Liverpool vs Arsenal - Premier League LIVE: Eberechi Eze is named on the bench as Arsenal gear up for huge clash with title rivals at Anfield

Anfield is generating quite the noise.

They belt out 'champions' over, and over, and over again, to remind Arsenal of who they are facing as the teams come out.

After Manchester City's second defeat in as many games, you feel now that these teams will be the two tussling for the title.

If Arsenal can win here for the first time in 14 years, it will be a real statement.

They have started quickly here in recent years... but can they get that goal early doors?

If they do, Liverpool will need this crowd to help them.

Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports:

Thanks, Rob!

I have been waiting all day to get my mitts on this blog. Don't get me wrong, covering that Manchester City meltdown was quite the spectacle, but this is the big one.

The teams are in the dressing room as I type this post, probably being told to go and get three points in different ways.

I don't think either will, I predict a draw - an entertaining one.

Will it be a close game, as Slot predicts?

Or will one of these sides claim top spot in style with a dominant win?

Whatever the case, HARRY BAMFORTH will guide you through the rest of the afternoon's action.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaking to Sky Sports:

Chris Kavanagh has the whistle this afternoon.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 11 matches under his watch, a run stretching back to 2021.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were beaten 3-2 at Fulham the last time he officiated them in the league.

He has already awarded three penalties in domestic matches this season, including one against Liverpool at Wembley.

With two attack-minded teams on show, the man in the middle may have a busy afternoon.

It is foolish to under-estimate Mikel Merino but it is hard not to feel that Mikel Arteta has been conservative in his team selection this afternoon.

I'd have preferred Eze over Martinelli and Nwaneri over Merino.

It looks like Arteta's come for a point.

Good news for Liverpool and Arsenal fans before their game kicks off.

Title rivals Manchester City have just been beaten for the second week running.

Pep Guardiola's side led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a goal from Erling Haaland.

But the Seagulls soared back with strikes from former Liverpool star James Milner and sub Brajan Gruda.

Milner marked his goal, which came from a penalty, by imitating Diogo Jota's old celebration.

There’s extra incentive for Liverpool’s forwards this afternoon. If they find the net, it will be the 37th consecutive league game in which the champions have scored — a new club record.

Their current streak of 36 matches equals the run set between March 2019 and February 2020 under Jurgen Klopp.

Arne Slot has continued that tradition of attacking football, with his side managing to score in 39 of his 40 Premier League games in charge so far — a remarkable 98 per cent strike rate.

If history is any guide, we should be in for fireworks.

Since the 2015-16 season no Premier League fixture has produced more goals than Liverpool v Arsenal — 78 in 20 games, nearly four per match.

Both sides have already shown attacking firepower this season, with Arsenal scoring six without reply and Liverpool hitting seven but looking shaky at the back.

Add in two new strikers desperate to make a mark, and all the ingredients are there for another Anfield classic.

This is the 245th competitive meeting between these two giants of English football.

Liverpool hold the edge historically with 95 wins to Arsenal’s 83, while 66 clashes have ended level.

More recently, though, Mikel Arteta has enjoyed the upper hand. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six league games against Liverpool, including three straight draws here at Anfield.

That run has given Arsenal confidence, but they know full well their last actual victory in this stadium was all the way back in 2012.

What a contrast to when these sides met here in May, when neither started with a recognised centre forward.

This afternoon both arrive with big-money new No 9s leading the line.

Hugo Ekitike has scored in each of his first three Liverpool appearances, while Viktor Gyokeres grabbed a brace last week for Arsenal.

Both men were signed to turn fine margins into victories.

It will be fascinating to see which one handles the occasion better — the Frenchman thriving on the Kop’s energy or the Swede silencing it.

A strong XI for Liverpool today with Dominik Szoboszlai staying on at right back after a decent performance there on Monday night at Newcastle.

But the big boost for Arne Slot is that Alexis Mac Allister is back after missing the trip to the north east through injury

The Argentine is crucial to Liverpool’s midfield, which was dominated in the second half at St James’ Park.

It was a wet and windy Anfield half an hour ago, when I was walking in and getting soaked through.

Bad timing, as always.

It's bathed in sunshine now, the television screens are showing the players walking to the changing rooms and the anticipation is building.

Arne Slot makes two changes from the side that dramatically beat Newcastle on Monday. Alexis Mac Allister returns to the starting XI after injury, while Ryan Gravenberch is also restored. Jeremie Frimpong misses out with a hamstring issue.

For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is without Bukayo Saka after the winger sustained a hamstring problem last week. Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (ACL) are also unavailable, but Martin Pdegaard is deemed fit enough for the bench after a shoulder scare. Summer signing Eberechi Eze (pictured) is among the substitutes and could make his debut.

That means Noni Madueke starts on the right in place of Saka, with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line and Gabriel Martinelli wide left. Jurrien Timber slots in at right-back, Riccardo Calafiori makes his first Anfield start on the opposite flank, and new midfield recruit Martín Zubimendi partners Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Odegaard, Eze, Trossard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.

Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Ngumoha.

Welcome to a wet and windy Anfield, where we have our first meeting of two title favourites.

Both games between this pair finished 2-2 last season — but a win for either side here would be a huge statement even as early as week three in the season.

Although, saying that, my prediction is another draw.

Liverpool’s 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha became the club’s youngest Premier League scorer with his dramatic late winner at Newcastle on Monday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, handed 15-year-old Max Dowman his debut against Leeds.

Two teenagers born after 2008 could feature at Anfield today.

It's enough to make you feel VERY old!

Gabriel Martinelli also thrives in this fixture.

The Brazilian has been involved in eight goals in just 10 appearances against Liverpool (six goals, two assists), including four in five trips to Anfield.

Mohamed Salah loves facing Arsenal.

He’s scored 11 Premier League goals against the Gunners.

Only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) have netted more against them.

Arsenal have not won a league game at Anfield since September 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla struck in a 2-0 win.

Mikel Arteta was patrolling midfield that day — he’ll be in the dugout this afternoon trying to end a run of 12 visits without victory.

Good afternoon!

It might only be matchday three, but this feels like a heavyweight title fight.

Liverpool are defending champions, Arsenal the challengers desperate to go one better this season — and both arrive at Anfield with perfect records intact.

Something has to give.