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Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has said that despite the potential absences of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at Anfield on Sunday, he feels Liverpool would be happy with a draw against Arsenal.
Both of last season’s top two have started the new campaign with back-to-back victories and are among the three sides to have picked up six points. The Gunners put in a defensively resilient display against Manchester United on the opening weekend and then showed their attacking credentials with a 5-0 win over Leeds United last week.
Liverpool, on the other hand, has looked less resolute in the last two matches. Against Bournemouth and Newcastle United, the Reds established a two-goal lead early in the second half, which the opposition overturned, before Liverpool scored dramatic strikes to take all the points.
While Liverpool would take that again on Sunday, the champions will probably need to show more resilience against a side that has finished second in the last three seasons and strengthened heavily in the summer transfer market.
Another thrilling, high-scoring match is unlikely against the side with the best defensive record in the last two seasons, and one that is yet to concede at the start of the new campaign.
“If I was Liverpool, I’d take a draw,” McAteer told 10bet. “Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are huge misses, but this isn’t the same Arsenal.
“They’ve bought in players and Mikel Arteta has got a great headache now, trying to fit all that talent into just 11 starting players.
“There are going to be players on the bench desperate to start, and [Noni] Madueke and [Martin] Zubamendi are looking good. There are options for them even with these two injuries.
“For Liverpool, they’re without a recognised right-back and we’re not sure if Conor Bradley will be fit. For Liverpool, they will be more than happy with another last-minute winner, especially the fans.
“But my hope is that the fixture matches the quality of the players, and they don’t cancel each other out.
“It’s a hugely exciting match, and both sides are in a really good position with plenty of talent. I think given all that, a draw is what I’d be looking for.”
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