Liverpool vs Arsenal
Premier League
Sunday
9th April 2023
Anfield
Arteta wants to exorcise Arsenal’s Anfield curse on Sunday
The visit to Anfield has been a nightmare for Arsenal for years. Manager Mikel Arteta sees plenty of opportunities to deal with that curse.
At the previous Premier League meeting at Anfield, Arteta collided with his Liverpool colleague Jürgen Klopp. A heated exchange ensued after Sadio Mane tackled Takehiro Tomiyasu. But the hatchet has long been buried, the Spaniard said in the run-up to Sunday’s game with Liverpool.
“It’s part of football. We hugged each other afterwards and moved on. I have every respect and admiration for what he and his staff have done at Liverpool. I then defended my players. But I hope not to see myself like this again,” the manager said.
Now the cards are also different. Where Liverpool is looking, Arsenal can call itself the proud leader in the Premier League. Breaking with a bad run at Anfield can confirm those changed proportions. The Gunners last returned from Liverpool in 2012 with the three points. Arteta was still an Arsenal player at the time.
The Spanish manager sees enough reasons to be positive. He said, “We have visited more stadiums this season, where we had not won for many years, and we have done well. We must embrace this opportunity and go for it. It’s an opportunity to go to Anfield and do what we haven’t done for many years.”
Arteta has an experience expert in its ranks. Winter acquisition Leandro Trossard won with clear numbers at Anfield earlier this season with Brighton & Hove Albion. “It’s nice to have a player like that at your disposal who has experienced that. He then played a crucial role. We need that; players with a lot of confidence, so we can win there,” he added.
Liverpool hopes for a sequel to Arsenal’s horror series at Anfield, Van Dijk returns
Virgil van Dijk has recovered in time for the clash with Arsenal. The defender of Liverpool had to miss the midweek away game with Chelsea, but will be back against the leader on Sunday. Arsenal can end a painful series at Anfield.
Van Dijk was absent from Stamford Bridge due to illness. Without the captain of the Dutch national team, The Reds could not get further than a goalless draw in London. A home game with Arsenal awaits on Sunday, which is on course for the first national title in nineteen years. It is clear that capricious Liverpool has a big job ahead of it.
Manager Jürgen Klopp is impressed with the work of his colleague Mikel Arteta. “I know people ask for time for managers, but I think Mikel deserved every minute when things went down,” the German said at the press conference. “The team is well put together, they have attracted strong players and form a stable team. That’s what they use.”
