Late drama, old rivalry: Arsenal v Liverpool set for Thursday night fireworks

Arsenal and Liverpool meet in a fixture steeped in history, and it’s one that hasn’t been kind to the Gunners. No team has beaten Arsenal more often in the Premier League than Liverpool – 26 times, level with Manchester United. Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport.

The Reds arrive chasing another milestone: an eighth league double over Arsenal, and their first since 2021/22. They already hold the record for most doubles against the Gunners, with seven.

Arsenal’s defensive struggles in this matchup are well documented. They’ve conceded in each of their last 20 Premier League games against Liverpool, a run stretching back to a goalless draw in August 2015. Only United (30 straight between 1953–68) and Spurs (24 between 1955–67) have inflicted longer streaks without a clean sheet in Arsenal’s league history.

There’s a touch of novelty to this one too. It’s the first ever Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Liverpool on a Thursday. Their last Thursday clash came way back in December 1947 at Anfield, when Arsenal won 3-1. With this game, Liverpool become just the second team Arsenal have faced on all seven days of the week in the Premier League, after Southampton.

The Premier League champions travel to the team making the biggest claim for their title 🏆

Arsenal v Liverpool at the Emirates 🏟️#SSPremierLeague #ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/x5ujLQhDAd — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 8, 2026

Form-wise, Arsenal are flying at home. They’ve won seven straight league matches at the Emirates, their best run under Mikel Arteta since a 10-game streak between April and December 2022.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have developed a knack for late drama. Only Burnley’s games have produced more goals in the 90th minute or later this season (10) than Liverpool’s nine – five for, four against. The Reds have only seen more last-minute goals in three previous campaigns: 2023/24 (13), 2008/09 (12), and 2010/11 (10).

Arsenal have also built a reputation for upsetting champions at home. They’ve beaten Manchester City at the Emirates in each of the last two seasons. The last time they managed three consecutive home wins against reigning champions was in the early 1960s, when they toppled Spurs, Ipswich, and Everton.

Bukayo Saka is chasing a slice of history of his own. He’s scored in each of his last three Premier League home games against Liverpool. No Arsenal player has ever found the net in four straight home league matches against the Reds.

The midfield battle promises quality too. Only Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more open-play sequences ending in a shot this season (116) than Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai (103). Per 90 minutes, only Jérémy Doku (7.2) and Fernandes (7.1) rank higher than Saka (6.4) for involvement in shot-ending sequences among players with 1 000+ minutes.

And then there’s Cody Gakpo. He’s scored three away league goals this season – all in London, at Chelsea, West Ham, and Fulham. Before this run, he’d managed just four goals in his first 18 Premier League appearances in the capital.

If he scores again, he’ll become only the second Liverpool player to net in four different away matches in London in a single Premier League season, joining Mo Salah, who did it in 2017/18 and 2020/21.