Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend


How will Arsenal cope with Liverpool’s fearsome foursome, the Mark Hughes ultimatum and whether Sam Allardyce will ever win over Everton fans

It would be a dereliction of duty if Arsène Wenger has not spent the past few days coming up with a way to stop Liverpool’s fearsome attack from running riot at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night. Arsenal’s manager cannot say that he has not been warned. He knows how much his team has suffered against these opponents since Jürgen Klopp’s arrival on Merseyside in October 2015 and nobody could say it was a surprise when Liverpool hammered Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield in August, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah inspired and Philippe Coutinho not even involved. It was, to be brutally honest, an entirely predictable result given that, under Klopp, Liverpool have won three times and drawn once with Wenger’s side, scoring 14 in the process. There is proof that their attacking formula is capable of ripping Arsenal to shreds, so it is up to Wenger to change. Arsenal, who were caught on the counterattack by United three weeks ago, have to find the right balance. Playing with carefree abandon against this Liverpool side could have dire consequences. JS

Related: Bristol City in dreamland and Swansea in a spin – Football Weekly Extra

Related: David Squires on … Manchester City's football utopia

Related: Football stadiums then and now – interactive quiz, part five

Related: The Fiver Christmas Awards 2017

Continue reading...