League leaders Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Sunday to take on Arsenal in a heavyweight clash at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are third after their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth last week, while Aston Villa are level in fourth place. Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield to remain top after eight games of the season.
Ahead of this match, Mail Sport has selected a combined XI of players from both teams.
As only players available for selection are included, Alisson Becker will miss for Liverpool with a hamstring injury.
Arsenal are expected to be without four injured players – Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard – while William Saliba is also absent after being sent off against Bournemouth.
Arne Slot takes his Liverpool side to Arsenal in a bid to maintain their excellent start
Formation: 4-3-3
GK – David Raya (Arsenal)
Even if Alisson were fit for Liverpool, the goalkeeper spot would be heavily contested. Both he and Raya have kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season – joint second behind Andre Onana.
Alisson has a higher savings rate of 88 percent compared to Raya’s 80 percent. However, the latter faced more than double the number of shots on target, with 35 to Allison’s 17.
Liverpool’s second choice is Caoimhin Kelleher, a reliable back-keeper but who lacks Raya’s experience between the sticks. Alisson’s absence makes this selection easy.
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Alexander-Arnold has played all but one game for Liverpool this season and has developed into one of Slot’s most important players. He was only absent for their 5-1 Carabao Cup win over West Ham last month.
He has created the most chances of any defender in the league with five and has improved defensively in the new manager’s system. Slot has introduced a more tactical style of pressing, compared to Jurgen Klopp’s ruthless physical approach, which Alexander-Arnold has adopted seamlessly.
Alexander-Arnold is preferred over Arsenal’s Ben White, who is yet to create a chance for the Gunners this season and has experienced a dip in form.
David Raya gets the nod in goal but would have faced a tougher challenge had Alisson been fit
Trent Alexander-Arnold has already established himself as a key part of Slot’s Liverpool plans
CB – Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The absence of William Saliba frees up the starting lane for Van Dijk’s selection in our combined XI. The Dutchman has been perhaps the best central defender in the Premier League for years.
His efforts in 2019 even led him to second place in the Ballon d’Or, behind Lionel Messi. However, with two consecutive PFA Team of the Year selections, Saliba may be next in line for the throne.
Many believe he is already the best defender in the country. Still, Van Dijk deserves his position in our XI due to his suspension.
CB – Gabriel (Arsenal)
Gabriel also comes from a PFA Team of the Year selection and has cemented himself as one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
He played every minute for Arsenal, both in the league and in Europe. In that time he has only been expropriated twice.
Despite Ibrahima Konate’s impressive start to the season, Gabriel is next to Van Dijk in the center back.
LB – Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
With Jurrien Timber expected to miss the case, Robertson will be preferred to Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. The Scot was as dangerous an attacking threat as ever under Slot.
He has created more chances with ten than Bruno Fernandes and Phil Foden, who have eight and six respectively.
Zinchenko has made just two appearances for Arsenal this season and has been left out of the squad on several occasions. Robertson is undoubtedly the best available left back in our team.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has teamed up with Arsenal’s Gabriel, while William Saliba is suspended
CM – Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s No. 6 this season after an up-and-down debut season with the Reds.
Only Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic has completed more passes with 518 than the 22-year-old, who has scored 462 so far. He started every Premier League match under Slot and missed just one minute of action.
He is by far Liverpool’s best midfielder, as evidenced by winning the Player of the Month award in September.
CM – Declan Rice (Arsenal)
After a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2024, many believe Declan Rice’s defensive form has dipped this season. It is striking that he has made only seven tackles, two fewer than Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.
However, Arteta has opted to play the England star in a more advanced role in midfield, encouraging him to be more involved in attack. With this change he has created ten chances, more than any other Arsenal midfielder.
On the face of it, it appears that Rice has been insufficient for the Gunners. But in reality, he proves his versatility in another position and still remains one of their most important players.
He comes ahead of his teammate Thomas Partey in our combined XI.
Ryan Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s best midfielder this season in his new number 6 position
Declan Rice’s standards may have dropped this season, but he is still an integral part of Arsenal
CM – Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
In collaboration with Gravenberch, Liverpool has used Mac Allister as a double pivot in midfield this season.
Traditionally a more attacking midfielder, Mac Allister’s ability to help defensively has made Slot’s side a more solid unit.
He first took on this role under Klopp last season and has continued it flawlessly under the new manager. He is also preferred to Partey in midfield.
LW – Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Neither Liverpool nor Arsenal have a bona fide No. 1 option on the left wing. Diaz and Cody Gakpo have been substituted for the former, while Arteta has been switched between Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
However, in their sporadic opportunities, Diaz has taken his chances more than anyone else. With five goals in eight Premier League games, he is Liverpool’s joint top scorer in the competition.
He claims the spot in our team ahead of the tough competition.
Mohammed Salah has already scored ten goals in eight games this season
Kai Havertz continues to prove early doubters wrong with his stellar form for Arsenal
RW-Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
With ten goals in eight league games, the question is ‘when will Salah slow down?’ The 32-year-old has not missed a beat under Slot, despite many wondering how he would fare following Klopp’s departure.
He has also contributed three goals in as many Champions League games: one goal and two assists.
If Saka was available, this would be a very difficult decision. But with the England star expected to miss the match due to a thigh injury, Salah’s selection on the right flank is a formality.
ST – Kai Havertz (Arsenal)
Havertz has played every minute in the Premier League this season and has been productive in front of goal. His excellent form in 2024 came after many believed his £65 million move from Chelsea was an Arsenal blunder.
This season he scored four goals and contributed one assist in eight league games. Havertz is Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League and silences any discourse that the Gunners need a ‘real’ number 9.
He comfortably earns his place above Diogo Jota in our combined squad, who has scored just two league goals for Liverpool this season.
Our combined XI: Raya, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gabriel, Robertson, Gravenberch, Rice, Mac Allister, Diaz, Salah, Havertz