The headline fixture of the 9th matchday of the English Premier League will be the clash between Liverpool and Arsenal, taking place at Anfield. Experts and bookmakers give a slight edge to the Gunners, however, according to analyst Andrii Stoliarchuk, this is a classic matchup where the chances of both teams can be described as "50-50". The match promises to be fiercely contested: at stake are not only league points but also a number of milestone statistical marks for both sides.
Anfield's History Against Arsenal
Looking at the head-to-head history, Arsenal find it extremely difficult to play at Anfield: the Londoners are on a 13-match winless away streak against Liverpool, with their last Premier League win at this stadium dating back to 2013. Additional context is provided by the previous season: Liverpool were the only team not to concede a single goal against Arsenal in their two league meetings — one match ended in a 0-0 draw, while the other was won 1-0 by the Merseysiders.
Statistics That Are "Broken" by the New Defenses
At the same time, the overall head-to-head statistics look contradictory: between 2016 and 2025, the teams played 19 Premier League matches, with at least two goals scored in every single one, averaging 4.1 goals per game. According to the author, this trend is shifting due to Mikel Arteta's tactical philosophy, which places immense emphasis on defensive balance. Based on the dynamics of previous seasons, Arsenal look like the best team in the league at organizing defensive actions, having essentially found a near-perfect formula in front of their own goal.
Liverpool Under Iraola: From Slumps to Clean Sheets
Liverpool have also noticeably improved defensively. The team started the season poorly under Andoni Iraola, conceding many goals, but in their last six matches, the Merseysiders have kept four clean sheets. A fresh example is the 2-0 home victory over Brighton, one of the main early-season positive newsmakers, where the opponent was completely shut out. Liverpool's only defeat of the season came against Manchester City and, in the author's estimation, was the result of Ryan Gravenberch's red card: the Merseysiders were dominating the pitch until that point, and without that incident, the team would very likely not have lost and perhaps even won.
Key Individuals and Prediction
Among Liverpool's key figures, Alexander Isak stands out, having scored six goals in his last six matches: two-thirds of the team's goals in recent fixtures are to his name. Isak received a breather during the international break, coming on only at the very end of the game against Chelsea, and according to the author, will be 100% ready. For Arsenal, the threat is distributed across the entire team — a telling sign was their last match, where center-backs, including Gabriel, got on the scoresheet. Against this backdrop, a tight, low-scoring "three-way result" affair with 50-50 chances is expected.
A Milestone Mark for Arsenal
Special attention should be paid to a statistical milestone: if Arsenal win, it will be their 300th away victory in Premier League history. Following Manchester United, the Londoners will become only the second team to reach this milestone. However, as the author concludes, achieving this by beating Liverpool at Anfield will be extremely difficult for the Gunners.
