Arsenal looking to pile more pressure on Liverpool

MANCHESTER, England: The match at Emirates Stadium on Sunday should prove informative about the prospects of both Arsenal and Liverpool. For Premier League leader Arsenal, it’s the latest test of their ability to mount a credible title challenge against the only team that have managed to disrupt Manchester City’s dominance over the past five years. For Liverpool, tentatively finding form after such a turbulent start to the season, it’s a chance to provide a platform on which to build Jurgen Klopp’s recovery plan.

The stakes are much higher for the team from Merseyside — not least because City lie in wait a week later. Further dropped points ahead of the visit of Erling Haaland and Co. to Anfield would leave Klopp on the verge of crisis in a season when the title already looks beyond Liverpool.

The German has been cautious in his commentary this week — even after the confidence-boosting win over Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday. “I can’t wait for the moment when I can read newspapers again because I didn’t read them for weeks,” Klopp joked. “The criticism is completely fine.

We are not over the moon about our situation. But we played some really good games — it’s not like it’s 10 years ago, it’s not too long ago.” Liverpool have only lost once in the league this season but already trail Arsenal by 11 points. The only wins have come in the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth and via an injury-time strike against Newcastle.