The long-awaited 2025/26 Premier League has just kicked off with the last season’s champions, Liverpool, hosting Bournemouth at home in their first match. Two late goals in the 88th and 94th minutes saw the Reds clinch a late 4-2 win over Bournemouth. New signings, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, made their debut under Arne Slot, with the former PSG man finding the net first. The Reds, with their blend of attacking flair and defensive discipline, face Arsenal next. And the North London club will be one of the biggest tests on their way to glory.
Let’s take a look at some points in their favour against Mikel Arteta’s men.
1. New signings spark attack
Newly signed players, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, showed their stuff on their debut against Bournemouth, with the former finding the net and assisting Gakpo’s goal. With Salah in the mix, this duo’s link-up play can disrupt Arsenal’s defence.
2. Salah’s clinical edge
Liverpool’s Mo Salah’s pre-season display confirms that he’s not giving up on adding more goals to his name. Moreover, Arsenal have shown vulnerabilities in defence in a couple of matches, a weakness that could be a plus for Salah. The Reds could leverage Salah’s ability to exploit the Gunners’ backline, potentially sealing the deal for a win. SportyTrader provides reliable predictions on soccer matches like this one, including match outcome and player prop options assuming you want to bet on Salah’s performance in the game.
3. Midfield control
The Mac Allister-Szoboszlai combination will also be very critical in the game. They have looked promising in the pre-season outings with good ball control, pressing, and fluid passing. The duo behind Salah, Wirtz, and Gakpo are poised to match Arsenal’s intensity by holding the ball longer to avoid being outmanoeuvred.
4. Defensive resilience
Defenders don’t come better than Virgil Van Dijk, and of course, he’ll be a key asset in favour of The Reds against Arsenal. Van Dijk’s partnership with Ibrahima Konate has been solid, preventing teams like Sevilla from penetrating during the pre-season. What the pair brings can go some way to neutralising the Gunners’ front line and giving Bukayo Saka a real headache from dead-ball situations.
5. Managing emotions
Slot’s team has shown to be highly spirited, but when they keep their head focused on the objective, they’re the best team in the league. Arne Slot and his men must remain focused to handle Anfield’s intensity when playing against Arsenal. If they do that, there’s a good chance they can unravel the Gunners’ advance.
Defeating Arsenal will be the main focus for Liverpool. And their new signings, Salah’s clinical edge, midfield control, defence resilience, and emotional management will be the key to dismantling a trophy-seeking Arsenal.