Arsenal Vs Liverpool Preview: 3 Key Battles Expected

Saturday's game is absolutely huge for both teams. Win and Arsenal go second to put huge pressure on Manchester City. Lose and Liverpool...

Saturday's game is absolutely huge for both teams. Win and Arsenal go second to put huge pressure on Manchester City. Lose and Liverpool will be nine points behind Arsene Wenger’s side. It’s a vital match and here’s where the game can be won and lost by Jamie Redknapp 

OLIVIER GIROUD v KOLO TOURE/MAMADOU SAKHO 

With no Martin Skrtel, Olivier Giroud will be licking his lips. Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho are both solid enough but they are nervous in possession and they will miss the experience and physicality of Skrtel.

If Dejan Lovren is fit, I expect him to play, but if not, don’t be surprised if Giroud gets on the scoresheet. The Frenchman is in excellent form this season but the only question mark against him was does he score enough in the big games?

So far in this campaign, he has scored against Manchester United, City and Liverpool. He will want to continue that run on Saturday.

Whichever defender plays, they are in for a tough afternoon against in-form Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud

 PER MERTESACKER v DANIEL STURRIDGE 

I’ve lost count of the number of times I have covered Arsenal games and wondered how Per Mertesacker does it.

It always amazes me that teams don’t try and get pacey players in and around him more often. He’s never been blessed with speed and playing a high line can cause him problems, but he has a World Cup medal to his name, so he must be doing something right.

His partner Laurent Koscielny is much more mobile, so a fit-again Daniel Sturridge as well as Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho will hope to exploit Mertesacker’s side of the defence.

AARON RAMSEY vs JORDAN HENDERSON 

This time last year if you asked people who they would rather have in their team, it would be Aaron Ramsey all day long.

 But Jordan Henderson has come so far it is now a 50-50 call. These are the midfield marathon men and whoever wins this battle in the engine room should end up on the winning side.

 Ramsey can grab a goal, and Liverpool will have to watch his runs into the box, but Henderson will press hard and make sure Ramsey and the likes of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla have no room to breathe.