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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
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 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
    10 months, 20 days ago

    3-1 Pool Let's go

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    1. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I'm going

      Liverpool 2 v 2 Arsenal

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  3. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Time for a goal fest, please

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Yes entertainment please, so far bit depressing with FPL

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  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      So exciting

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        It's what makes the IB such a great thing

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    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      More fun as compared to watching City

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  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

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

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      maybe

      would take just matching haaland tbh

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    2. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      hope so

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  6. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Salah cappers, are we feasting tonight?

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    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 20 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
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      It’s mad, those last two results eh?

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  8. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 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
        10 months, 20 days ago

        he=Haaland

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      2. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

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

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      3. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      bobb lol ,he was bloody awful

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    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Some utter nonsense gets posted on this site.

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    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      He's on max bonus with a goal again

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    6. Halftime
      • 14 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

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

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  9. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    gyokeres vs konate, who will win out?

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Battle of the "least agile" players on the pitch

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      1. NoOneCares
        10 months, 20 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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  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Saliba dead

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  11. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Arsenal defence dented

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  12. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Saliba OFF

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  13. Tabasco
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Saliba injured after 2 mins, unreal

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  14. Absolutely Muñozed
    10 months, 20 days ago

    EL HADJI MALICK DIOUF ❤

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  15. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    So many injuries this season. What’s wrong?

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    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      It's crazy isn't it

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      1. Thanos
        • 4 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Exactly

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  16. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Saliba owners look away

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  17. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Ekitke woth wirtz assists

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  18. Absolutely Muñozed
    10 months, 20 days ago

    IB fake injury so early??

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Don’t be silly

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Of course

        But it did look like they were ready for it

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      2. Absolutely Muñozed
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Calm down, JK

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  19. Wengers Apprentice
    • 3 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      There are many getting it right in my ML unfortunately

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  20. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    play gyokeres in martinelli ffs

    why isnt eze starting

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  21. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Martinelli you might as well bring the ball hom3

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  22. Roshen
    • 4 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    a. Gabriel + Grealish
    b. VDV + Mbeumo

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  23. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Gakpo blind to Salah clear in the box

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  24. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

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

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    1. Tabasco
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Neither team have been sharp

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      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        SharpER

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        1. Tabasco
          • 15 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

          SpannER

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          1. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            10 months, 20 days ago

            Sound

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            1. Tabasco
              • 15 Years
              10 months, 20 days ago

              Alright pal

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    2. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Arsenal bossing Liverpool in the midfield do you need glasses ?

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      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 20 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
          10 months, 20 days ago

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

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          1. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            10 months, 20 days ago

            Might have you confused with someone else lol sorry

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  25. Quality Quality Qualit
    • 17 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 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
        • 17 Years
        10 months, 20 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
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Bruno got 10 points

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    2. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 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
        • 16 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Pretty much same as mine. Doing utterly awful

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    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

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

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      1. Absolutely Muñozed
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Evanlison to Wood for a hit here

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        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

          Ouch

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        2. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

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

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    4. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 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
        10 months, 20 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
          10 months, 20 days ago

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

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    5. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 20 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
        10 months, 20 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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  26. Quality Quality Qualit
    • 17 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Arsenal bench looks better than Liverpool's.

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  27. Absolutely Muñozed
    10 months, 20 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
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

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

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      2 at home as well

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    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 months, 20 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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  28. HellasLEAF
    • 16 Years
    10 months, 20 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
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 20 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
      10 months, 20 days ago

      The issue is when midweek UCL starts

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  29. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 20 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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  30. Absolutely Muñozed
    10 months, 20 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
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 20 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
        10 months, 20 days ago

        thinking the same. Teams haven't settled yet

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      2. davewg59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        What if u have Forest defence?

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      The ones you haven't got?

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    3. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Same here , hold firm awhile longer.

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