Image source, Getty

Judging from Brendan Rodgers' pre-match press conference last week, Liverpool's focus will be on keeping a third successive clean sheet of the season and avoiding a repeat of April's 4-1 wipeout in north London.

Anything more will be a bonus.

"We know that we've got that ability to scrap and fight as well as play good football," he said.

"If you assess Arsenal's last 10 games they've lost at home, the teams that have won have averaged four shots on target, with 43% possession. 

"It tells you that you can go there and you don't need to dominate the ball, but you can dominate the space."

This does not sound pretty.

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Pat from Glasgow via text: Henrik Larsson's farewell seemed the end of an era at Celtic and very emotional. As was Martin O'Neill's departure a year later.

Jake Thorne via text: When Xabi Alonso left Liverpool, biggest mistake Benitez made.

Mike Malone via text: Ian Rush to Juventus. Cried my little 10 year old heart out. Vowed we would never be the same again. Next season Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge, Houghton and Mcmahon. What did I know?   

On the back of the news One Direction are taking a break we want to know which parting of ways seemed like the end of your footballing world? Let us know via #my1Dmoment, external on Twitter, on the BBC MOTD Facebook page, external, or on 81111 on text from UK mobiles.  

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers on Sky Sports: "Firmino is a full international player and this is the perfect stage for him. Lucas is out best defensive midfield players, this is a good game for him to come into."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "I expect to play against a quality team, maybe they will be a bit more cautious, I don't know."

Apropos of nothing, here is Roy Keane earlier this month:, external

"There’s too many Arsenal players interested in selfies and six-packs.

"Instead of focusing on winning Premier League titles, it’s all about how their bodies look, how their hair is, more so than winning football matches."

foto2021:  was when world class playmaker Xabi Alonso left Liverpool, starting years of decline.

Richard Richards:  Bakary Sako leaving Wolves, the guy was in tears.

Carol Ann Wood:  Zola, Drogba & Lamps in modern times. Bonetti, Ossie and Wisey in the past. It always hurts. I always cry.

One Direction are reportedly taking a one-year break. So, tonight, we want to know which parting of ways seemed like the end of your footballing world? Let us know via  #my1Dmoment, external  on Twitter, on the  BBC MOTD Facebook page, external , or on  81111  on text from UK mobiles.  

Arsenal make two changes from the team which beat Crystal Palace as defenders Gabriel and Calum Chambers come in for centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. Mertesacker is ill and Koscielny has a back injury. 

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerín, Gabriel, Chambers, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud 

Liverpool give playmaker Roberto Firmino his first start as part of three changes. Midfielders Emre Can and Lucas Leiva also start as Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana, who are injured, miss out along with the benched Jordan Ibe. 

Liverppol XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Milner, Can, Lucas, Firmino, Coutinho, Benteke

Image source, Getty Images

So will there be some aerial wobbles in the Arsenal defence?

Petr Cech's rush from goal precipitated their slide to opening-day defeat to West Ham, while Calum Chambers and Gabriel in front of him are a second-choice pairing.

Christian Benteke,all six foot three inches of him, might fancy his chances of ruffling some feathers.

And he won't be the only one. Martin Skrtel has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games against Arsenal.

You can listen to build-up to tonight's match on BBC Radio 5 live on the radio and online from 19:00 BST and full commentary from 20:00 BST.

Guests include former Leicester striker Steve Claridge, BBC commentator Conor Mcnamara and the Daily Mirror's John Cross.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Big encouragement for Liverpool as the Arsenal team-sheet lands minus first-choice central defensive partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. The German is unwell while Koscielny has a back problem - leaving Callum Chambers and Gabriel to deal with the threat of Christian Benteke.

Lucas may well be on his way out at Liverpool but not just yet. He replaces Jordan Henderson, who has a foot injury, while £29m buy from Hoffenheim Roberto Firmino gets the chance to show what he can do on his first full Premier League start.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Click on the audio icon to get across 5 live's coverage of tonight's action.

Arsenal make two changes with changes to both centre-backs. Out go Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker and in come Gabriel and Calum Chambers.

Roberto Firmino makes his first Liverpool start with Emre Can and Lucas Leiva in to firm up midfield.

Image source, Getty

So Karim Benzema won't be heading to the Premier League by the looks of it...

And Mario Balotelli's latest scrape with the English top-flight looks like it is near an end. 

Discussions are at an advanced stage for the 25-year-old to return to AC Milan on loan. He joined Liverpool in a £16m deal from the Rossoneri 12 months ago.

"Some love does not die, they do laps and return. I and the president are romantic people," purred AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Steven Jerjian: Gerrard synonymous with LFC for my entire life as a football fan. Tho maybe his time had come, was still emotional to see him go.

Yvonne Holden: When Ray (Butch) Wilkins last left Chelsea, wore black for a month.

Sam France: I cried for 14 days and 14 nights when Patrick Bamford's loan at Boro ended.

One Direction are reportedly taking a one-year break.  And the smart money says that they won't be coming back.

So, tonight, we want to know which parting of ways seemed like the end of your footballing world? Let us know via  #my1Dmoment, external  on Twitter, on the  BBC MOTD Facebook page, external , or on  81111  on text from UK mobiles.  

Earlier today, Italian football writer Emanuele Giulianelli had some hot transfer gossip for Arsenal fans...

...a few hours later, a certain French striker had a big bucket of cold water to pour on the flames.

It is going to take a U-turn of Delph proportions for Benzema to turn up at the Emirates now.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

"Arsenal's meeting with Liverpool at The Emirates tonight will tell us much more about two teams with designs - at the very least on the top four in the Premier League.

"Liverpool have not been entirely convincing and yet have recorded two wins and two clean sheets against Stoke City and Bournemouth while Arsenal bounced back from a shock home defeat to West Ham United in their opening game with victory at Crystal Palace.

"There will be a psychological blow delivered by the victors according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who will hope for better fortune than the 4-1 thrashing handed out here by Arsenal last season."

Image source, PA

Clear the front page. Panic-buy tissues. Stuff some ear plugs down your lugholes.

If you haven't heard, and I reckon you probably have, One Direction are reportedly taking a one-year break. And the smart money says that they won't be coming back.

So, tonight, we want to know which parting of ways seemed like the end of your footballing world?

Was Cesc Fabregas's Barcelona move the hardest goodbye?

Did Fernando Torres break your heart when he upped sticks for Chelsea?

Let us know via #my1Dmoment, external on Twitter, on the BBC MOTD Facebook page, external, or on 81111 on text from UK mobiles.