GAMEWEEK 9: LIVERPOOL CHASE, ARSENAL DEFEND
A huge Anfield showdown could shake up the title race, while Carrick fights to revive United at Chelsea. Plus, our weekend predictions and Fantasy Hurdle picks.
THIS WEEKEND FIXTURES All times ET / PT
GAME OF THE WEEK
LIVERPOOL vs ARSENAL
WHY THIS GAME:
It doesn’t get much bigger than Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield!
Arsenal arrive as defending champions and joint-top of the Premier League on points, while Liverpool are finally finding their feet under Andoni Iraola. The Reds are building momentum, and a victory here would send a serious message to the rest of the league.
The Gunners haven't won a Premier League match at Anfield since September 2012, over 14 years ago! And here's the remarkable part: Mikel Arteta was in Arsenal's starting XI that day. Can he finally end that miserable run, this time from the dugout?
Arsenal have a point to prove after their embarrassing Carabao Cup exit against League Two Fleetwood. Mikel Arteta certainly wasn't happy, and he'll be expecting a response from his players.
Six points separate the two sides, and a lot is at stake. Are Liverpool genuinely back, or will Arsenal remind everyone why they're champions?
KEY BATTLES TO WATCH:
Liverpool's BIG W vs Arsenal's Defensive Wall
Barcola, Isak, Gakpo and Wirtz are beginning to click, but they're about to face their toughest test yet.
Arsenal have the Premier League's meanest defense, conceding just five goals in eight matches. With Ezri Konsa and Gabriel protecting David Raya, breaking them down won't be easy.
Both managers kept one eye on this fixture all week. Arteta rested center-back Gabriel and goalkeeper David Raya against Fleetwood, while Konsa played just the final few minutes. Iraola also rotated against Chelsea, with forwards Isak, Barcola and Wirtz starting on the bench.
With Isak finding his scoring touch, Wirtz growing in confidence and Gakpo causing problems out wide, Liverpool have plenty of attacking options.
Can Arsenal keep Liverpool's BIG W quiet, or will the Reds finally find a way through that defensive wall?
BOT90 PREDICTION:
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
This could go either way, but I'm backing Liverpool to edge it.
Arsenal are defensively excellent and will be desperate to bounce back from their cup embarrassment. But Liverpool have momentum, home advantage, and an attacking quartet capable of producing something special, whilst their defense has looked stronger recently.
I expect Arsenal to make life difficult, but I fancy Liverpool's BIG W to make the difference.
A 2–1 win for Liverpool, and suddenly the title race gets a whole lot more interesting!
ONE TO WATCH
MICHAEL CARRICK
WHY HIM:
Eight games without a win in all competitions, 16th in the Premier League, and fresh from a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Things aren't looking good for Michael Carrick at Manchester United.
Pressure is mounting, but United's hierarchy have given him another chance, and Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge is a massive test for a team short of ideas and confidence.
Things haven't been smooth off the pitch either. Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned Carrick's tactics after the defeat to Como, while Lisandro Martínez had his own frustrations with the club's hierarchy. Both ended up on the bench against Bournemouth.
Carrick has reportedly cleared the air with Fernandes, but has he got the dressing room back onside?
WATCH FOR:
Team selection and tactics.
Does Carrick bring Fernandes and Martínez back into the starting XI, or stick with the players who lost to Bournemouth? We expect some big changes from that team that looked so weak.
United's pressing and defensive organization have been major concerns, and Chelsea will look to exploit them, especially with the attacking threat they have at their disposal.
But this is also about the reaction. Will United show some fight for their manager, or will it be another afternoon to forget?
BOT90 SAYS:
Chelsea 2–2 Manchester United
United haven't given us much reason to be optimistic lately, but this squad still has plenty of quality. Carrick will again look to Mbeumo for goals, but expect Cunha, and possibly Bruno Fernandes, to show renewed passion as they look to prove a point after a poor start to the season.
Chelsea will fancy themselves at Stamford Bridge, but we are backing United to show character and take a point.
Prediction: A 2-2 draw. Carrick gets a lifeline, and the pressure eases. For now.
3 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE KICKOFF
PIERRE PRESSURE MEETS THE SPURS REVIVAL!
Pierre Sage finally got some breathing room on Wednesday as Crystal Palace beat Fulham 1-0 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, thanks to Eddie Nketiah’s winner and a returning Dean Henderson.
But the Pierre Pressure hasn’t disappeared in the Premier League! Next up is another London derby against a rejuvenated Tottenham side, fresh from victories over Coventry and Chelsea.
Spurs have enjoyed a midweek rest, while Palace have juggled league, European, and cup commitments. James Maddison remains a fitness concern for Tottenham, while Palace remain without Ismaïla Sarr, who is sidelined with a groin injury.
Can Sage keep the revival going, or will Spurs turn up the pressure?
BRIGHTON LOOKING FOR REVENGE!
These two meet again on Saturday, just three days after their entertaining 2-2 Carabao Cup clash, which Manchester City won on penalties.
Both managers rotated heavily, with City making nine changes and Brighton seven. Most notably, Erling Haaland was given the night off, so Brighton can expect an even tougher test this weekend.
The Seagulls twice led on Wednesday and arguably deserved more. Fabian Hürzeler will fancy another crack at City, especially with Brighton looking to prove they belong among the Premier League's top four.
Can Brighton keep Haaland quiet, or will City make it two wins in four days?
THREE POINTS WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!
Hull and Ipswich are both holding their own after promotion to the Premier League, but Saturday's clash could be crucial in their fight to stay up. With three points on the line, both sides will see this as a big chance to strengthen their position.
All eyes will be on two exciting attacking talents. Ipswich's Julio Enciso has the creativity to unlock any defense, while Hull's Algerian winger Mohamed Belloumi has already chipped in with three goals and two assists this season.
Both have shown they belong at this level, but can either produce that moment of magic to settle what could be a crucial six-pointer?
BOT90 BIG TAKE
The Premier League Is Heading for a BIG Draw Weekend!
With the League Cup taking place in midweek and the season starting to take shape, we reckon a few teams might be happy to play it safe this weekend rather than risk coming away with nothing.
Hull vs Ipswich, Coventry vs Sunderland, Bournemouth vs Leeds and Brentford vs Nottingham Forest all have draws written all over them.
And then there's Liverpool vs Arsenal. We've already backed Liverpool to take all three points in our Game of the Week, but with two heavyweights going head-to-head at Anfield, we wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled each other out and shared the spoils!
We might be completely wrong, but we're sticking our necks out on this one!
Four or more draws in Gameweek 9!
GAMEWEEK 8 RECAP: AFC ATLANTIC
GAME POINTS:
43 POINTS
BOT90 LEAGUE POSITION:
JOINT 1ST
OVERALL POINTS:
540 POINTS
BEST PERFORMANCE:
ALEXANDER ISAK
BIGGEST MISTAKE
VAN HECKE ON THE BENCH
BOT90 VERDICT
HOLDING ON TO TOP SPOT
THE FANTASY HURDLE
CAPTAIN PICK:
ERLING HAALAND
SAME CAPTAIN. SAME CONFIDENCE
AVOID LIST:
JOAO PEDRO
THIGH INJURY. TIME TO SELL
SLEEPER PICK:
EVANILSON
LOW OWNERSHIP, IN FORM.
