Arsenal handed huge advantage ahead of Liverpool clash amid Premier League title race

Arsenal are preparing to face Liverpool at Anfield in a huge Premier League title clash with both teams competing at the top of the table

Arsenal will have a huge advantage over Liverpool when the two sides go head-to-head at Anfield this weekend. The Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table following their 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp's side had the chance to reclaim top spot, but failed to do so as they dropped points against Manchester United at Anfield. Liverpool's failure to finish their chances saw them drop to second - just a single point behind Arsenal ahead of their meeting on Merseyside.

It was a weekend that saw a number of result go the Gunners' way, with Manchester City's drawing 2-2 against Crystal Palace meaning the north Londoners are now five points above the reigning champions. Aston Villa were able to come from behind and pick up a crucial three points against Brentford, putting Unai Emery's side level on points with Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta's side have a huge advantage going into the game at Anfield this weekend after their departure from the Carabao Cup earlier this season. Arsenal were knocked out of the competition after losing to West Ham at the London Stadium - with the Hammers set to face Liverpool in a quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.

This means the Reds will only have a few days to rest and recover ahead of their huge clash against the Gunners at the weekend. Meanwhile, Arteta will have a full week to prepare his players for the trip to Anfield - a ground where they haven't won since 2012.

The extra rest and preparation period gives the likes of Jorginho time to recover from injury, while allowing key players to recover from an intense game against Brighton last weekend. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all impressed in the win against Roberto De Zerbi's side and Arteta will hope they can make the difference again when they face Klopp's side.

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Havertz will be available for selection after avoiding a yellow card against Brighton - meaning he remains on four bookings in the Premier League so far this season. As for Liverpool, it looks likely that Ryan Gravenberch will miss the game against the Gunners after sustaining a hamstring issue in the draw against United on Sunday.

"We will see. They told me directly after the game that it got worse during the game, so that means it was not 'bam'," Klopp said when offering an update on the Dutch midfielder.

"He felt a little bit and didn't show immediately," the Liverpool boss continued. "We hoped it would go by, it didn't.

"There was this really intense spirit with the ball which ended on the 18-yard line with a collision.

“I hope it is not that serious but we have in the next 10 days three more games, so I don’t know if he will be part of them or one of them. We will see, we have to make a scan.”

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