafiori back with what he brings to the attack, but Piero Hincapie has put in some solid shifts in his stead. Myles Lewis-Skelly is an adept option and brings pace to the back line and could be an option on the left.
Keeper: Raya
David Raya was tested more than usual away at Bournemouth and let in two goals that he could do little about, but he was once again dominant in set piece scenarios and in command when it mattered.
With a fan-led pre-match display in the works, Thursday’s headlining match will be another loud night under the bright lights and another opportunity for the Gunners to build on their lead and assert their role as the heirs to the Premier League title. Plenty of rival fans are ready to write them off and see them falter. If they play like they have all season, though, they won’t give them the pleasure.
WHO: Arsenal vs Liverpool
WHAT: Premier League match day 21
WHEN: Thursday, January 8th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Peacock app
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