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Premier League | Gameweek 11
Nov 3, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
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1-1

Lacazette (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Milner (61')

Combined XI: Arsenal vs. Liverpool

Sports Mole selects its combined XI from the Arsenal and Liverpool squads ahead of Saturday's top-four showdown between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium.

Two of the top four go head to head on Saturday evening when Arsenal welcome unbeaten Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium.

The match will pit two impressive records against each other as Arsenal look to extend a run of 13 games without defeat - including 12 wins - while Liverpool bid to make it 11 games unbeaten at the start of a Premier League campaign for only the second time.

Jurgen Klopp's side go into the weekend sitting level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table, whereas Arsenal are two places and four points further back.

Here, Sports Mole selects a combined XI from both squads, only using players who are available this weekend.



Combined XI: ARS vs. LIV

Liverpool dominate the combined XI for this match, particularly in defence where the back five all come from Klopp's side - starting with goalkeeper Alisson Becker chosen ahead of both Bernd Leno and Petr Cech.

With Arsenal suffering a defensive injury crisis ahead of the match, including doubts over Hector Bellerin, the main dilemma is whether to choose Joe Gomez as a right-back or a centre-back, but Klopp has preferred the youngster out wide recently with Dejan Lovren therefore selected ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The rest of the back four is more straightforward, though, with Virgil van Dijk continuing to have an immeasurable impact on the Liverpool defence and Andrew Robertson establishing himself as one of the best left-backs in the division, despite being rested against Cardiff City last weekend.

Rumoured Liverpool target Aaron Ramsey might usually challenge for a place in the team, but he has been out of favour under Unai Emery in recent weeks. Georginio Wijnaldum is also unfortunate to miss out as Mesut Ozil narrowly earns a place ahead of the Dutchman as Arsenal's first representative in the team.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is expected to return from a hamstring problem this weekend and so takes his place in the team alongside James Milner, who is also expected to be brought back into the Liverpool XI after being rested against Cardiff.

It could quite easily be an all-Liverpool front three too, but Sadio Mane is the unfortunate one to miss out despite scoring twice last time out. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gets the nod on that left wing having scored five goals in his last three league games and a joint-league leading seven this season.

Roberto Firmino has not been in the goals as much as Mane and Mohamed Salah - or indeed Alexandre Lacazette - but his importance to the Liverpool team cannot be overstated, and his recent performances have been instrumental in helping Salah to get back on the goal trail with four in his last three.

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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in action during the Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on August 25, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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