The 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season so far has been one which has not disappointed. There have many shocks and surprises, as well as its fair share of controversy. In addition, many exciting games have been played, with another major one taking place on Saturday evening.
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Arsenal vs. Liverpool is one of the many Premier League fixtures that never fails to live up to expectations. In fact, it probably succeeds them most of the time. The Gunners play host to the Merseysiders at the Emirates on Saturday, with both teams arguably being the best of the season so far. At the beginning of the season, it was inevitable that not a single critic would place their money on either of the two teams being in their respective league positions. Both sides are unbeaten in the league and have played similar football in many respects too. Without doubt, the standout performers for the Gunners have been Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and the £42 million German playmaker Mesut Ozil, who have formed a formidable trinity in the middle of the park, terrorising defences with incisive and intricate attacking football. On the other hand, the Anfield faithful have witnessed the emergence of the striker-partnership which they dub as the "SAS" - Suarez and Sturridge. Brazilian attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho had also been in brilliant form until picking up a shoulder injury in September forcing him out for 6 weeks; however Brendan Rodgers had confirmed that he is in the squad to face the Gunners on Saturday evening.
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In the build-up to Saturday evening's encounter between the first and third placed teams, there are certainly strengths and weaknesses among both sides. Both teams are under threat from one another's attackers, and will need their defenders to be fully motivated and prepared. Arsenal will want to avoid a third consecutive home defeat, with Liverpool hoping that their 4-game unbeaten run does not end in defeat at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger has described his team's 1st place standing has being one which is "no coincidence". Arsenal picked up 35 points from a possible 42 from the final 14 games of last season [1] and have only lost once in the league this season in the infamous 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the season. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers meanwhile said that striker Luis Suarez has shown improvements in terms of his "football ability and maturity". Suarez was widely chased by Arsenal in the summer, and after the infamous bid of £40,000,001 placed by the north London outfit, the Anfield club's principal owner John W Henry sarcastically but somewhat meaningfully asked on his Twitter account "What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?" . Nevertheless, Rodgers denied that the Suarez transfer saga will add spice to the fixture.
Both managers are under no delusion that this fixture will be a walk in the park and will undoubtedly demand 100% effort and commitment from their players. Whatever the outcome is on Saturday evening, one thing is for sure - it will be game that will keep us on the edge of our seats.
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