Sterling will be Liverpool's focal point again today it seems and his manager this week defended him from criticism.

"It's been incredible the stick the kid has received with people trying to criticise him and put the focus on to him. He's been outstanding for us," said Rodgers., external

Looking at the teams, you do get the sense this could be a Christmas bonanza of goals. Questionable defences, lots of creative types, no need for caution or no great value in a draw.

Come on, let's have it.

Image source, PA

Raheem Sterling picked up Tuttosport's Golden Boy award for the best young player of 2014 earlier in the week.

Among the former winners are Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Mario Gotze and Sergio Aguero.

Sterling secured 37.3% of the vote to beat off a long, long list of other candidates, including , externalManchester United's Adnan Januzaj (2.1%), Arsenal's Calum Chambers (0.6%) and Tottenham's Nabil Bentaleb (1.1%).

I think Tuttosport could have slimmed down to a shortlist.

Late, late drama at St James' Park where Sunderland have beaten rivals Newcastle for the fourth consecutive time.

Adam Johnson struck the only goal with just minutes to go. You can keep up with all the reaction in our live text. Go on, open two windows on your computer, I dare you.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
MOTD2 Extra

"I think when things get rock bottom you have to build from that. There are times in your career you look back at and think 'that will never happen again'. It is up to the individuals to take responsibility for the team. You take it personally and put your body on the line. To get any result at Anfield you have to give everything."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's 5-1 hammering of then-leaders Arsenal was pure jaw-drop - a result so shocking that BT Sport based a star-studded advert just on people reacting to the Reds' early flurry of goals., external

Since then Suarez has left, Sanchez has arrived, and the sands have shifted.

Just 40 minutes until kick-off, what, if anything, remains the same?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"Raheem Sterling terrorised Arsenal in Liverpool's 5-1 here last season and he will he hoping to do the same in his latest central role, a position that brought him two goals in the Capital One Cup win at Bournemouth. Mamadou Sakho starts in place of the injured Dejan Lovren while Lucas is in to provide solidity in midfield.

"Arsenal make just a single change with Calum Chambers coming in for Hector Bellerin in defence - but there is plenty of attacking intent in a side containing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck."

Teams in, warm-up about to commence, but are Arsenal haunted?

Their 5-1 drubbing here last season saw them 4-0 down inside 20 minutes.

Yes, terms like "one-off", "freak game" get trotted out, but did it unhinge the Gunners? Before then, they had averaged 2.29 points from 24 games while scoring almost two goals a match. From 8 February to now, they have managed 1.67 points a game, have scored 1.63 goals a match.

Spooked?

Former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts
BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, PA

"When you're a young player coming through you are looked at differently to when a club pays a lot of money for you. I think that even now Danny Welbeck could be in the Manchester United side but they always looked at him as the player who had come through. The move has been excellent for him as a man. Even though Olivier Giroud is coming back, he has gone there and puffed out his chest."

Mathieu Debuchy replaces Hector Bellerin from the Arsenal side that defeated Newcastle last weekend. Calum Chambers returns from suspension.

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud, Welbeck.

Former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts
BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, EPA

"Raheem Sterling is not yet a striker, and you could see some of that with the chances he missed against Manchester United, but he looks like he is warming to the role with Liverpool.

"I think that the bigger problem is how Liverpool are playing. They don't have the same pace up front, the same urgency from the first whistle. Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert are more target men than players who will run in behind. You have to look at the buys that Liverpool have made. They don't fit their style."

Mamadou Sakho comes in for the injured Dejan Lovren at centre-back in the only change from Liverpool's League Cup win over Bournemouth in midweek.

Liverpool XI: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Gerrard, Lallana, Sterling.

So Raheem Sterling will seemingly play as a striker again. It worked in midweek, he missed chances at Old Trafford last Sunday, let's be cruel and call this one the decider on whether he can do it or not.

Image source, Getty Images

And while we are on the striker front, some stories circulating today linking Liverpool with a move for their former talisman Fernando Torres.

The Chelsea forward, on loan at AC Milan, is out of favour. Torres managed three goals in a Liverpool shirt against Arsenal. For more on his rumoured move and others, have a mooch at our gossip column.

What do the Reds need and how do you see today going? Tweet us on #bbcfootball.

Former Liverpool defender Alan Kennedy
BBC Radio 5 live

"I think Mario Balotelli has something to offer. He has the talent but he has to work harder for the team. But they have to look seriously at getting another striker. There's a lot of weight on the shoulders of Raheem Sterling. He does create chances but you have to play to his strengths."

Image source, EPA

Oh Mario.

His attempt to spread an anti-racism message via social media last week seemed genuine, as you might expect given the amount he has suffered.

Sadly, the humour deployed in his Instagram post was well off-key.

So after suffering with a groin injury, his return to the Liverpool attack has been delayed with a one-match ban.

Given his wind-up directed at Manchester United earlier this season, , externalthe Reds could do with locking his keypad for good.

Team news should drop in around 10 minutes for this one, we will have it all here.

No Mario Balotelli for Liverpool remember - suspended - Calum Chambers is back from suspension for the Gunners.

Sean Lahm: Brendan Rodgers has done a fairly good job. Too soon to rate his decisions yet. At least he tries to play attractive football. He could just sit back, absorb and hope for a few key chances. But his likes his teams to push it. I'm not a Liverpool fan, but I respect the guy's vision.

Stephen Hodnett: Vision? A couple of years ago Andre Villas-Boas conned his way into a couple of big clubs, spent millions and achieved nothing. Brendan has as much vision and continually claims that Liverpool are heading in the right direction. That direction is down.

Get in touch using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Now, the emotionally intelligent among you will have realised Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was in frosty mood on Friday.

Perhaps his advent calendar had angered him, perhaps they'd run out of his favourite turkey at the supermarket, who knows?

His news conference lasted 270 seconds and was packed with one-sentence answers., external

Why so angry Brendan? Criticism from the media? By around 17:45 GMT you may be laughing at journalists in your post-match gathering or offering more awkward answers to more awkward questions.

Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Three FA Cup finals, a League Cup final, a Champions League quarter-final and that dramatic title decider in 1989 - there's almost always been something 'up for grabs now' when the mighty footballing institutions that are Liverpool and Arsenal meet.

"The truth is that in the race to be champions of England this game, at this time, is no more relevant than one between, say, Stoke and Swansea.

"That's not to say that it won't be passionate, exciting, committed and entertaining; it should be. It's just that what's at stake now is trying to catch West Ham in fourth and keeping the fans off the managers' backs."

Welcome to another BBC Sport live text on Arsenal's trip to Liverpool.

Team news, quotes from club staff past and present, stats, social media interaction from yourselves on #bbcfootball, lots of description and pictures will all be here for you.

These sides have not served up a goalless draw since 1999 and neither look Scrooge-like at the back this year, so stick with us for all the action.