SHOOT’s Arsenal-Liverpool combined XI

This Saturday evening’s Premier League kick-off (5:30pm) is a heavyweight contest as Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates.

The Gunners sit fourth in the table following a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which included 11 straight wins until their 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace last time out.

But Unai Emery’s men welcome a Liverpool side which sit four points and two places above them after an unbeaten start to their league campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds look like strong title contenders this term now they’ve steadied up their backline which has conceded just four times to date.

This contest ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw last term in a match where the north Londoners came from 2-0 down.

And with both sides having scored a combined 44 goals in their opening 20 outings, another high-scoring contest could be on the cards.

Comeback Kings

If there is a goal on Saturday, it’s interesting to know that Arsenal have won the joint most points (with Leicester) from losing positions this season with seven, whereas Liverpool have collected one from the only occasion they have fallen behind (vs Chelsea).

Over the last five years, the Gunners have gained an average 0.72 points from losing positions compared to the Anfield outfit’s 0.84.

Combined XI

Ahead of this crucial clash, SHOOT has put together our very own Arsenal–Liverpool combined XI.

Do you agree with our selection? Or, who do you think we have missed out?

Comment below with your tactical suggestions!

*The combined XI follows a traditional 4-3-3 formation and includes ALL players from either squad.*

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s £66.8m arrival Alisson Becker beats Arsenal duo Petr Cech and Bernd Leno to feature between the sticks.

The Brazilian is firmly first choice for Jurgen Klopp and has kept six clean sheets in 10 matches, while Unai Emery still seems unsure as to who his number 1 is.

Right-back: Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

A tough call. Trent Alexander-Arnold is a tremendous talent and has arguably performed better than the Gunner since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

However, the Spaniard seems to be getting his game back together this term with four assists to his name in 10 matches.

Bellerin, who has that added experience over his Liverpool counterpart, is one of Unai Emery’s first picks, whereas the England international has been rotated by Jurgen Klopp this season.

Centre-back: Joe Gomez (Liverpool)

A player that’s impressed at both right-back (explaining Alexander-Arnold’s rotation) and centre-half, Gomez has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League this term.

Quick, strong and calm in possession, he’s showing all the attributes needed to be a world-class defender… and he’s only 21.

Arsenal’s centre-backs of Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, plus team-mates Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip, simply don’t come close.

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

The Dutchman has proved a class act for the Reds since his world-record £75million move from Southampton in January.

Van Dijk has transformed a backline from one that looked unstable into a unit which has conceded just four times to date.

Again, Unai Emery’s defenders can’t compete when it comes to quality so selecting the 27-year-old for our XI was an easy pick.

Left-back: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

Recently appointed Scotland captain, Robertson has become a fan favourite since breaking into the Liverpool first XI last season.

Not only can the 24-year-old provide great delivery to the forward players, but he is also a tenacious defender and reads the game extremely well.

With Arsenal having an injury crisis in at left-back at the moment due to injuries to Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, the former Hull City man’s inclusion was a no-brainer.

Central midfield: Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)

Although both Georginio Wijnaldum and, more recently, Fabinho have caught the eye in the holding role for Liverpool, we’ve opted to go with the Arsenal terrier.

Impressing in the World Cup for Uruguay, Torreira has carried on that form by taking to the Premier League like a duck to water.

Offering more balance, steel and quality on the ball in midfield, the 22-year-old looks like a real find and gets the nod as our DM.

Central midfield: James Milner (Liverpool)

Despite the midfield riches both sides have in their squads, Milner, who was a free transfer from Man City in 2015, has established himself as a key player in the middle of the park over the last 18 months following a season at left-back.

The 32-year-old has appeared in all of the Reds’ league matches this campaign, starting eight, and is always likely to get on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

Someone who is incredibly consistent and brilliant at both sides of the game, the ex-England international adds real experience and reliability to our XI.

Attacking midfield: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)

Although a real hit-or-miss player, Mesut Ozil is certainly worth taking a risk on if he’s having a good day – as shown with his match-winning performance against Leicester City earlier this month.

With three goals, one assist and a key pass average of 1.8 per game, the ex-Germany star is a real threat in the final third of the pitch.

In terms of his competition for the number 10 spot, his stats, game time, experience and importance to his club certainly trump that of Xherdan Shaqiri, Adam Lallana and team-mate Aaron Ramsey, who will leave the Emirates in the summer when his contract expires.

Left forward: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

The next two positions pick themselves with these wide men being two of the most feared forwards in world football at the moment.

On the left, Sadio Mane, whose speed frightens the life out of defenders, has hit the back of the net six times in nine Premier League games.

The Senegal star also has scored four times and assisted three others in eight career matches against Saturday’s north London opponents.

Right forward: Mo Salah (Liverpool)

On the right, Mo Salah was the man of the 2017/18 season after exceeding all expectations following his move from AS Roma.

And the 26-year-old is starting to get to those levels once again this term with four goals in his last three matches in all competitions.

The Egyptian king has scored a staggering 51 times in just 66 games for the Anfield club compared with counterpart Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s 12 in his last 66 for Arsenal and Manchester United.

Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

The brilliant Roberto Firmino can count himself very unlucky not to be included as he’s undoubtedly been one of the best forwards in the league over the past 18 months.

However, we’ve gone for a real out-and-out goalscorer to support Salah and Mane to create what could potentially be an even more lethal forward line.

Whether he’s playing from the left, down the middle or made to wait on the substitute’s bench, Aubameyang, with 144 goals in his last 191 games is a pure predator and also edges out prolific team-mate Alexandre Lacazette.