Arsenal vs Liverpool: Rice’s Power vs Wirtz’s Magic —Can the Gunners Go 17 Points Clear?

By Kelvin Atta Amaniampong | Editor-in-Chief | 07 Jan 2026

The struggling champions meet the flying league leaders this Thursday night. 

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team are in dreamland. They have won 7 games in a row in all competitions. Their last match was a crazy 3-2 comeback win against Bournemouth, where Declan Rice scored two goals. It was his first goals in the Premier League after 296 games.

Liverpool are having a hard time. The current holders have drawn their last two games against Leeds and Fulham. To make it worse they travel to London without their main man Mohamed Salah, who is at AFCON, and striker Alexander Isak who has a broken leg.

A win for Arsenal will put them 17 points clear of Liverpool. This could be the moment the title race ends.

📊 Head-to-Head: Arsenal 83 wins, Liverpool 96 wins, 66 Draws. 

📊 Fortress Emirates: Arsenal have won 14 of their 15 home matches this season. They have won the last 12 in a row.

📊 Saka’s Record: Bukayo Saka wants to become the first Arsenal player ever to score in 4 straight home league games vs Liverpool. 

📊 The 17 Point Gap: A win puts Arsenal 17 points ahead of Liverpool with 17 games left. 

📊 Liverpool’s Struggle: The Reds have failed to win any of their last 3 visits to the Emirates Stadium. 

📊 Goal Machine: Arsenal have scored at least 1 goal in their last 26 games.

Arsenal;

Arteta has almost a full squad. Kai Havertz was rested against Bournemouth so he is fresh. The big news is Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard. They are likely to return to the starting lineup. Riccardo Calafiori has a strange injury and might miss the game. Arsenal are full of confidence after Enzo Fernandez scored a late goal for Chelsea to stop Man City from winning. Everything is going their way.

Liverpool;

No Salah. No Isak. No Endo. Arne Slot is under big pressure. Florian Wirtz has a hamstring problem but he has to play because there is nobody else. Hugo Ekitike is also a doubt. Liverpool gave away a lead against Fulham to draw 2-2. If they defend like that against Saka and Odegaard they will be punished.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Gakpo

🔹 Bukayo Saka: He loves playing against Liverpool. Can he set a new record tonight? 

🔹 Florian Wirtz: He is not 100% fit but he is Liverpool’s best hope. 

🔹 Declan Rice: He is full of confidence after his two goals last week. 

🔹 Viktor Gyokeres: The striker is leading the line for Arsenal and will trouble the Liverpool defense.

💵 Arsenal to win: 1.68 

💵 Liverpool to win: 5.28 

💵 Draw: 4.36 

💵 Both Teams to Score: 1.74 

💵 Saka Anytime Goalscorer: 2.60

Liverpool are missing too many key players to hurt this Arsenal team. The Gunners are playing like champions. They grind out results even when they do not play well. With the home crowd and the chance to go 17 points clear expect Arteta’s men to win this comfortably.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool