Arsenal vs Liverpool Prediction: Lineups, Odds and Stats

*Odds are subject to change.

As we move into 2026, game week 21 of the Premier League (PL) season features Arsenal at home to Liverpool.

Arsenal strive to consolidate their six-point advantage at the top of the league. Liverpool are tough opponents, as the Reds look to stay in the top four.

This game starts at 8:00 pm at the Emirates Stadium, Thursday, 8th January 2026. Anthony Taylor is the match referee.

Arsenal vs Liverpool Prediction

Arsenal’s resilience and winning form should break Liverpool’s recent H2H superiority. The Gunners have a 90% PL home winning record, while Liverpool have patchy 2025-26 away results. So, I predict Arsenal to win the match.

I also back both teams to score (1.80 at Betfred), as Liverpool try to score for the eleventh time in a row against Arsenal. But if you’re not confident in both teams scoring, over 2.5 goals is 1.73 (Betfred), or over 3.5 goals is 2.90 (William Hill).

Arsenal Analysis

Arsenal are flying 20 matches into the PL season. They still top the league with 48 points (W15 D3 L2), six points clear of Man City and Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta’s men have scored 40 times and conceded just 14.

A 6th December 2025 2-1 loss at Aston Villa broke Arsenal’s 18-game unbeaten run. Since that setback, the Gunners have reeled off five straight PL victories. Last Sunday’s 3-2 win at Bournemouth followed a 4-1 revenge over Aston Villa and three points against Brighton (2-1), Everton (1-0), and Wolves (2-1).

The Gunners have won nine out of ten home league fixtures, scoring 26 and conceding only five. So, belief is high in a settled squad.

Riccardo Calafiori’s muscular injury is likely to rule him out. Max Dowman and Christian Mosquera are suffering from ankle injuries. But Arsenal have no suspended players.

Player in Focus

Declan Rice is Arsenal’s driving force from midfield. He produced another all-action display to score twice in the 3-2 win at Bournemouth. Rice to score is 6.0 at Bet365.

Liverpool Analysis

Liverpool sit fourth in the PL standings on 34 points (W10 D4 L6), three points ahead of Chelsea and Man United, but 14 points behind Arsenal.

Last week’s dramatic 2-2 at Fulham means the Reds are now unbeaten in nine league and cup matches. Three wins in their last five PL games include 2-1 victories over Wolves and Tottenham, plus a 2-0 defeat of Brighton. These wins should give Arne Slot’s side some confidence heading into 2026.

The Reds’ season has picked up markedly since their October to November 2025 slump. However, their away league record is mixed (W4 D2 L4), even though they’ve hit 17 goals in ten away trips.

Arne Slot is without several players. Mohamed Salah is playing for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations. Long-term injuries rule out Alexander Isak (leg fracture) and Giovanni Leoni (knee). Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring) and Wataru Endo (ankle) are also not fit for selection.

Hugo Ekitike could return after missing the Fulham match with a hamstring issue. If not, a reshuffle could see Cody Gakpo play up front. Liverpool has no suspended players.

Player in Focus

Florian Wirtz scored two goals in his last three Liverpool games. Wirtz 1+ shot on target is 3.0 at Bet365, or Wirtz to score is 7.0 (Coral).

Arsenal vs Liverpool Possible Lineups

Arsenal (4-3-3): David Raya – Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie – Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard – Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker – Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson – Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones – Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz – Hugo Ekitike

Arsenal vs Liverpool Head to Head

Liverpool holds a slight advantage with four wins in the last ten H2Hs, including two of the last five.

On the goalscoring front, both teams scored in six of ten. Amazingly, Liverpool scored in all ten previous H2H battles. More recently, three of the last five H2Hs featured both sides scoring and over 3.5 goals.

What Channel is Arsenal vs Liverpool on?

Subscribers can watch Arsenal versus Liverpool on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League channels. Meanwhile, live streaming is available on Sky Go or on the Sky Sports+ app.

Arsenal to secure another home win

Arsenal will prove too much for Arne Slot’s Liverpool on a pulsating Thursday evening at the Emirates. The Gunners can make it ten wins in eleven PL home games.