Liverpool and Arsenal will compete for the Christmas number one place when they play on Saturday, with both having a wonderful opportunity to build up a large lead over absent champions Manchester City, who are in Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup.
If there is no winner at Anfield, Aston Villa, who are third in the standings, may be top at Christmas for the first time since 1999 if their incredible home record continues against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
A victory for the Gunners at Anfield would be their first in the Premier League in 11 years, and coach Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to do so by learning from last year’s stinging humiliation of blowing a 2-0 lead.
The Gunners go to Liverpool on Saturday knowing that a win would put them atop the standings at Christmas.
If the visitors are to do that, they must halt a run of league results dating back to September 2012, when they defeated Arsenal 2-0 when Arteta was in the Arsenal midfield.
“It is always great to be in the highest position in this league and we will try to maintain that, but we have to be intelligent to manage the game,” Arteta said in a press conference on Friday. “Last time we beat them was a while ago and it was a good moment, which is something we can replicate tomorrow…”
This week, the Spaniard celebrated four years as Arsenal manager, during which time he oversaw victories against Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, as well as this season’s victory over Manchester City at the Emirates.
“We have done it at Old Trafford, we have done it at Stamford Bridge and many other places where we haven’t done it for years,” he said.
“The next challenge is to go there and win.” If you want to be at the top, you must go to those locations and dominate them. That is exactly what we want to accomplish.”
Last year, Arsenal built a 2-0 lead at Anfield before being pressed back and forced to settle for a draw.
It was the start of a four-game losing streak that lost the Gunners crucial points in their pursuit of their first Premier League championship since 2004, and they were finally overtaken by Manchester City.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Arteta said.
“The two teams are in a really good place, in a really good position, in a really strong position.” They will be well-positioned to win and go for it. It’s going to be a tough contest.
“You have to outperform them. If you are dominating and better than them, you will hush the throng.”
Arteta acknowledged that there were areas of last year’s game that should be improved.
“The way we allowed them to run in particular is something we need to correct and improve on because when they have that momentum and space, they are a very dangerous team.”
“But there were some big, big situations where we could have killed the game and didn’t — when you have that opportunity, you have to take it.”
“They’ve been dealing with it for a long time. For this set of players, it is the third or fourth time they have visited Anfield.
“A few years ago, it was most of them’s first time, and you may need to clarify and explain certain things.” “I don’t believe that is necessary right now.”
Meanwhile, after a dismal 0-0 draw at home against Manchester United last weekend, Jurgen Klopp has called for an electric atmosphere to guarantee Arsenal’s winless streak at Anfield continues.
“We need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach,” Klopp stated after Wednesday’s 5-1 hammering of West Ham in the League Cup quarter-finals.
“If it is too much football in December, if you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else.”