You have go back to 2012 for the last time Arsenal won a game at Anfield. In recent years - whenever this fixture comes around - it is well documented that a certain Mikel Arteta was playing for the Gunners on that day. Arteta is now a Premier League-winning manager and leading reigning champions who will arrive at Anfield on Sunday ( ) hoping to end that streak.
But they will come up against a Liverpool side that are starting to find some rhythm under Andoni Iraola and will have backing from a re-energised Anfield crowd. Since tasting their only defeat of the season so far against Manchester City on 11 October, Liverpool have won their past five across all competitions. Not since the start of last season under Arne Slot have they had such a run.
Facing Arsenal at the end of a week in which the Gunners were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Fleetwood, they will sense an opportunity to deliver a statement to the rest of the Premier League. Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool are the biggest title challengers to Arsenal,, external though, speaking on Friday, Iraola insisted it was too early to look at the table. Either way, the game will offer an early indication of Liverpool's progress under the Basque boss.
Victory will see them move just three points behind Arsenal, but defeat would see the difference extend to nine points after nine games. For vast parts of last season, Anfield lost its fear factor and watching Liverpool became a turgid experience. In the past fortnight, the connection between the fanbase and the side seems to have grown again.
Liverpool were flawed against Villarreal but the atmosphere was electric as they came from behind to win. The feel-good factor has only grown since, with an impressive win against high-flying Brighton in the Premier League and victory on penalties over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. "We have a big advantage over other teams because this atmosphere we can create is special," said Iraola.
Big-money signings like Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz are all heading in the right direction, while players like Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister have been much better this season than last. At the back, Ronald Araujo is already a fan favourite and Jeremy Jacquet has seamlessly settled into the Premier League. Iraola's growing trust in using youngsters like Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell is certainly worth highlighting too.
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