The Premier League champions host a wobbling challenger on Sunday as Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield in a fixture that once promised title implications, but now only one side truly has something left to fight for. With Arne Slot’s side already crowned, all eyes turn to Mikel Arteta’s men, who are desperately clinging to their Champions League hopes amid a bruising run of defeats.
Liverpool – Champions coasting toward the finish line
Liverpool’s defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend mattered little in the grand scheme. Having sealed the title early, Slot opted for a rotated XI that offered Chelsea a path to a 3-1 win. The Reds’ focus now shifts to closing out a dominant domestic campaign with style and surpassing the 90-point mark, while giving Anfield a proper send-off for some of its departing figures.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, bound for Real Madrid, is expected to start on the bench in his penultimate home match, with Conor Bradley stepping in at right-back. Slot’s men have been nearly untouchable at Anfield, scoring at least twice in 14 of their last 15 top-flight games since a shock loss to Nottingham Forest in September. They are chasing an eighth consecutive home league win and have the form to pull it off.
Arsenal – Out of Europe, and now on the brink
Arsenal arrive with nerves fraying and confidence crumbling. Dumped out of the Champions League by PSG in midweek, yet again failing to take their chances in Paris, the Gunners are now nursing the emotional scars of a third straight defeat in all competitions. The Bournemouth loss before that may prove even more damning, marking the 10th time they’ve failed to win after leading in a league game this season.
That has left them vulnerable in the top-four race, and another slip at Anfield would deepen the crisis. The record books are also unkind as Arsenal haven’t won a Premier League match at Liverpool since 2012, during Arteta’s playing days.
Team News
Arne Slot confirmed that Conor Bradley will start at right-back in place of Alexander-Arnold, with Joe Gomez still out due to a hamstring injury. Tyler Morton is the only other absentee, meaning the champions otherwise have a fully fit squad. Virgil van Dijk is set to make his 300th Premier League appearance.
Arsenal welcomed back Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, and Jurrien Timber in midweek, but face key absences in Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kai Havertz, though the latter may still feature before season’s end. Calafiori could be handed a start after Lewis-Skelly’s difficult outing in Paris, though his lack of match fitness may count against him.
Predicted Line-ups
Liverpool:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
Arsenal:
Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Match Info
Competition: Premier League
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2025
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Referee: Athony Taylor
Kick-off: 4:30pmWhat’s at Stake
Liverpool are playing for points, pride, and momentum as they wind down a title-winning campaign, while Arsenal are scrapping to secure Champions League qualification in the face of a dangerous late-season slump. A loss here could leave the Gunners needing favours elsewhere—and that’s not a
