Arsenal/Liverpool Preview. By Demola Aluko

Fresh from a Premier League battle in Anfield a week ago, Arsenal and Liverpool will take to the pitch again, but this time at the Emirates stadium for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie.

Going into the game at Anfield with an opportunity to keep pace at the top of the league, the Gunners came out embarrassed after a 5-1 hammering in the hands of the Reds.

Arsenal come into Sunday’s match much more concerned with their upcoming round of 16 Champions League match with Bayern Munich in midweek. The showdown with Munich will be Arsenal’s third game in eight days, so rest will be a major concern

Fot this reason, it will not be a surprise if Arsene Wenger decides to rest players like Olivier Giroud, Metzu Ozil, Santi Cazorla, or Kieran Gibbs.

However, Liverpool have no such worries to think about. There’s no Champions League for them—they didn’t qualify. Instead, Liverpool, after struggling in recent seasons, chasing an FA Cup is more coveted than usual at Anfield. Winning the league title—although still possible—is less likely for Liverpool than it is for the  Gunners at this point. With nothing guaranteed for next season, any silverware will be welcomed.

However, if the words of assistant captain Mikel Arteta were anything to go by, then Liverpool should expect to play the game of their seaon on Sunday as the home team may come out with extra motivation following Wenger’s half time lashing at his players in Anfield a week ago,

Arteta said during an interview after the Anfield crushing: ”I’ve never seen the manager as angry as that.” With the French man’s words still echoing in the Gunners, the home team may likely throw caution into the winds and go all out to avenge the defeat and put smiles on the faces of fans who witnessed the humiliating moment at Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers, who a week before his last two premier league victories against Arsenal and Fulham had written his team off, saying: ”we can’t compete the tittle this season” has found a new confidence after taking advantage of points dropped by both Arsenal and Chelsea last weekend to narrow the gap between the Reds and the top team to just four points.

Basking in the euphoria of the Reds’ recent form, Rodgers gave some harsh words toward Arsenal.

“You could see Arsenal were nervous in the game the other night, you could see it against Manchester United, you can sense that,”

“It’s never easy when you get exposed like that but mainly it was down to our brilliance on the day really. We were outstanding.”

Liverpool’s attack was at its best against Arsenal the last time around, but it certainly will be easier said than done on Sunday. The Reds will be in a hostile environment at the Emirates, where the Gunners play awfully well and hardly ever lose.

PREDICTION

Days after suffering a home defeat at the hands of a well organized Chelsea side in their premier league encounter at the Etihad, Manchester City recovered from the home shock to pull a deserved victory against the Blues in their FA Cup fifth-round match on Saturday.

The Gunners have not lost any of their next five matches subsequent to every premier league defeat this season. With this statistic, it will only be logical to think that the worst result for Arsenal on Sunday will be a draw, and if things go their way, Liverpool may see a repeat of their 0-2 loss at the Emirates when the two sides met in a premier league encounter earlier this season.

By Demola Aluko