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Liverpool v Arsenal team news: Martinelli starts, Odegaard + Eze subs

31 August 2025 567 comments
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Liverpool take on Arsenal in the penultimate Premier League fixture before the international break.

Both teams have won their first two matches, but defensive frailties remain for the Reds, having allowed four goals against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are yet to concede this season.

Kick-off at Anfield is at 16:30 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Arne Slot makes one change from Monday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United, with Alexis Mac Allister coming in for Curtis Jones, who drops to the bench.

Dominik Szoboszlai continues at right-back.

As for Arsenal, Eberechi Eze is named among the substitutes following his £60m move from Crystal Palace.

Gabriel Martinelli replaces the injured Bukayo Saka, while Martin Odegaard is only fit enough for bench duties.

Mikel Merino comes into central midfield as a result.

LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Robertson, Nguhoma

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres

Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, Odegaard, Eze, Trossard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Harriman-Annous

567 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. GoonerSteve
    • 16 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    It'll be interesting to see how Zubimemdi and Merino do. They've enjoyed playing together before, I understand.

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    1. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      Amongst other interesting things, such as Madueke as Saka, and Gyokeres against a high line, potentially.

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  2. More Tragic
    • 10 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    3-1 Pool Let's go

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    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      I'm going

      Liverpool 2 v 2 Arsenal

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  3. F4L
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    Time for a goal fest, please

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      Yes entertainment please, so far bit depressing with FPL

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  4. JBG
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    Hey at least we can look forward to watching Lichtenstein - Luxembourg next week

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      So exciting

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      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        It's what makes the IB such a great thing

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    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      More fun as compared to watching City

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  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    I think this is the game where Salah will really hurt the non-owners

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      maybe

      would take just matching haaland tbh

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    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      hope so

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  6. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    Salah cappers, are we feasting tonight?

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      Made a last minute switch to Bruno because I thought it was at Emirates, D’Oh!

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  7. KunDogan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    Every time you think this season can’t get any worse, comes next gameweek…

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    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      It’s mad, those last two results eh?

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  8. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 13 days ago

    Main takeaways from City game:

    1. Haaland just can not be worth 14m in this City team. Hes a great goal scorer but they wont dominate games and give him enough big chances to justify his price.
    2. Reijnders seems like a trap. If you want to spend 5.5 on City, Bobb seems much more likely to get FPL points.

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    1. mookie
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      After 3 games he has higher xG than Spurs, Newcastle, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley, Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley.

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      1. mookie
        • 12 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        he=Haaland

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      2. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Folks would rather wait for the hattrick, then get him in

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      3. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        And no one owns any attackers from any of those teams.

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    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      bobb lol ,he was bloody awful

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    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      Disagree on both points. Haaland will be highest scoring FPL player this season imo. Reindjers is #10 and on set piece, he will get plenty of points for a 5.5

      Brighton are no mugs, there is no team in the league that will turn up at the Amex and put 3+ past them with ease

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    4. NoOneCares
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Some utter nonsense gets posted on this site.

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      • AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        He's on max bonus with a goal again

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      • Halftime
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Haaland will still score more goals than any other striker this season IMO.

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    5. F4L
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 13 days ago

      gyokeres vs konate, who will win out?

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      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Battle of the "least agile" players on the pitch

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        1. NoOneCares
            7 months, 13 days ago

            That award goes to Sesko who looks utter garbage. Can't even get into a garbage Man U team.

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      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Saliba dead

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      3. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Arsenal defence dented

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      4. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Saliba OFF

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      5. Tabasco
        • 15 Years
        7 months, 13 days ago

        Saliba injured after 2 mins, unreal

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      6. Absolutely Muñozed
          7 months, 13 days ago

          EL HADJI MALICK DIOUF ❤

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        • Thanos
          • 4 Years
          7 months, 13 days ago

          So many injuries this season. What’s wrong?

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          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            7 months, 13 days ago

            It's crazy isn't it

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            1. Thanos
              • 4 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Exactly

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        • Kaneyonero
          • 9 Years
          7 months, 13 days ago

          Saliba owners look away

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        • Paul Psychic Octopus
          • 15 Years
          7 months, 13 days ago

          Ah well, at least Saliba won't get minus points when Ekitike's goals start flying in.

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          1. Haalander
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            7 months, 13 days ago

            Ekitke woth wirtz assists

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        • Absolutely Muñozed
            7 months, 13 days ago

            IB fake injury so early??

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            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Don’t be silly

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              1. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Of course

                But it did look like they were ready for it

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              2. Absolutely Muñozed
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Calm down, JK

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            2. Wengers Apprentice
              • 3 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Honestly never known a start to a season like this regardless of my 9m rank! Number of injuries every week and lack of any consistent form is unreal!

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              1. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                There are many getting it right in my ML unfortunately

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            3. F4L
              • 11 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              play gyokeres in martinelli ffs

              why isnt eze starting

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            4. chocolove
              • 15 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Martinelli you might as well bring the ball hom3

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            5. Roshen
              • 4 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              a. Gabriel + Grealish
              b. VDV + Mbeumo

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            6. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Gakpo blind to Salah clear in the box

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            7. TheBiffas
              • 5 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              Liverpool sharper, but arsenal will inevitably go 1 up from a set piece

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              1. Tabasco
                • 15 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Neither team have been sharp

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                1. TheBiffas
                  • 5 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  SharpER

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                  1. Tabasco
                    • 15 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    SpannER

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                    1. TheBiffas
                      • 5 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      Sound

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                      1. Tabasco
                        • 15 Years
                        7 months, 13 days ago

                        Alright pal

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              2. Debauchy
                • 13 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Arsenal bossing Liverpool in the midfield do you need glasses ?

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                1. TheBiffas
                  • 5 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  I've seen enough terrible opinions from you to know not to take this seriously

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                  1. Debauchy
                    • 13 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    Oh ok , I'm hardly ever on here mate lol

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                    1. TheBiffas
                      • 5 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      Might have you confused with someone else lol sorry

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            8. Quality Quality Qualit
              • 16 Years
              7 months, 13 days ago

              This week I have Wood (C) and Rodon is my highest scorer, in all my years playing FPL I have never before made such a mess of it. Ho hum.

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              1. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Don’t listen to content creators, easy 😉

                The chatter this week was all Forest & United, delicious 🙂

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                1. Quality Quality Qualit
                  • 16 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  I don't even have that excuse, it's all my own (bad) work.

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                2. AC/DC AFC
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Bruno got 10 points

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              2. have you seen cyan
                • 6 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                It’s just a bizarre start to the season. Never experienced a start like this either. I’m normally in top 100k at this stage, this season I’m at 8.3mil.

                I think I had two goals so far lmao

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                1. Nomar
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 16 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Pretty much same as mine. Doing utterly awful

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              3. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Don't worry, I did Bowen to Wood for a hit too

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                1. Absolutely Muñozed
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    Evanlison to Wood for a hit here

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                    1. AC/DC AFC
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 10 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      Ouch

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                    2. Utopsis
                      • 6 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      Normally sensible moves, but this season doesn't want to be sensible

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                2. Utopsis
                  • 6 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  I have decided to stop making transfers for a couple weeks unless injuries, too unpredictable

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                  1. have you seen cyan
                    • 6 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    Yea. I’m keeping Wood for sure. Transferring him to Pedro will go wrong somehow. Just gonna try hold transfers for the next few. Wood has two nice fixtures after Arsenal too.

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                    1. Utopsis
                      • 6 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      Yep same Pedro can wait. If Palmer is back at #10 I'm no longer desperate for him

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                3. Camzy
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  It's an anti-template start to the season and I'm really liking it.

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                  1. have you seen cyan
                    • 6 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    It’s not even anti-template. I don’t play close to template and still getting screwed over at every move.

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              4. Quality Quality Qualit
                • 16 Years
                7 months, 13 days ago

                Arsenal bench looks better than Liverpool's.

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              5. Absolutely Muñozed
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Which surprised you the most
                  1. Bri 2-1 City
                  2. Forest 0-3 West Ham

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                  1. Camzy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 15 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    West Ham probably. Didn't expect them to score 3.

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                  2. g40steve
                    • 8 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    2 at home as well

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                  3. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    BRI result not at all surprising, they won last season too at the Amex, same scoreline, also came from behind

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                • HellasLEAF
                  • 16 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Kept hearing Calafiori wasn't nailed but starting every match. Hauled offensive returns twice since then. Glad I listened to that..

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                  1. Camzy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 15 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    He's nailed if he's fit. But that if fit is a big qualifier.

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                  2. Tonyawesome69
                    • 7 Years
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    The issue is when midweek UCL starts

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                • TheBiffas
                  • 5 Years
                  7 months, 13 days ago

                  Wirtz really frustrating again. He needs to show something this game, or he'll be dropped when we have a fit right back.

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                • Absolutely Muñozed
                    7 months, 13 days ago

                    Desperately want to play my WC but don't know which players should I select on WC

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                    1. Camzy
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 15 Years
                      7 months, 13 days ago

                      That's why you don't play it yet. GW6 will be the earliest I do it and probably 7.

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                      1. Absolutely Muñozed
                          7 months, 13 days ago

                          thinking the same. Teams haven't settled yet

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                        • davewg59
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 9 Years
                          7 months, 13 days ago

                          What if u have Forest defence?

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                      2. AC/DC AFC
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        7 months, 13 days ago

                        The ones you haven't got?

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                      3. Debauchy
                        • 13 Years
                        7 months, 13 days ago

                        Same here , hold firm awhile longer.

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