As the players have already left For the African Cup of Nations and AFC Asian Cup, Liverpool will have the opportunity to see how they will line up without Mohamed Salah in a competitive match that will not impact the title race as they will face Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup. While Jurgen Klopp would like to defeat Arsenal and advance to the FA Cup, it is also good that Liverpool can play their first game without Salah this season against strong opposition with no Premier League points at stake, preparing themselves for what is to come.
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Here are our storylines, how to watch the game and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Sunday January 7 | Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- Location: The Emirates Stadium — London
- TV: None | Direct: ESPN+
- Odds: Arsenal-104; Draw +270; Liverpool +240
Scenarios
Arsenal: If the Gunners are also impacted by international tournaments, only Mohamed Elney and Takehiro Tomiyasu will be absent for the international selection. Without a win for three consecutive matches, this is a must-win for Mikel Arteta's men even if points are not on the line. After a credible draw against Liverpool, Arsenal struggled to lose against West Ham United and Fulham . Confidence will need to be restored ahead of a race which includes another meeting with Liverpool which will be vital to the title race.
Liverpool: There's a decision to be made on resting or winning starters here and it could go either way on an away trip they'll take twice a month. The Reds are in a good position at the top of the Premier League with three points clear, but picking up an injury in an FA Cup match could derail their title hopes.
Prediction
Arsenal will get the job done at home as the Gunners' poor run of form comes to an end before a few winnable league matches. Take: Arsenal 2, Liverpool 1