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
Guardiola confident Man City can avoid fourth straight loss
Pep Guardiola is facing the prospect of losing four consecutive matches for the first time in his career but is confident Manchester City do not need extra reassurance.
All three of City's recent losses have come in different competitions, first falling to Tottenham in the EFL Cup round of 16 before following it up with defeats to Bournemouth in the Premier League and Sporting CP in the Champions League.
It is the first time the Citizens have been on such a run since doing so between May and August 2021, while in the same season, it is the first time since April 2018.
In the Premier League, Guardiola's men were on a 32-match unbeaten run before their defeat to Bournemouth, and they have only lost two consecutive top-flight matches three times under the Spaniard before.
The Spaniard has been vocal about his team's recent injury struggles, and will once again be without Jack Grealish, despite his recent England call-up, John Stones and Ruben Dias for the trip to Brighton on Saturday.
Bernardo Silva said the team were in a "dark place" after their game at Sporting on Tuesday, but Guardiola does not believe he needs to provide any extra motivation to help get his players back to winning ways.
"I don't think [the players need extra reassurance]. Of course, we are not used to losing three games in three different competitions, but it is football, and it has happened," Guardiola said.
"We know the reason why we struggle, but we are looking forward to this game and after the international break, and after that a few players will be back and recovered. All the little problems we have with players will be solved. I hope.
"There always is a first time [to lose four straight]. Hopefully, it is not the case.
"Twenty minutes against Fulham we were not good, against Bournemouth we were not good, but the rest of the games we were good. We are good. We will see what happens."
Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw's record-breaking hat-trick powers Manchester City to 4-0 victory Over Tottenham Hotspur Women
Reggae Girl Khadija "Bunny" Shaw delivered a historic performance on Friday, scoring a hat-trick that led Manchester City Women to a dominant 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur Women in the Barclays Women's Super League (WSL). Shaw's incredible feat helped City extend their lead at the top of the table, reaching 19 points, four clear of Chelsea, who have played two games fewer.
Shaw, who has now scored seven goals in the league this season, wasted no time asserting her dominance, scoring just moments after kick-off. Bursting through on goal, she slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving City an immediate 1-0 lead. In the 15th minute, Shaw struck again, towering over defenders to head home a looping cross from Lauren Hemp. Tottenham’s goalkeeper and fellow Jamaican, Rebecca Spencer, got a hand to it, but Shaw's powerful header proved unstoppable.
City continued to apply pressure, and in the 66th minute, Jill Roord added to the scoreline. After evading a challenge, Hemp found Roord in the box, who shifted the ball onto her left foot and fired it into the roof of the net, making it 3-0. Just a minute later, Shaw completed her hat-trick. Hemp, instrumental throughout, drove down the byline and delivered a precise cross into the box, where Shaw was perfectly positioned to knock it home.
Shaw's hat-trick set new records in the WSL. She became the first player to record three hat-tricks against the same team and broke her teammate Vivianne Miedema’s record with her sixth career hat-trick in the league.
Facing her fellow Reggae Girlz teammates Drew Spence and Rebecca Spencer, Shaw showed why she is one of the most prolific strikers in the league, continuing to propel Manchester City to the top of the WSL standings with her record-breaking performance.
Arsenal 5-0 Brighton: Five-star hosts run riot in statement win
Arsenal got back to winning ways in the Women's Super League, brushing aside high-flying Brighton with an emphatic 5-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Three goals in 12 first-half minutes had put the Gunners out of sight to ensure Renee Slegers continued her unbeaten start as interim boss.
Beth Mead returned to the starting line-up and took just 13 minutes to get her name on the scoresheet, cutting inside from the right to bend a lovely shot into the far-bottom corner.
Brighton were picked apart down their left again shortly after, with Kim Little fizzing a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box, and Caitlin Foord was on hand to turn it in from close range.
Three minutes later, Frida Maanum got a stunning third, whipping a delightful finish into the top-right corner from the edge of the box, and Foord should have got their fourth on the stroke of half-time but fired against the post while off-balance.
Substitute Lina Hurting then rose high in the 76th minute to flick on a corner which neither Sophie Baggaley nor Guro Bergsvand could keep out despite their best efforts.
Stina Blackstenius was dragged down in the penalty area in stoppage time, and Alessia Russo confidently stepped up to bury the resulting spot-kick to send Arsenal fourth in the table.
Data Debrief: Off the mark at home
Slegers looks to have settled into life as Arsenal's interim boss seamlessly, and Arsenal avoided a slip-up against a tricky opponent to register their first home win of the season.
They have now won all 13 of their WSL meetings with Brighton by an aggregate score of 48-2, while it is the fifth clean sheet Arsenal have kept against them at home.
Mead also improved on her already impressive record against Brighton - against no side does she have more combined goals and assists than the Seagulls (13 - eight goals, five assists).
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
