Arsenal are nine games away from winning their first Premier League title in 19 years. The Gunners are eight points clear of Manchester City after overcoming Leeds on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola's side do have a game in hand, but that would only see the gap trimmed to five points. The two sides are still to face each other in Manchester later this month in an highly-anticipated ending to the season.
However, first, Mikel Arteta's men must go to Anfield and beat Liverpool this weekend. Arsenal would make a major statement of intent if they were to defeat the Reds in one of their most difficult fixtures still to be played.
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Ahead of the game, the Gunners have already been handed an early blow following confirmation of who will be officiating the clash on Merseyside. Paul Tierney will referee the game with Craig Pawson, his fourth official and Chris Kavanagh in the VAR room.
Many Arsenal fans will be aware of their track record with Tierney in recent months. The Gunners have not won a game of football under his supervision since the 3-1 win at Leicester City in February 2021 and have lost their last five.
The most recent defeat came in the FA Cup exit at Man City after he was the referee in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at Manchester United earlier this season. He controversially ruled out Gabriel Martinelli's strike in the first half at Old Trafford and famously sent Rob Holding off in last season's crucial north London derby defeat at Tottenham.
Holding is expected to retain his place in the heart of Arsenal's defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. The Englishman has filled in for William Saliba following the Frenchman's continued spell out injured.
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