Arsenal host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, so HITC Football has looked into a combined XI. Granit Xhaka has made the team, but Trent Alexander-Arnold missed the cut.
Mikel Arteta welcomes Jurgen Klopp’s squad to the Emirates Stadium this weekend as the league leaders. The Gunners top the table after the opening eight games with 21 points to Manchester City on 20. The Reds have taken 10 points across seven matches to sit in ninth.
Arsenal are also guaranteed to end the weekend in the top two after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in last week’s north London derby. Liverpool could climb up to fifth place if the Reds win on Sunday. The Merseysiders have won their last four league games with Arsenal.
Klopp can point to an array of his regular stars like Alexander-Arnold not finding their peak form consistently for Liverpool’s plight. The right-back is one of many Reds players to show great efforts in some games. But he has also had too many off days, especially defensively.
Arteta will be well aware that Alexander-Arnold can hit Arsenal when Liverpool breaks with his incredible vision and set pieces. Yet the Spaniard will also hope Gabriel Martinelli, who does not feature in HITC Football’s combined XI, enjoys lots of success attacking that wing.
So, with neither Alexander-Arnold nor Martinelli making our line-up, who features in HITC Football’s combined XI for Arsenal and Liverpool’s Premier League clash in north London?
Alisson Becker (GK): Brazilian to be consistently dependable for Liverpool vs Arsenal
Klopp will expect Alisson Becker to once again be a consistently dependable figure in his XI when Liverpool visit Arsenal. The Brazilian is regularly more than a match for most Premier League forwards when he is tested. His excellent point-blank saves may be key on Sunday.
Ben White (RB): Alexander-Arnold’s inconsistency costs the Liverpool star
Alexander-Arnold’s inconsistency and defensive susceptibility has cost the Liverpool star in our combined XI for Arsenal’s Ben White. The natural centre-half has shone at full-back for Arteta this term, offering the Gunners a superb and often-improving box-to-box presence.
William Saliba (CB): A supreme presence in the Gunners’ backline this term
William Saliba finally got his chance at Arsenal this season three years after joining the club from Saint-Etienne for £27m. The Frenchman has proven to be worth the wait as he has hit the ground running under Arteta, offering a supremely composed and intelligent presence.
Virgil van Dijk (CB): The Dutch enforcer is still the top defender at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk has not had the best of starts to the season but the Dutch enforcer is still the top defender at Anfield. A promising display against Rangers in the Champions League will now see him visit the capital brimming with confidence after a host of decisive challenges.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB): The Ukraine star is quickly justifying his £32m tag
Oleksandr Zinchenko has quickly started to justify the £32m Arsenal paid Manchester City for the Ukraine left-back in July. His performances with and without the ball have pushed Kieran Tierney down the pecking order while forming a strong relationship with Martinelli.
Thiago Alcantara (CDM): Klopp needs to keep the Spaniard fit for Liverpool
Klopp needs to keep Thiago Alcantara fit for a prolonged period as the Spaniard is pivotal to Liverpool’s efforts. He takes the Reds to another level through the 31-year-old’s ability to dictate the pace of games. But he has already missed five league fixtures through injury.
Granit Xhaka (CDM): The Swiss star is a man reborn in Arsenal’s midfield
Xhaka has been a man reborn this season with Arteta affording the Swiss star the freedom to play in a box-to-box role. The 30-year-old has endeared himself to the Arsenal fans with some complete displays. He was also named as the Man of the Match against Tottenham.
Mohamed Salah (RM): The Liverpool talisman has been quieter than usual
Mohamed Salah has been quieter than usual so far this season but remains a pivotal part of Liverpool’s frontline. The Egyptian only has two goals and three assists after seven top-flight appearances and has not scored since the Reds lost away to Manchester United in August.
Luis Diaz (CAM): Arsenal will have to plan for the Liverpool dynamo
Arsenal will have to draw up plans to limit Luis Diaz’s involvement in Sunday’s meeting as the Colombian has been a dynamic talisman for Liverpool. The £50m January transfer can cause havoc in games with his tricky footwork, whilst regularly applying endless pressure.
Bukayo Saka (LM): The Arsenal winger is nearing his best ahead of the Liverpool clash
Bukayo Saka is nearing his best levels ahead of Arsenal hosting Liverpool this Sunday. The England winger took his time to grow into the campaign but is back to delivering a lethal presence on the right. His relentless runs at defenders and cuts inside will cause problems.
Gabriel Jesus (ST): Arteta’s summer signing cannot stop causing trouble
Gabriel Jesus cannot stop causing trouble since joining Arsenal from Manchester City for £45m in July. He boasts five goals and three assists in eight Premier League games, whilst registering an assist in the Europa League on Thursday after waltzing his way into the box.
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