On Sunday, November 1, Anfield will host the main showdown of Matchday 9 in the English Premier League. Reigning champions Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, will travel away to Merseyside to face an in-form Liverpool side under Andoni Iraola. The match kicks off at 18:30 Kyiv time and will serve as a crucial test for both teams in the battle for the top of the table.
Five Wins in a Row: Liverpool at the Peak of Their Form
Andoni Iraola’s men approach the clash with the Gunners in excellent shape. Over their last five matches across all competitions, the Merseysiders have secured five straight victories, highlighting the team's stability and confidence. In the Champions League, Liverpool thrashed LASK (6:3) and overcame Villarreal (4:3), followed that up in the Premier League with wins over Brentford (2:1) and Brighton (2:0), and midweek edged Chelsea out of the League Cup on penalties. Such a run of five consecutive wins amidst a tight schedule makes the Anfield hosts an extremely tough opponent for any visitor.
Squad Issues for the Hosts
Despite their impressive scoring form, the Reds are dealing with severe personnel losses. Due to injuries, the hosts will be without Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Hugo Ekitike against Arsenal. Missing five first-team players is a significant blow to Iraola's rotation depth and tactical flexibility, especially in a match of this magnitude. Exactly how Liverpool's coaching staff compensates for these absences will be one of the main questions heading into the kickoff.
Arsenal: Champion Stability and a Single Blip
The Londoners under Mikel Arteta continue to display the stable play typical of reigning champions. In the previous Premier League round, the Gunners beat Everton (2:0), while in the Champions League they shared the points with Bayern Munich (2:2). The only negative moment in Arsenal’s recent performances was their unexpected League Cup exit to Fleetwood on penalties—a result that certainly surprised all observers. Unlike their opponents, the visitors' squad losses are minimal: only William Saliba will miss the match due to back issues.
Historical Context: 14 Years Without a Win at Anfield
Historical statistics add a special layer of intrigue to the match. Arsenal last won at Anfield way back in September 2012. More than 14 years have passed since then, during which generations of players, managers, and tactical paradigms have changed. For the Gunners, victory on Merseyside would mean much more than just three points; it would represent a symbolic breakthrough of a long winless streak away from home. Liverpool, in turn, will rely on the backing of their home crowd, who traditionally create an atmosphere at Anfield capable of turning the tide of even the most evenly matched game.
Where to Watch the Broadcast
Live video coverage of the Liverpool vs. Arsenal match in Ukraine will be available on the OTT platform and linear TV channels of the official broadcaster, Setanta Sports. The Matchday 9 blockbuster kicks off on November 1 at 18:30 Kyiv time. For fans of both clubs, this will be an opportunity to watch live as two of the strongest teams in the current Premier League season measure themselves in a fixture that is highly likely to influence the ongoing title race.
