Arsenal hope for open goals as Reds enjoy new freedom

The Gunners aim to win early ‘title clash’ by exploiting extra space offered by a Liverpool side let off leash

- by Arne Slot

In Arsenal’s analysis for tomorrow’s match at Anfield, they have already noticed something different about Liverpool beyond new players. The champions now try the unexpected much more. It is as if the attackers have been given greater creative licence to indulge some of their individual quality. Hence the soaring beauty of Rio Ngumoha's raucous winning goal against Newcastle United.

That can make this Liverpool team much more unpredictable, especially as stars like Mohamed Salah attempt things others couldn't imagine. A fitting game for Eberechi Eze to make his debut, perhaps.

The offset is that it also makes Liverpool much more open, to go with Arne Slot's front-loaded system. It's not just that Ryan Gravenberch pinned the midfield together on his own against Newcastle. The more freedom you give players, the less proscribed any formation is going to be. So, if someone like Florian Wirtz loses the ball when trying something riskier, there's instantly much more space in behind.

Slot has been willing to take such risks because Liverpool have the quality to punish you out of nowhere. He's been vindicated by two results so far, despite the questions about performance. It's almost as if the Liverpool manager is very literally trying to push the boundaries of last season; to move the lines of his formation; to try new things in order to go to new levels.