'It'll be an open game - and that could suit Liverpool'
Liverpool could thrive at Emirates Stadium tonight due to the onus being on Arsenal to attack.
That’s the view of former Reds midfielder Gary McAllister, who is anticipating a ‘very open game’ between two teams separated by just one point and one position in the Premier League table ahead of the clash.
Jürgen Klopp’s side travel to north London having earned a place in the record books with their resounding 4-0 win at AFC Bournemouth last Sunday.
That success saw Liverpool become the first team in English top-flight history to win four successive matches on the road by a margin of at least three goals.
And McAllister feels optimistic about Klopp’s team’s chances of registering a fifth Premier League away victory on the bounce this evening.
“It’s a game that the players will look forward to. It’s a magnificent stadium and the pitch is always first-class,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I think Liverpool tend to do better, tend to do well, when they’re playing in a game where two teams are trying to win and obviously Arsenal need the points.
“They’ll be trying to take the points off Liverpool, so what you’ll find is we’re going to have a very open game and I think that might just suit us.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could play against Arsenal for the first time since his summer move to Liverpool, with McAllister expecting the No.21 to relish that prospect.
“He was a fantastic player for Arsenal and he’ll have good memories, but it’s always nice when you go back to your old club and get the right result,” the former Scotland international said.
“In the last two or three games he’s been particularly impressive. Certainly against Bournemouth he was one of the best players on the pitch. He was involved in most of the good stuff that Liverpool produced, so he’ll be looking to go there and come away on the winning side.”