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Find out how Arsenal are shaping up ahead of their huge Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday

Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday looking to take another major step towards their first Premier League title since 2004.

Victory at Anfield, a ground they haven’t won at in the league since 2012, would see them end the weekend at least eight points clear of Manchester City with just eight matches remaining, although Pep Guardiola’s will have a game in hand.

So it’s another massive weekend for Mikel Arteta’s league leaders, who have won their last seven league games in a row.

But how are things shaping up for Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash? Below, GOAL takes a look. 

🏆 TOP STORY: Reiss Nelson to face criminal trial📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Is the Women's World Cup the Lionesses' to lose?🚨 MUST READ: The winners and losers from Lampard's Chelsea returnGetty ImagesArsenal team news

There is a major doubt over William Saliba, who has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a back problem. Mikel Arteta hinted that one of his injured players had a chance of returning at Anfield, but it’s unclear if he was talking about the France international. He could have been referring to Eddie Nketiah, who is closing in on a return after an ankle injury. Bukayo Saka is fully fit after illness, but Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny will not play again this season due to knee injuries.

AdvertisementGettyTalking point

Who Mikel Arteta starts up front is the big talking point ahead of Sunday’s game. With Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all available, the Arsenal manager has a big decision to make. Jesus scored twice on his first league start since November last weekend and it would be a huge surprise if he does not get the nod again at Anfield. So Arteta must decide between Martinelli and Saka, Arsenal’s two top scorers this season, and the in-form Trossard, who has just been voted the club’s player of the month for March.

GettyKey man – Thomas Partey

Whoever wins the midfield battle on Sunday will go a long way to coming out on top at Anfield. Liverpool have struggled in midfield this season, so if Partey can dominate that area then Arsenal will have a great chance of finally ending their 11-year wait for a league win at Anfield. Liverpool do leaves spaces at the back, we've seen that all season, so if Partey can get on the ball and move it quickly to Arteta's front three they could cause the hosts a lot of problems.

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(C)Getty ImagesWhat has Arteta said?

Speaking about Arsenal's 11-year run without a league win at Anfield, Arteta said: "We've been to a few grounds this season where we haven't won in 17, 18 and 22 years and we have managed to do that. So we are capable of [winning at Anfield], that's for sure. We really need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something that we haven't done for many years. That's what is driving the team in the last few days."

With 2020 approaching, Goal picked out the greatest players to wear the blue shirt at the Etihad Stadium over the past 10 years

GK: Joe Hart

The latter part of the decade has been tough for Joe Hart, so it’s easy to forget what a huge part he played in much of Man City’s earlier success.

Signed from Shrewsbury Town as a 19-year-old, he spent 10 years at the club, amassing 348 appearances.

Hart was first-choice goalkeeper for both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, playing a played a key role in two Premier League title triumphs, in 2012 and 2014.

Along the way there were some remarkable individual performances, not least in a 1-0 loss at Barcelona in 2015, when Lionel Messi shook his head in amazement at some of the saves pulled off by a man he described as "a phenomenon”.

Ultimately, Hart didn’t fit in with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy, but his contribution to a golden decade for the club should not be overlooked.

AdvertisementRB: Pablo Zabaleta

Pablo Zabaleta could not hold back the tears when he said an emotional farewell after nine years at City in 2017.

The Argentine built a remarkable bond with the fans over the course of 333 appearances for the club.

He was an adopted Mancunian, electing to live in the city while many of his team-mates chose rural Cheshire, and was regularly spotted at his local fish and chip shop.

But it was his warrior spirit that endeared him most to the fans, as he often seemed to finish matches with a bandage wrapped around his head or cotton wool shoved up a bloody nose.

While there have been more gifted players at City over the past decade, none were more committed to the cause than Zabaleta.

Getty ImagesCB: Vincent Kompany

Every successful team of the Premier League era has had a leader that sets the example on and off the pitch. At City, that man was Vincent Kompany.

His intelligence away from the field was matched his cleverness on it, and he played a pivotal role in four title-winning campaigns.

Kompany was a masterful defender but also demonstrated incredible determination in overcoming the persistent muscle injuries that blighted his final years at the club to make 360 appearances in total.

He was also the man for the big occasion.

Kompany scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United in the tight 2012 title race and an incredible 25-yard strike in his final game at the Etihad Stadium, against Leicester City, just as City looked like to lose top spot to Liverpool.

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CB: Aymeric Laporte

The French defender has been at City for fewer than two years but has made a huge impression during that time.

After initially declining a switch to the Etihad, his quality and potential prompted a rare u-turn from Guardiola by making a second move for a player that had turned him down.

Neither the manager nor the player regretted the decision and he played a key part in both of Guardiola’s title-winning seasons with his strong defending and controlled passing out from the back.

With a contract that runs until 2025, Laporte is set to have an even bigger future at the club.

The only question is, will French national manager Didier Deschamps finally see what everyone else sees and finally give him an international cap.

Retiring an iconic player's shirt number is quite common practice Italy, but not so much Spain – and Goal has rounded up the most memorable instances

GettyBobby Moore | West Ham | #8The West Ham legend had his number at the London side retired, having captained the club for 10 years. Moore was also captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all-time.AdvertisementGetty ImagesAC Milan | Paolo Maldini | #3Technically, the shirt isn't retired. AC Milan made the decision to retire the number following the Italy legend's final game, but Maldini has allowed for his sons to inherit the number three should either of them play for the club.Getty ImagesEmiliano Sala | Nantes | #9The Argentine had his shirt number at Ligue 1 side Nantes retired after he died tragically in a plane crash in January 2019.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesDiego Maradona | Napoli | #10The Argentina icon is one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the pitch, and had a glittering seven-year career at Napoli where he won numerous titles and awards.

On every day of this Test Australia have tightened their grip further and so it was again on day three, a day on which Alastair Cook fought hard for 96 and Ben Stokes lashed 87

The Report by Brydon Coverdale18-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBen Stokes troubled the Australians for much of the first session•Getty ImagesOn every day of this Test Australia have tightened their grip further and so it was again on day three, a day on which Alastair Cook fought hard for 96 and Ben Stokes lashed 87. They were innings that, viewed in isolation, would appear impressive enough, but seen against the backdrop of Steven Smith’s 215 and Chris Rogers’ 173 looked unequivocally inadequate. There are big scores, and then there are huge scores.And England will need a huge total to win this match. By the close of play, Rogers and David Warner had cruised to 108 for 0, with Rogers on 44 and Warner on 63, and Australia’s lead was already 362. Michael Clarke had declined to enforce the follow-on, not surprisingly given his history, and all that remained was to decide how long to give his bowlers and how many to set England.The one positive in the back of Cook’s mind, though, will be the knowledge that this pitch remains very good for batting and offers little sideways movement to bowlers either fast or slow. They should not view batting out a draw as an impossible task. It is worth noting that Cook himself survived for 351 minutes in the first innings. A little more support is what he will need.Cook frustrated Australia for much of the third day, first during a 145-run stand with Stokes and then as part of a 56-run association with Moeen Ali. He was patient and waited for the bad balls to score, and looked set for a 28th Test century. But with his 233rd delivery he drove at a Mitchell Marsh ball outside off stump and played on.Marsh has been responsible for more drag-ons than George R. R. Martin; he played on himself during Australia’s innings and then had both Cook and Stokes by that method on day three. Stokes had moved the score along briskly before lunch but on 87 he drove at a delivery that stayed a touch low and chopped on to give Marsh the first of his two wickets.Stokes had gone for his shots and struck 13 fours and one six during his 128-ball stay. He scored runs all around the wicket and brought up his half-century from just 67 deliveries with a four crunched through cover off Mitchell Johnson. Cook, meanwhile, was careful at the other end, anchoring the innings in the knowledge that eating up time was invaluable for England.His fifty came from his 142nd delivery with a flick through midwicket for three off Nathan Lyon and he struck 13 boundaries, including a classy drive through mid-off when he used his feet against Lyon and an on-drive off Mitchell Starc. Often he waited and played the ball late, finding the gaps square of the wicket on both sides.Cook was put down on 63 when he pulled Johnson to Steven Smith at square leg, and there were a few other nervy moments, but overall it was an excellent innings from England’s captain. He had support from Jos Buttler after Stokes departed, but Buttler managed only 13 before he edged behind when Lyon came around the wicket and drifted an arm ball on.Buttler walked without waiting for the umpire’s call; earlier he had stood his ground after edging Johnson behind. Peter Nevill took the ball low to his right and it seemed on first glance like a brilliant, athletic take, although an umpire review showed the ball had grazed the turf in the process and Buttler was reprieved to the chagrin of the Australians.Ali played his shots, as expected, and launched Lyon back over his head for six to go with five fours. But on 39 he was lbw to a lovely piece of bowling from Josh Hazlewood, who curled the new ball in and struck Ali dead in front. The batsman asked half-heartedly for a review but if it was any plumber it could have unclogged his drains.From there it was a quick finish. Mark Wood was bowled by Hazlewood for 4 and Stuart Broad was snapped up at slip off Johnson for 21 to end the innings on 312. England’s deficit was 254 but there was as much chance of Clarke enforcing the follow-on as there was of Kumar Dharmasena opening the bowling in the second innings. Clarke is a target-setting kind of guy.Australia’s second innings was fairly uneventful, although Adam Lyth was left to rue a missed chance at gully off James Anderson before Warner had scored. It was very catchable, and by the close of play Warner had brought up a 71-ball half-century and, perhaps most worryingly for England as the Investec Ashes wears on, found some decent form.Already the difference was such that England would need a record successful fourth-innings run chase at Lord’s – West Indies’ 344 for 1 in 1984 is the benchmark – and Australia seemed set to push their lead well into to the 400s. It will take some sort of effort from England to prevent Australia tightening their grip further on day four.

Lasith Malinga’s knee injury has forced his return home from the World T20, a release from Sri Lanka Cricket said

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2016Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 with injury, dealing a substantial blow to Sri Lanka’s campaign. Having flown to India earlier this week hopeful of playing some part in the tournament, Malinga has aggravated the bone bruise in his left knee that has plagued him since November. He has returned to Sri Lanka, and the selectors are expected to name a replacement over the next 72 hours, following practice games in Colombo on Friday.Malinga had been preparing to play Sri Lanka’s opening World T20 match against Afghanistan on Thursday, having increased his bowling load incrementally through the week. He was seen warming up ahead of the game, but pulled up as he ran in to bowl one of his practice deliveries, and stopped bowling thereafter. It was later confirmed he had aggravated his injury, and would play no part in the tournament.There have been serious doubts over Malinga’s fitness right through the approach to the tournament. Malinga was only able to play one match out of four in the Asia Cup, and had also stepped down from the captaincy when it became apparent he could not guarantee his availability for the full World T20.He had said he was hopeful of playing in the World T20 in early March, but more recently, had questioned why the selectors chose him in the Sri Lanka squad when he felt he was clearly unfit. He had joined the side on Monday nevertheless, but will now have spent less than four days with them before he was withdrawn from the tournament.This bone bruise is similar to the injury Malinga had sustained in his right knee in 2008. On that occasion, he was out of international cricket for almost two years. As he is now 32 years of age, there is a chance the current injury is serious enough to end Malinga’s international career. He has also had trouble with his left ankle in recent years. Malinga underwent surgery on that ankle in 2014, but has been a diminished bowler since his return.Sri Lanka have some seam-bowling cover in their present squad, which features Suranga Lakmal in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Kulasekara, who played against Afghanistan. Malinga had been the spearhead of the T20 attack however, and was instrumental to Sri Lanka’s march to three World T20 finals over the last four tournaments. He remains the World T20’s highest wicket-taker, with 38 scalps from 31 matches.

Australia’s female domestic players will receive a significant pay hike after Cricket Australia and state associations invested $600,000 in women’s cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2015Cricket Australia and the state associations have given Australia’s women domestic players a substantial pay hike through a $600,000 investment, ensuring the best state players could get up to $17,000. Additionally, the players who are contracted to CA can earn retainers in excess of $50,000. This investment will increase the Women’s Payment Fund by 36% from last year, up to $2.26 million.Players signed for the Women’s Big Bash League T20 competition will receive retainers between $3000 and $10,000. Also, players contracted to Women’s National Cricket League – a 50-over tournament – will receive the maximum $7000 retainer. The signing of foundation players will be the WBBL clubs’ next target as the window for the inaugural season is now open.James Sutherland, Cricket Australia CEO, said the investment will move Australia women’s cricket in the right direction. “We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket,” Sutherland said. “But the performances of our female stars justify this step and the day will come when future, full-time professional female cricketers will look back and thank those who went before them.”Australia won the Women’s World Cup in 2013 in India, as well as the Women’s World Twenty20 in 2014 in Bangladesh.

Kumar Sangakkara has called for England and Kevin Pietersen to “iron out their differences” and find a way for him to return to international cricket

David Hopps in Cardiff20-Apr-20151:03

Sangakkara: Want to see KP play for England again

Kumar Sangakkara has called for England and Kevin Pietersen to “iron out their differences” and find a way for him to return to international cricket – perhaps in time for this summer’s Ashes series.Sangakkara’s comments might be regarded as a predictable show of support for Pietersen now that he has joined forces as a Surrey team-mate, a recognition of the value that a constructive relationship can bring to Surrey’s season at the start of his two-year contract with the county.But, in his years with Sri Lanka, Sangakkara has experienced the murkiest depths of cricketing politics and his view that the best team must be fielded – sometimes against the odds – is unlikely to have been expressed glibly. Sangakkara is not known for doing glib.”It is not just an English media obsession,” he said. “It is a case where you have a fantastic player and you have had some controversy and some strain in the relationship between him and the ECB. I think everyone is wishing – the spectators, I’m sure, want to watch KP out there in the middle.”When you have a batsman of that ability I reckon even the side would like him there. It’s not my call to make or my place to comment on it but at the end of the day I just hope that they iron out their differences.”Sangakkara still has vivid memories of Pietersen’s exceptional hundred in searing heat in Colombo, an innings that sustained England on their last Sri Lanka tour.”I know from playing against Kevin when he came to Sri Lanka the last time. Wiith England 1-0 down, the way Kevin Pietersen came into that last Test with that hundred was magnificent.”He is an out-and-out matchwinner. I want to watch a matchwinner out there, I would want a matchwinner in my side so hopefully they can iron out their differences and Kevin Pietersen can come back and play.”

James Pattinson will play his first Sheffield Shield match for more than two years when he returns to first-class action for Victoria on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2015James Pattinson will play his first Sheffield Shield match for more than two years when he returns to first-class action for Victoria on Saturday. Pattinson is on the comeback trail from a back injury and played five BBL games for the Melbourne Renegades this summer, but has not played a first-class match since the Cape Town Test against South Africa last March.His last Shield game came in January 2013 but Pattinson is ready to return to the longer form with the Bushrangers against Queensland at the Gabba this weekend. Pat Howard, the Cricket Australia manager of team performance, said Pattinson had remodelled his bowling action during his lay-off and the aim was for him to be in contention for Australia’s upcoming Test tours.”We are delighted James is ready to return to first-class action after six months of hard work in rehabilitation and also remodelling his bowling action,” Howard said. “We want him to get back to playing and performing and, put himself in contention for Australia’s upcoming tours of the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.”It is important to gradually increase workload, and so the plan is for James to play in three Sheffield Shield matches before the end of the season. By making that gradual return to red-ball cricket it should allow him to work his way back into the longer form of the game without overloading his body and that approach should benefit James, Cricket Victoria and the Australian team in the long term.”Pattinson has claimed 51 Test wickets at 27.07 but injuries have contributed to him playing only 13 of a possible 38 Test since his debut in December 2011. He hopes that by reworking his action with help from Australia’s bowling coach Craig McDermott he will avoid further back injuries like the one that sidelined him after last year’s South African tour.”It is a huge relief,” Pattinson said. “The whole process over the last six months has been about trying to get my body right and getting my action right to be back playing the longer format of the game in red-ball cricket. I am less than a week away from doing that and I am pretty excited at the moment.”Hopefully I can use these three games and get some good performances on the board and feel good, and then I can put my name forward for selection for the West Indies. But first of all there is the four-day game starting this weekend and it is exciting to get back out there.”Initially I was not going to play any Big Bash cricket but I got to the stage where I had to play some cricket because it had been so long since I had, and I was ready to go. I managed to play five matches, which was fantastic.”I was a bit nervous coming into the games, whether I could hold my action and actually compete at that level knowing I had been out of the game for so long but I was lucky enough to get a few wickets and stick to my action too.”

Islami Bank East Zone became inaugural champions of the Bangladesh Cricket League’s One-Day competition after a thrilling three-wicket win over BCB North Zone in Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2015
ScorecardThe East Zone players celebrate their three-wicket victory•BCBIslami Bank East Zone became inaugural champions of the Bangladesh Cricket League’s One-Day competition after a thrilling three-wicket win over BCB North Zone in Mirpur. Despite rain stopping play for 78 minutes during East Zone’s chase and being set a stiff revised target, they won with an over to spare.The final flourish was provided by Abul Hasan and Arafat Sunny, who added the last 40 runs off just 2.4 overs. Both struck three fours and a six each, with Abul making 39 off 35 balls while Sunny blazed 18 off just seven balls.East Zone’s chase started with a jolt when Tamim Iqbal holed out to Taijul Islam at mid-off in the second over. But the counterattack was spectacular from Litton Das and Mominul Haque who added 102 runs off just 13.3 overs to restore the balance of the contest. Litton struck two sixes and six fours in his 37-ball 50. He teed off in Taijul’s first over, blasting the left-arm spinner for three fours in a row and then a six after a dot ball. The tenth over cost 18 runs, and East Zone were in tune with the chase.Mominul, who got out in the 27th over, made 78 off 77 balls with ten fours, his first fifty in any competitive match since the Zimbabwe series last year. It will be an innings that would give him some confidence going into the ODI series against Pakistan. After the rain break, East Zone needed a further 147 runs in 26 overs.Their chase was derailed when they lost Tasamul Haque, Alok Kapali, Mominul and Nazmul Hossain Milon in quick succession, but Asif Ahmed struck a 52-ball 46 with four fours and a six to keep them in the game. When he left in the 43rd over, North Zone had a sniff but were blazed away by the Abul-Sunny unbroken eighth-wicket partnership. Taijul took three wickets for 56 runs while Farhad Reza picked up two wickets.Earlier East Zone’s decision to bowl first looked justified. Junaid Siddique and Naeem Islam fell early and when Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed in the 19th over, North Zone had slipped to 88 for 3.Thereafer, Mahmudul Hasan added 140 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Nasir Hossain. It was a stroke-filled passage of play that lasted 23.2 overs and completely transformed the North Zone innings. Mahmudul reached his maiden List-A century, off 127 balls with 10 fours, by rushing for a second run after pushing towards long-on. His innings ended in the 43rd over when Asif Ahmed picked up his wicket for 110 runs off 132 balls, which included eleven fours.Nasir fell in the 47th over for 96 off 84 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Ariful Haque and Delwar Hossain made 17 each, but their efforts were not enough to push their score past the 300-run mark in the end overs. Asif Ahmed and Arafat Sunny picked up two wickets each.

A round-up of the Ranji Trophy Group A matches on December 29, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2014
ScorecardA double-hundred from Mandeep Singh, and centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Gurkeerat Singh steered Punjab to a commanding 659 for 7 declared against Saurashtra in Rajkot.Mandeep, who began the day at 154, scored his second first-class double-century, going past his previous best of 211, before he was dismissed for 235. His innings came off 334 deliveries with 24 fours and three sixes. Yuvraj, his batting partner from the first day, scored his third hundred in as many games, and the fourth-wicket partnership between the two yielded 379 runs. After Mandeep and Yuvraj were dismissed, Gurkeerat boosted the score further with an unbeaten 135-ball 101,helping the side declare their innings at 659.
ScorecardA century from Virender Sehwag led Delhi to a position of strength, helping them declare at 425 for 6 on the second day against Gujarat. In reply, Gujarat scored 34 for 1 by close of play.Unmukt Chand and Gautam Gambhir had laid down a solid foundation for Delhi with their 171-run opening partnership. Chand, who resumed on 97, scored his sixth first-class century before falling in the 70th over of the day. Sehwag and Mithun Manhas consolidated Delhi’s position with a swift 106-run, third-wicket partnership. Sehwag was finally dismissed for 105 off 148 balls with 14 fours and Sumit Narwal added quick runs to the score with 37 off 28 balls, before Delhi declared at 425 for 6.Shivam Sharma dismissed Samit Gohel for 15, towards the end of the day.
ScorecardHaryana offspinner Jayant Yadav took his second six-for of the season to leave Odisha at 232 for 9, limiting their first-innings lead on the second day to 105.Resuming on a score of 39 for 0, the Odisha openers Girjia Rout and Natraj Behera, extended their partnership to 57 runs, before Behera fell for 39. Rout was dismissed for the same score by Yadav and thereon, Odisha lost wickets in clusters, as Yadav and Mohit Sharma ensured partnerships did not flourish. Yadav took 6 for 91, while Mohit finished with 3 for 38.
ScorecardLeft-arm pacer Ravikumar Thakur’s maiden first-class five-for and a three-wicket haul from Shrikant Wagh skittled Rajasthan out for 188, giving Vidarbha a 108-run first-innings lead.Vidarbha started the day on 236 for 6 and, guided by Shalabh Shrivastava, the last four wickets extended the score to 296. Pankaj Singh, who ran through the top order on the first day, picked up his fifth wicket.Thakur and Wagh then combined to reduce Rajasthan to 64 for 4 before Vineet Saxena and Arjit Gupta led a brief revival with a 65-run, fifth-wicket partnership. Saxena’s dismissal for 61 started the slide that eventually led to the side folding for 188.