The Weekend in Numbers: Arsenal head to Anfield

Within that, just one point separates Liverpool and Arsenal, so these are the games that could decide next season’s Champions League places.

Arsenal have lost two of their last three Premier League games and suffered a 5-1 hammering at Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so confidence is fragile.

As long as Arsenal finish in the top four, majority shareholder Stan Kronke is happy. If Manchester City can’t guarantee Sergio Aguero a start every week next season, Liverpool should be thinking he can be the striker they have missed since Suarez left. If you look at the squads that the other teams have, they are stronger than Liverpool.

“The result hurt hugely on Monday night”.

“You look at the games we’ve lost and they’re like carbon copies”.

“Liverpool are one of the best counter-attacking teams in the country because there is [Sadio] Mane, [Roberto] Firmino, [Philippe] Coutinho and [Adam] Lallana who have got space to run into so they break quickly”.

Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League appearances against Liverpool, including three in his last two at Anfield.

Liverpool certainly need Dejan Lovren fit to replace the Brazilian if they are not to have further reasons to rue Sanchez’s decision to reject them and join the Gunners in 2014.

He indicated however that he could live with Europa League qualification.

So, going into Anfield, here are three things we should watch out for this weekend. The only way I see that happening is if the Gunners fail to make the top four. Knocking off Sutton United in the FA Cup was a bright spot, however.

Both teams will be going for the win.

Manchester United have a chance to put pressure on the clubs around them when they host Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime.

One way or another, win, lose or draw, one or both of these managers’ seats will be a little hotter come Sunday. We have seen that’s not easy – Liverpool showed that against Leicester. Of course with the teams around them getting stronger and nearly certainly adding to their squads in the summer, it won’t be easy but it is not impossible.

“I don’t know the last time he did that”.

Like Man City, Stoke in 10th play twice this week, first at home to Middlesbrough before travelling to Manchester midweek. Arsenal recorded back-to-back losses against Watford and Chelsea a month back to all-but end its hopes of ending a 13-year wait for a Premier League title.

Kane picked up a minor knock in that game last weekend and will have a fitness assessment along with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen to line out for second-placed Spurs against the Toffees, who are up to seventh after their recent good form.