Good afternoon everybody, you’re very welcome along to our minute-by-minute coverage of today’s meeting of Liverpool and Arsenal.

I’m just going to put it out there good and early: there will be goals today. Not a 2-0 or a 3-1, I’m talking a 4-3 or maybe even a 6-6 draw.

Hear me out. It’s a frontline of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino up against a newly-established Arsenal centre back pairing of David Luiz and Sokratis, who have played just one game together.

At the other end it’s a similarly electrifying attack featuring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe, with Alexandre Lacazette an option off the bench too for Unai Emery.

Anthony Devlin Anthony Devlin

Liverpool will once again be without Alisson as he continues to recover from injury. While Adrian has shown himself to be a competent replacement, particularly against Chelsea in the Super Cup, his dreadful error against Southampton will not inspire confidence. There will be goals here.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were pushed hard in the first-half at St Mary’s a week ago. But today the Reds are seeking a third consecutive win in the Premier League, with last week’s display after the break more in line with the Liverpool side we have come to know.

Emery’s side also have a 100% record coming into today’s game. Arsenal have seen off Newcastle and Burnley over the last fortnight, but Anfield has been far from a happy hunting ground for the Londoners in recent years.

It promises to be a cracking game with (hopefully) plenty of goals. Stick with us, kick-off on Merseyside is coming up in just under an hour’s time at 5.30pm.

Let’s get started with the team news…

TEAM NEWS: It’s a big afternoon for Caoimhin Kelleher as the young Cork goalkeeper is named on the bench for the first time in a Premier League game.

The Ireland U21 international was previously named among the substitutes for Liverpool’s FA Cup meeting with Wolves last season. With Alisson out injured, he will play back-up to Adrian at Anfield today.

Elsewhere Jurgen Klopp makes two changes from his side’s 2-1 win against Southampton last weekend. Jordan Henderson and Fabinho return, with James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dropped to the bench.

For Arsenal, Unai Emery also makes two changes from their 2-1 win against Burnley a week ago. Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe comes in, Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson drop out.

Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Substitutes: Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi, Kelleher.

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Papastathopoulos, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Pepe, Aubameyang, Ceballos.

Substitutes:: Mkhitaryan, Lacazette, Torreira, Chambers, Nelson, Martinez, Kolasinac.

Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

Anthony Devlin Anthony Devlin

A little over half an hour to go before we get underway. Liverpool came out 5-1 victors here last December and also bagged a 4-0 win at Anfield back in August 2017. How do you see today’s game unfolding? Let us know below!

ALMOST. TIME.

UP THE REDS!! ✊#LIVARS pic.twitter.com/RuNVkNGps1

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 24, 2019

KICK-OFF: We’re underway at Anfield for the first half!

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

3 mins — Chance right from the get-go for Liverpool, who have started brightly. A switch in play sees Andy Robertson send a low cross into the danger zone. Roberto Firmino sticks a leg out, but the ball trickles wide.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

5 mins — Another chance after some more good, quick attacking play from the hosts. Jordan Henderson chips an inviting ball high into the box where Roberto Firmino was lingering menacingly. Sokratis manages to hold the Brazilian off and the ball peters away from danger.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

6 mins — A lot of early pressure on Arsenal here, who have yet to create an attack after six minutes. Unai Emery’s men are struggling a little bit being pinned inside their own half. 

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

9 mins — Trent Alexander-Arnold delivers a teasing cross into the box which David Luiz races to meet and head clear. Alexander-Arnold takes the resulting corner too, but Gini Wijnaldum spurns a decent chance after racing clear from his marker.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

11 mins — Close! Arsenal come agonisingly close to opening the scoring. Adrian comes from his line to clear, but the ball falls on a plate for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With the goalkeeper stranded, he has a pop at goal. But Aubameyang’s chipped effort lags narrowly wide. Nervy moment for Liverpool there.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

13 mins — Sadio Mane flies down the other end with pace. He gets to the byline after beating Ainsley Maitland-Niles for pace down the left wing, but Mane’s cross is headed clear at the first hurdle.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

16 mins — A lot better from Arsenal now, who are pushing men forward and enjoying a good bit more of possession. Aubameyang and Pepe are both looking very dangerous in possession, trying to create havoc and use space down the wings effectively.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

19 mins — Klopp’s men enjoying a better spell now, stroking the ball back and forth through Fabinho and Henderson in midfield. It’s all very patient and steady out there. An even opening 20 minutes with not a lot of chances to speak of. Evenly-balanced.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

22 mins — Chance! Sadio Mane intercepts a horrendous pass across his own box from Dani Ceballos. A Hail Mary pass from the 23-year-old sees Mane clamp the ball down with one touch and strike an effort on target on his right. Leno does well to get down early and smoother the shot.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

24 mins — Another chance for Liverpool, two in quick succession. Roberto Firmino spins away from his marker and slams a right-footed effort towards goal. Sokratis does well to get his body in the way and force a clearance outside the box.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

27 mins — Andy Robertson joins the attack and fizzes another cross deep into the box. It flies in one end of the box and out the other, where both Aubameyang has and Pepe have both tracked back and forced the ball clear. Great work-rate.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

30 mins — Liverpool are being very patient in possession these last few minutes. Not looking rushed or under pressure, Klopp’s men are working the ball up and down the pitch waiting for an opening. Still very slow and steady out there. Arsenal holding firm and looking composed at the back.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

33 mins — Good strike from Pepe curls narrowly wide of the target. He takes possession outside the box and curls the ball around the back of Andy Robertson, who had thrown himself in the way. Replays show Pepe’s effort was just inches from nestling into Adrian’s top corner. Mighty close.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

36 mins — Close! There’s a long pause in play for a VAR check which goes completely unexplained. But as soon as play resumes Pepe dashes free on goal with a brilliant dribble which leaves Andy Robertson for dead. The Arsenal forward gets a low shot away, but credit to Adrian who makes a great save.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

38 mins — Free-kick to Liverpool from 40 yards which Andy Robertson floats into the box. He tries to pick out the run of Roberto Firmino, but David Luiz tracks his countryman all the way and heads wide for a corner kick.

Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

40 mins — The corner drops out for Trent Alexander-Arnold to have a goal, which he does, but it’s blocked away by Sokratis. The hosts are applying a lot of late pressure before the interval.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL (MATIP 41)

41 mins — Liverpool take the lead! Joel Matip rises highest to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner swung into the middle of the box. The centre back outmuscles Matteo Guendouzi and steers a powerful header flying past Leno and into the back of the net.

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

43 mins — Roberto Firmino with a sublime piece of skill to evade his marker, but Leno leaps from his line, smoothers the ball and ends the danger. Liverpool really pushing for a second here. Anfield is alive with noise.

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

45 mins — There’s chaos inside the Arsenal box as Mohamed Salah goes in search of a goal. The ball peters wide for a corner kick as Leno fails to grab possession. Liverpool still on top with just injury time to go.

HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL

There goes the whistle from referee Anthony Taylor. Liverpool end the half completely on top and searching for a second.

Joel Matip broke the deadlock with a super header powered past Bernd Leno thanks to yet another pinpoint delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Arsenal have had chances here and there. Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and record-signing Nicolas Pepe have looked dangerous in possession, but the Gunners have managed just five shots compared to Liverpool’s 13 so far.

More action to come shortly!

HALF-TIME Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

Joel Matip's headed effort gives the home side the advantage#LIVARS pic.twitter.com/CpNmDknuM2

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 24, 2019

SECOND HALF: We’re back underway for another 45 minutes!

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

46 mins — No changes from either side at the break. Liverpool picking up where they left off seeking a second goal to try and put the game to bed early. Arsenal need a response here if they want to avoid another Anfield defeat.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

47 mins — Referee Anthony Taylor points to the spot. A lovely through ball from Roberto Firmino sets Mohamed Salah free inside the box. David Luiz tugs at his jersey and it’s a penalty just two minutes into the second half.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 ARSENAL (SALAH 49)

49 mins — Mohamed Salah slots it away! Liverpool double their lead thanks to a confident penalty from the Egyptian who powers the ball into the top corner beyond the reach of Leno. A perfect penalty and the Reds lead 2-0.

Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal

52 mins — Anfield is absolutely hopping now and Liverpool nearly grab a third thanks to a brilliant through ball which sends Salah racing clear. Leno sprints from his line and boots the ball into Row Z. Arsenal really under pressure here.

Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal

55 mins — There’s shouts for handball as Roberto Firmino’s shot from outside the box is deflected clear off an Arsenal back. The ball falls to Andy Robertson, who crosses immediacy to Mo Salah, and his header flies over the bar. All Liverpool at the moment. It really is one-way traffic.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 ARSENAL (SALAH 58)

58 mins — Jurgen Klopp’s men grab a third and this game is surely over now. It’s a sublime individual effort from Mohamed Salah. He takes possession and absolutely burns David Luiz with a clever turn and incredible pace. He races into the box, cuts onto his favoured left boot and caresses the ball into the bottom corner. 

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

60 mins — It’s one-way traffic again after Salah’s goal. Roberto Firmino grabs the ball outside the box, switches possession onto his left boot and has a pop at goal. He manages to hit the target, but Leno stands his ground and palms the ball into the ground with a save.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

63 mins —  Chance for Arsenal down the other end. Nacho Monreal rises high at the near post and directs a decent header towards goal. It flies just wide as Unai Emery’s men try and find a way back into this game. His players have looked out of sorts since the interval.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

66 mins —  Another hairy moment at the back for the visitors. David Luiz takes one too many touches and gifts possession to his international team-mate Firmino. The attacker tries to get a shot away on his left foot, but it’s blocked down and hoofed cleared desperately.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

69 mins —  Firmino getting shots away left, right and centre at the minute. He strikes again from just outside the box, but does really well to get close and throw his body in the way.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

71 mins —  Jurgen Klopp makes his first switch of the evening. James Milner comes on to replace Gini Wijnaldum in midfield. This game looked dead and buried out there with a little under 20 minutes to go.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

74 mins —  A neat pass from Jordan Henderson sets Roberto Firmino away down the left wing. He crosses nice and early looking for his partner-in-crime Salah at the back post. Leno stretches his arms out and gets to the ball first to end the danger.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

77 mins —  Emery’s men press on in the face of defeat, still looking for a goal here. Nicolas Pepe cuts inside cleverly and sends a dangerous cross floating towards the back post. James Milner reads the danger and gets his head to the ball first and nods it wide for a corner. Good defending.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

78 mins —  A second substitution of the match for the hosts. Former Gunners man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Sadio Mane for the final 15 minutes or so. The Ox, who this week signed a new long-term contract, receives a warm round of applause from all around Anfield.

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

81 mins —  Now, a first change of the evening for Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette comes on for Joe Willock for the final 10 minutes. We will get to see what this electrifying frontline of Aubameyang-Lacazette-Pepe can do together against a top level opponent. Once they click, you get the sense that the results could be devastating this season for the Gunners.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 ARSENAL (TORREIRA 85)

85 mins — Arsenal grab a goal back! This game has long looked over as a contest, but the visitors add a bit of respectability to the scoreline with a late consolation. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dribbles into the box and lays the ball off for substitute Lucas Torreira to hit. His fails with his first effort but regains possession and slots the ball past Adrian to make it 3-1.

Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal

87 mins — Unai Emery’s men really upping the ante in these final few minutes. Straight after Torreira’s goal Alexandre Lacazette races into the box and crosses. There are shouts for a handball and the referee consults with the VAR officials, but no penalty is given.

Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal

89 mins — A third and final switch for Arsenal as Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Matteo Guendouzi. Emery’s men have performed a lot better these last few minutes, really applying pressure after Torreira’s goal. Going down fighting, it seems.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.

FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-1 ARSENAL

Referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle and we’ve reached full-time. It’s another impressive win for the Reds, a third victory in the Premier League on the bounce.

Jurgen Klopp’s men maintain their 100% record this season, while Arsenal suffer their first defeat, yet another one at Anfield.

Joel Matip opened the scoring with a powerful header and Mo Salah firmly put the game to bed with a double after the break.

Lucas Torreira grabbed a late consolation to add some respectability to the scoreline, but the game was over as a contest by then.

Thanks a million for joining us this evening — you can read our full match report here. Cya soon!