Preview: Liverpool will try to break a bad streak against the Gunners
It has been quite some time since Liverpool has managed to defeat the Gunners in Premier League play at Anfield. You have to go all the way back to 2007, when the Reds defeated Arsenal 4-1, with a hat-trick from Peter Crouch.
Nearly seven long years since that victory, Brendan Rodgers will hope his squad can change their fortunes.
Earlier this season when these two sides met at the Emirates, the North London side came out on top 2-0. A first half goal from Santi Cazorla was capped off with a brilliant strike from Aaron Ramsey. The Welsh international will not feature due to an injury, but Liverpool's back-four will have to keep a close eye on the Spaniard.
Cazorla has been in good form as of late. Five goals in his last six appearances in all competitions have helped Arsenal stay top of table, as well as progress in the FA Cup. He had an assist in his last appearance against Crystal Palace, and he will want to continue his run at Anfield.
He will be up against a Liverpool side that has some injuries. Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson are almost ready to return to the squad, but they will not be available on Saturday. Lucas Leiva is still out after picking up another injury a few weeks back, and Mamadou Sakho will also miss out.
They will turn to Luis Suarez, who has helped carry the load for Liverpool this season. Despite missing six matches at the beginning of the current season, the Uruguay international leads the league with 23 goals. He was kept quiet in their first meeting at the Emirates, been seeing that repeat itself is very unlikely.
Arsenal's center-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker did a good job keeping close tabs on Suarez in their first meeting. Doing the same on Saturday could prove slightly more difficult at Anfield, but the two Arsenal defenders have done quite well this season.
From their last 14 fixtures in the Premier League, Arsenal has earned eight cleansheets, although only two came away from home. They will face a tough test against a Liverpool side that scores often at home, and they have only conceded six goals at Anfield.
The Gunners should have the upper hand in the center of the park with Arteta and Jack Wilshere available. But the big difference could come from efficiency, and who can take advantage of the opportunities that come their way.
Failure to win for the visitors could see them lose the top spot, while Liverpool will be trying to close in on the top three.
Where to watch this match - live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores
Watch Liverpool vs Arsenal live on Saturday, February 8, 2014:
In Canada at 7:45 ET on: Sportsnet 360, TalkSport Radio
In the UK at 12:45 GMT on: Arsenal Player, LFC TV Online, BT Sport 1, BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live
In the USA at 7:45 ET on: SiriusXM FC, TalkSport Radio, Mun2, USA Network, NBC Sports Live Extra
This is a match you will not want to miss, so be sure to visit the Liverpool vs Arsenal match page for full TV listings.
