On Sunday, August 31 at Anfield, the big clash of Matchday 3 in the Premier League takes place: Liverpool and Arsenal face each other as unbeaten teams, both with maximum points after the first two rounds. The Reds aim to secure their third consecutive win before the international break, hoping to take advantage of any slip-ups from rivals. Arne Slot’s side began the season with the clear goal of defending the title they won last year at Arsenal’s expense, but they have struggled in their opening matches: both against Bournemouth and Newcastle, the winning goals came only in the final minutes and with decisive contributions from the bench. In this sense, the break could be useful for the new manager to fix a defense that has looked too vulnerable, preparing a more compact setup for September, also with the Champions League opener on the horizon. Arsenal, on the other hand, arrive at Anfield full of confidence after thrashing Leeds 5-0. For the Gunners, this is already their second high-profile clash since the start of the season, after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the opening round. Arteta’s team has undergone major changes this summer, especially in midfield and attack, and fans are hopeful this could finally be the season to bring the Premier League trophy back to North London after so many years of waiting. Winning away at the team considered the top favorite for the title would send a powerful signal to the rest of the league, but it will certainly not be easy. The Reds have proven to be a tough opponent in the first 180 minutes (and beyond) of the 2025/26 Premier League season, and they will do everything to resist Arteta’s men.

Liverpool's recent form and key stats

Liverpool have won their first two Premier League matches, always with more struggle than expected. In the opening game, they beat Bournemouth 4-2, scoring the last two decisive goals only in the final minutes, while last weekend they overcame Newcastle 3-2 thanks to Rio Ngumoha’s winner in the 100th minute.

Arne Slot still seems far from giving his team defensive balance, but for now, he can enjoy the performance of his attacking department. Among the standout players is new signing Hugo Ekitiké, who has scored in each of his first three appearances of the season.

The Reds are almost unbeatable at Anfield: in last year’s Premier League they lost only once at home, collecting 14 wins and 4 draws instead, with an average of 2.21 goals scored per game and just 0.84 conceded. Their last home defeat was on March 11: 0-1 against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16.

Arsenal's recent form and key stats

After beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Matchday 1 Premier League showdown, Arsenal repeated themselves last weekend by thrashing newly-promoted Leeds 5-0. Thanks to these two wins, the Gunners are among the group of teams with maximum points, but on top thanks to their superior goal difference.

The two main positive signs at the start of this season: they haven’t conceded a goal yet, and their forwards are in excellent form, especially former Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored a brace in the last match.

Last season, Arsenal collected 35 away points in the Premier League, with 9 wins, 8 draws, and just 2 defeats, averaging 1.79 goals scored and 0.89 conceded per match. By coincidence, their last away defeat also came against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.

Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction and tactical overview

Liverpool vs Arsenal promises to be one of the most entertaining and spectacular matches of Matchday 3 in the Premier League, with more than 2 goals expected and goals from both sides.

Both Liverpool and Arsenal have shown no problems in attack, scoring 7 and 6 goals respectively in their first two matches. Defensively, the Gunners are ahead, but keeping a clean sheet at Anfield will be tough, where they haven’t won since September 2012.

The last time the two sides met, on May 11, they drew 2-2 at Anfield, with goals from Gakpo and Diaz for the Reds, and Martinelli and Merino for the Gunners.

• The Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction from BetMines suggests that both teams will score at least one goal with a 58% probability.
  
  
• The Liverpool vs Arsenal prediction from BetMines also suggests that at least one of the two teams will fail to score with a 42% probability.

Probable lineups Liverpool vs Arsenal

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké. Coach: Arne Slot

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze. Coach: Mikel Arteta