Arsenal Liverpool Teams – This Saturday the traditional season-opener for English football returns. With just a four-week turnaround since the FA Cup Final.
This has been the swiftest break between seasons for teams in recent memory. However, the three-month postponement of professional football caused by the Coronavirus in March was a longer break than the standard interval between seasons in English football.
Another good workout to end our productive 10 day camp 💪🏻
More than happy to keep feeding the goal machine ⚽️⚽️#brewsteronflames 🔥#lfcpreseason 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/Fjqnyq0bc0— James Milner (@JamesMilner) August 25, 2020
PRESEASON FRIENDLIES
With respect to both teams, it is Liverpool who has had the more time to prepare for the restart since their season ended with the completion of the Premier League in the last week of July. Arsenal meanwhile endured another week of a grueling season before their victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. Although a single week may seem like nothing in terms of a break, it has allowed the Premier League champions to hold a pre-season training camp in Austria. As part of this they had two friendly games to dust off the cobwebs against VfB Stuttgart and Red Bull Salzburg, winning and drawing respectively.
Mikel Arteta’s team have not had the same luxury.
His core players who defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup Final only returned to training last weekend in London Colney. They have not been able to schedule friendlies like their Premier League rivals against foreign opposition and instead had to make do with a short trip to MK Dons on Tuesday night. Despite the 4-1 victory, they can expect to face a far tougher match in Wembley.
Pre-season? Up and running ✅ pic.twitter.com/ROHCMf3Wuv
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 25, 2020
Pre-season? Up and running ✅ pic.twitter.com/ROHCMf3Wuv
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 25, 2020
Probable Arsenal Liverpool Teams
Neither team has major injury concerns ahead of the game, but it is unlikely that we will see two full strength sides. Klopp dismissed a knock sustained to Van Dijk against Salzburg, saying it ‘will not be a problem’ after the game. Liverpool’s new signing Kostas Tsimikas could make a debut as well as Willian for Arsenal following his free transfer from London rivals Chelsea. One player who will be closely watched is young Arsenal defender William Saliba. The French center-back joined the club this summer despite being signed by Unai Emery in 2019 and is followed by high expectations.
The game is ultimately a great chance for these two sides to up the intensity of their pre-season schedules ahead of the league’s return on the 12th of September. Expect to see a lot of young players given a chance to impress the management. Even though people call it nothing more than a glorified friendly.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Saliba, Luiz, Tierney; Cedric, Willock, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Nketiah, Aubameyang
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Williams, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Brewster, Mane
