- Arsenal are set to travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool in a top-flight clash
- Kai Havertz must keep a close eye on Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Arsenal were better guarded last season and played riskier football, BUT they have more steel now… it could take them to the title – It all starts
Liverpool have not lost at home in the Premier League in 2023 and there will be a frenzied atmosphere on Saturday after Jurgen Klopp fanned the flames with his fans this week.
If Arsenal want to ruin that record in the final game of the year at Anfield, Mikel Arteta's team must find the perfect balance between attack and defense.
Arsenal have used the same three-man midfield in their last three top-flight games. While Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz push into advanced positions from the right and left respectively, Declan Rice is the middleman who stays at home. He acts as the main protector of central defenders William Saliba and Gabriel.
That triangle provided the foundation for Arsenal's success, with Rice proving himself to be one of the best in Europe. But Odegaard and Havertz will have to show a desire to help defensively on Saturday.
This is a defining game, especially for Havertz. It seems he has turned a corner in terms of his creativity of late, but he will have to compete against Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Liverpool man moves from his inverted right-back position into midfield.
Kai Havertz has been in good goalscoring form for Arsenal in recent weeks
Arsenal need him to keep a close eye on Liverpool playmaker Trent Alexander-Arnold on Saturday
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Alexander-Arnold has six assists in the Premier League against Arsenal – more than against any other opponent – and most of those came from wide areas. Now that he's playing centrally, he's doing even more damage. A player with his vision cannot be given time and space.
When Alexander-Arnold steps in from Havertz's side, he must be eliminated. Liverpool love to flood the midfield and as talented as he is, Rice can't pick everyone up while trying to protect Saliba and Gabriel.
Klopp wants the Anfield crowd at full capacity and the Arsenal players almost have to play with earplugs in as they stick to their plan and play their football. They will look to attack Liverpool as that is Arteta's main philosophy, but they must also ensure they are well prepared to defend well. If and when they come under pressure, Arsenal's poise will be sorely tested.
There is no doubting the potential of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, and perhaps it is these two that Klopp would most like to see get full support from the stands on Saturday.
Nunez gets himself into good positions with his bursts from behind – he has clocked the fastest sprint in the Premier League at 38.61km/h – and he never shies away from shooting on sight.
Cody Gakpo (left) could just edge Darwin Nunez (right) for the Anfield showdown
But his shot conversion of 8.51 percent shows that he lacks confidence and composure in front of goal.
Gakpo's conversion rate is only marginally better at 9.52 percent, but Klopp hopes the Dutchman's strike against West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Saturday will provide a confidence boost.
I expect Gakpo to start up front, with Nunez battling it out with Luis Diaz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.
Nunez and Gakpo will be hoping this is the match where things click for them in the Premier League. If there was ever a match to show your worth, it's when your big title rivals come to town.