Strongest Liverpool Line-up To Face Arsenal – Real Test For SAS

Liverpool host table toppers Arsenal at Anfield in what promises to be an absolute block buster of an encounter. Brendan Rodgers’ team go into the clash after s frustrating one all draw against Pepe Mel’s West Bromwich Albion side who were lucky to get a point thanks to Kolo Toure’s horrendous mistake at the back. Arsenal will however come to Anfield with all guns blazing and looking to beat the Reds on their own turf to lay claims to their Championship winning credentials. Arsenal currently lead the table after Manchester City were shocked by Chelsea in their own backyard while Liverpool lie fourth two ahead of cross town rivals Everton. So can Liverpool nullify Arsenal with their squad and what will be Brendan Rodgers’ best possible lineup?

We here at Soccersouls have the answer:

Goalkeeping and Defense

Simon Mingolet is expected to be very busy under the sticks manning the Liverpool goal. The Belgian shot stopper has to be wary of the magnificent Arsenal midfield who can create for their lone striker from anywhere in the park and also score goals at will, mainly Santi Cazorla, the Spaniard who has been magical in the past few weeks.

Whatever the defense of the home side is going to be, Brendan Rodgers needs to send out a strong squad which can contain the likes of Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud and Gnabry or Podolski. Glen Johnson misses out as  in-form John Flanagan plays in right back with Cissokho manning the defensive side in the other flank. Jose Enrique, Daniel Agger and Sakho are all out as Martin Skrtel will have to be well aware to his mistakes and his partner’s, who else but former Gunner Kolo Toure.

Midfield

Gerrard

Steven Gerrard will perhaps play very deep in the midfield role as he and Jordan Henderson will be given the job to screen the back four. Phillipe Coutinho will be starting from the left again as Raheem Sterling playing wide right to provide width on the pitch. The English-Brazilian pair has to make sure they track back from often against the Arsenal’s immaculate midfield, lest the latter will make forays in the middle of the park and will eventually link up time and again with each other and can create opportunities from any end of the park.

Forward

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are expected to start together up front and as Arsene Wenger will have to work out a game plan to stop the rampaging English- Uruguayan from scoring for fun at Anfield as they did against Everton. Suarez and Sturridge though have to face Koscielny and Mertesacker who have been in inspired form in this campaign and would need to come up with something more in their locker to unlock this solid Arsenal defence.

Predicted Lineup

Mingolet

Flanagan   Skrtel  Toure   Cissokho

Gerrard  Henderson

Sterling                                           Coutinho

SAS