Given the current flakiness of both these teams' seasons so far, you could be forgiven for wondering why we've picked this as the Big Game this week.
True, the Manchester United-Aston Villa game probably actually ranks as more important in the big scheme of things right now. That one pitches the second-placed team against the fifth, rather than lowly seventh versus third.
But, y'know... this is Liverpool and Arsenal! No disrespect to Aston Villa of course, but while they're admirable pretenders to the top-four elite, they're not members of that little club just yet. When it comes to gravitas and a sense of occasion, there's little that competes with the Liverpool-Arsenal game this weekend.
We Played It!
Pre-match pundits will tell us this one's too tough one to call. Arsenal are even more injury ravaged than Liverpool, while the Reds are suffering a critical, long-lasting bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder. But it's Liverpool who'll do all the running in front of their home crowd.
On 20 minutes, Arsenal's Bacary Sagna will earn a yellow card for a reckless lunge at Albert Riera. The yellow won't be the end of it though. Alberto Aquilani (yes, he will absolutely definitely start his first Premiership game this weekend) will whip a tantalising free kick into the box, where it will be met by the returning Fernando Torres to head home for Liverpool's opener.
There'll be lots of closely fought midfield too-ing and fro-ing after that, with little to sing about for either set of fans. Liverpool, however, will cling fastidiously to their lead, allowing Arsenal nary a whiff of Pepe Reina's goal. Arsene Wenger will come to truly rue his dearth of strikers, with his team never really coming close to finding the back of the net at Anfield.
The result will be put beyond doubt when David N'gog fails to hit the crossbar again, despite trying really hard. Unlike his miss against Blackburn the previous week, his chip over the keeper will shave the underside of the bar on the way in.
FINAL SCORE: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
But what do YOU think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments thread below. And get a match going between Liverpool and Arsenal on FIFA 10 and post links here to the best goals you can score.
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