Luis Suarez
Liverpool and Arsenal will contest another Super Sunday match this weekend, this time against each other. Both sides haven’t had ideal starts to the English Premier league with Liverpool on one point and Arsenal on two after two matches each. However, Liverpool have shown more promise with a much improved performance against champions Manchester City last weekend, after their opening day 3-0 drubbing at the hands of West Brom. The Gunners, who have failed to score a goal so far, will need to improve as they would have seen how formidable the Reds were at Anfield against a very fortunate City side.
Martin Skrtel played the role of hero and villain for Liverpool as the Reds were held 2-2 at home to the reigning champions. Skrtel gave his side the lead on 23 minutes with a well-directed header past Joe Hart. Yaya Toure levelled for City midway through the second half after Martin Kelly mis-trapped the ball inside his box. However, three minutes later Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead for the second time with a sublime curling free-kick around the wall. Then, with the home side dominating possession and looking good for three points, Skrtel gifted the Sky Blues a second equaliser ten minutes from the end. His wayward backpass to Pepe Reina was easily intercepted by Carlos Tevez, who coolly rounded the Liverpool keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net for his 100th goal in English football. It was tough on Liverpool, who were the better side. Liverpool fielded their youngest starting XI for nine years with an average age of just 24, and the baby of the team was 17-year-old Raheem Sterling, the Jamaican-born England U19 winger, who gave an impressive performance. Brendan Rodgers has landed a big signing as Liverpool completed the one-year loan deal for Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin who hasn’t been able to break into the midfield at the Bernabeau since his move from German champions Borussia Dortmund.
If there were goals aplenty at Anfield, the entertainment on offer at the Britannia Stadium was fleeting at best as for the second consecutive week Arsenal were held to a scoreless draw. Stoke, doing what Sunderland had done to the Gunners in their league opener, created few chances of their own but also denied the visitors opportunities to shoot for goal. The result will raise more questions about Arsenal’s attacking edge in the light of Robin van Persie’s departure to Manchester United. The Arsenal defence is the most encouraging aspect to the Gunners’ new season, with the influence of new assistant coach and ex-Arsenal defender Steve Bould, it’s clear to see in the greater organisation and solidity of the back four. Nonetheless the club needs goals, as manager Arsene Wenger acknowledged. “Offensively we still have some work to do because we are missing a bit of accuracy in the final third — in our movement and in our passing,” conceded the Frenchman, who then asked Arsenal fans to be patient as new signings Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla find their feet in the Premier League. “They don’t have an understanding yet. One month ago they didn’t know each other. That will come. We have some work to do on the training ground.”
Last season Arsenal also had a bad start and it was Liverpool who beat the Gunners 2-0 in the second game of the season. However, Arsenal bounced back in the second round and won 2-1 at Anfield. This should be a tightly contested match and although Arsenal aren’t looking threatening upfront, their defence could deal with the Reds’ attack. Back the draw.
