Mikel Arteta has "full respect and admiration" for Jurgen Klopp and says there is no lasting grudge between the pair as Arsenal prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield.
Arsenal manager Arteta was involved in a touchline bust-up with Klopp during this corresponding fixture last season, which Liverpool went on to win 4-0.
The Gunners have come a long way since that match in November 2021 and enter Sunday's latest encounter on Merseyside 29 points better off than their opponents.
With Arsenal top of the table and on course for a first title in 19 years, Arteta sees no reason for himself and his players to lose their cool this time around.
"That's football," Arteta said of his previous falling out with Klopp. "After that, we hugged each other and moved on.
"I have full respect and admiration for what he and the coaching staff have done at Liverpool. We move on.
"I reacted that day to defend our players in the best possible way. But I don't like seeing myself like this, so hopefully I won't do it again. We know we must [keep our composure]."
Arsenal have won seven league games on the spin to retain an eight-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand and host the Gunners later this month.
Liverpool have taken just one point from their past three games, meanwhile, but they have won six of their past seven home league matches.
The Reds have not conceded in seven hours and 26 minutes of league football at Anfield, but Klopp accepts his side cannot rely on their home form alone to save their season.
"Anfield is not the only thing we should rely on, but it is no secret that the combination of our people, the ground and the boys is pretty good," he said.
"That is what we have to throw in, but not rely on it. I have a very good feeling we can [overcome Arsenal]."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Klopp took the surprising decision to make six changes for the midweek 0-0 draw against Chelsea, with Salah among those to drop down to the substitutes' bench.
Salah should return this weekend, and he is in great form at Anfield, where he is looking to score in four straight league games for the first time since a run of six ended in June 2020.
Arsenal – Leandro Trossard
January recruit Trossard has made a big impact since arriving at Arsenal from Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring one goal and assisting seven in 11 appearances for the club.
He scored a hat-trick at Anfield for Brighton in October and could become the first player to score there for two separate away sides in a single Premier League season.
MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN
This will be the ninth time Arsenal have faced Liverpool while top of the Premier League, with the previous eight producing 33 goals at an average of over four per game.
Arsenal won the reverse meeting with Liverpool 3-2 in October and are seeking a Premier League double in this fixture for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.
But Liverpool have performed well on home soil and have won their past six league games against Arsenal at Anfield, scoring at least three times in each game.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Liverpool – 51.0 per cent
Arsenal – 22.6 per cent
Draw – 26.4 per cent
'Age is not an issue', insists energised Casemiro
Casemiro insists "age is not an issue" and the midfielder is feeling optimistic about the future at Manchester United.
The Brazil international and his team-mates have endured a frustrating season at Old Trafford, with the club in danger of suffering their lowest Premier League finish in eighth place.
Casemiro enjoyed a successful first campaign with the Red Devils, who he helped to a third-place finish and victory in the Carabao Cup.
However, injuries have prevented the 32-year-old from building on that momentum this term, with critics suggesting his age is preventing him from coping with the physical demands of the English top flight.
But the former Real Madrid midfielder rubbished those suggestions, highlighting notable examples of players shining in their mid to late 30s.
"I feel very well, very well," he told Sky Sports. "I feel healthy, with energy and the same mentality I always had.
"I guess people end up talking about the age factor, but it's been proven. Recently, our friend Thiago Silva - at the age of 39, came here and showed that, yes, you can play. The previous Ballon d'Or winners were over 34.
"At Manchester City, there's Kevin De Bruyne. (Mo) Salah at Liverpool. I think age is not an issue, it is not a factor in this, but analysing one's game and knowing about everything that is happening around the game.
"These are people who analyse football well, who see what's happening, who know what's happening, and not analyse the age.
"But I'm well, I'm happy. As I usually say, Manchester United gave me what I wanted - this joy of being able to enjoy the game, enjoy the Premier League. So, I'm happy to be here."
United conclude their Premier League season away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, before facing rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
Casemiro believes the vast number of injuries have played a crucial factor in the Red Devils' struggles this term.
"It's been a season of a lot of sacrifices for all of us, with the injuries and players adapting," he added. "So, it's been very hard for us.
"The manager came to ask me [to play at centre-half], and I told him I'm always available. That's the way I am; trying to help, committing to the team and to the coaching staff. So, when he asked me, I didn’t even hesitate.
"I think we had over 60 or 70 injuries. I've never seen this in my life.
"It is hard to think about winning a Premier League when you have so many injuries to important players, players that you think will be able to play throughout the season, and you can't count on them."
Arsenal 'can't get too emotional' ahead of final day, Odegaard insists
Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal not to become "too emotional" ahead of their showdown with Everton on the final day of the Premier League season.
The title race is going right down to the wire with the second-place Gunners, who are two points behind leaders Manchester City but boast a superior goal difference, needing a victory, while hoping Pep Guardiola's side fail to beat West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal had hoped for a helping hand from rivals Tottenham when they welcomed City on Tuesday, but Erling Haaland's brace put the Citizens on the brink of a record-breaking fourth straight Premier League crown.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta's side are still in with a chance of claiming their first title in 20 years, and Odegaard insists he and his team-mates are focused on taking care of their own result at the Emirates.
"Obviously, you look at the results, and we were hoping," he told TNT Sports when asked about Tottenham's clash with City. "We spoke about it the day after, and we have to focus on ourselves, we can't get too emotional about it.
"We have one more game, at home. It's the last game of the season and our goal and our task is clear, we have to win that.
"We'll see what happens. That's our mindset now; win that last game, give the fans a good last game and we'll see. It's out of our control and, as I said, we just focus on our game."
It is the second season running that Arsenal are running City close; the Gunners eventually falling away having led the Premier League table for the majority of the campaign.
However, they have managed to stay with their title rivals this time around, and Odegaard is delighted by the strides the squad has made in the space of 12 months.
"I would say amazing," the skipper said when assessing the Gunners' season. "We've taken good steps and I feel like we're a much better team compared to last season.
"We've had some really good games, some good results, and we are now there until the last day, to push for it."
Guardiola: Foden can still get better after Player of the Year award
Pep Guardiola thinks Phil Foden can still get better, after the 23-year-old winning the Premier League’s Player of the Year.
Foden has been a pivotal part of City’s title challenge this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in the top-flight in 2023-24.
It is the youngster’s most prolific scoring season for City, while only six players have bettered Foden’s goal haul in the Premier League.
When asked about the strides that Foden has made this season, leading him to the award, Guardiola praised the England international’s influence on the squad.
"Obviously, he makes a step forward as a football player. In terms of minutes or time, but he's decisive in winning games," Guardiola said.
"Maybe before it was a glimpse of action, but now it's consistent. That is the truth, but they still have a margin. Sometimes his game is overexcited, it's over, and you have to be more calm because his excitement he has for himself, but we'll have question of time, but this season has been really, really important. Really, really important."
Foden has bettered his tally of 11 goals from last season and leads City’s squad for chances created this campaign with 68.
"He's moving forward, but I had the feeling he can be better, and I think he can do it because I've said many times, that he loves football," Guardiola added.
"He enjoys being on the pitch, and I think the feeling doesn't like when you have the day off.
"He likes to be in the training session doing less or more and I had the feeling it still can be better."
Manchester City can win a fourth-consecutive Premier League title on Sunday against West Ham, if they can match or better Arsenal's result.
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