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The Dugout Discussion – Liverpool vs Arsenal

8 February 2014 2351 comments
Mark Mark
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The day’s eight Premier League fixtures begin with a lip-smacking encounter at Anfield and end with a tumultuous derby in South Wales. Let the drama, goals and Fantasy points flow.

Proceedings kick-off in just over five minutes with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool hosting the league leaders. The Gunners arrive on Merseyside having won six of their last seven, halted only by a spritely Southampton showing on their previous away trip. Before that, Arsene Wenger’s side had won three consecutive matches on the road and only City have scored more goals on their travels all season. Similarly, Liverpool’s home form is strong. A total of 33 goals is again only bettered by Manuel Pellegrini’s side and the 2-2 draw with Villa in Gameweek 22 was the first time they’ve failed to win on home turf since back in September, when Southampton turned up and took the points back in Gameweek 5.

The statistics point to an almighty tussle, then, with the potent pairing of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez facing up to an Arsenal centre-back duo who have not tasted defeat as a partnership for 31 matches. Something surely has to give.

The team news from Anfield finds the home side unchanged with Raheem Sterling keeping his start in what could be a 4-3-3 or a standard 4-4-2 from Rodgers. Wenger makes one alteration – Jack Wilshere returns with Lukas Podolski dropping to the bench.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to steer you through this early kick-off and will be ready and waiting for today’s three o’clock encounters.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,351 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    How many assist Gerrard...? Who is on bp beside Skrtel

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Go check.

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Superstition. I don't go on FPL page during games

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        1. JT's Dog
            11 years, 10 months ago

            All four then 😉

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          • TheDogTor
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            Two

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          • Heydudes13
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            Oh dear lol. Don't let OCD get the better of you. 😉

            2 assists for Gerrard, not sure about the bps.

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    2. Balotellitubbies
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Don't back Arsenal in the big games.

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      1. Declan
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Imagine if we were playing a big game today.

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        1. Jax
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          they are.

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        2. Balotellitubbies
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          😆 I'm actually finding this funny. Liverpool have taken pity on us now.

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      2. Jax
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        this. newcastle is prob their best away win so far. all the other away wins were against the smaller sides plus they lost to both manchester clubs.

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    3. Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      arsenal haven't beaten any of the big teams away this season.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        To be fair, isn't the same true of Liverpool? Not counting Spurs. Liverpool have a superb gameplan today though.

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        1. Jax
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          or at home.

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          1. isacki: full casual
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            True story

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      2. onionbarje
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        and lost to 'mid-table' Man U

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        1. Jax
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          man u aren't mid table.

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          1. onionbarje
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            but we are this season

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    4. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      The last time Sturridge went to the Cottage, he scored a hatrick.

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      1. Jax
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        cue a 1-0 defeat then.

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      2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        But he isn't at the cottage.

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        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          He is next week

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        2. Jax
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          he means on wed night duh.

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      3. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Then got some fried chicken

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    5. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Glad I dumped all Arsenal on my WC last week 🙂

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      1. RabMac
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        I kept Koscielny but he is benched today. 😉

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    6. Thick Of It
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Mertesacker to Azpi this week was less of a risky transfer than I initially thought.

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      1. MCH
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Oh you are jinxing it there! Azpil red card incoming now!!

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        1. Thick Of It
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          Or just a no-show

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          1. MCH
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            Would take that over Mert!

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    7. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      if bendtner was playing

      it would be 4-0 to arsenal.

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      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Harhar

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      2. Jax
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        no it would be 8-0

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    8. Ed
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Looks like chelsea are going to have to show arsenal how it's done when we visit Anfield later on in the season

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      1. SuperOsçarBaby
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        THIS

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    9. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Can BT take Owen off at halftime? Mr Amusing Anectodes. Jesus wept 🙁

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      1. Balotellitubbies
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        He has minus charisma

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        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          Less than that.

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    10. Zeeco
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Arsenal getting battered!! Shocking.

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      1. Heydudes13
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        How dare Arsenal's pixies get battered?

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    11. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      The big question today was how would the best centre back partnership cope with the best strike partnership...Skrtel was the joker in the pack

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    12. jas5sk - Youtube channel
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Jack Wilshere hasn't been booked yet, that's impressive

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        He's trying more than the rest of the Arsenal team combined.

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    13. JT's Dog
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Wilshere has red card potential

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        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          good good

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        2. jas5sk - Youtube channel
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          He's been a pretty good thug this season; has all the attributes to be the new clattermole

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      • HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        How much for a 4-4?

        If anyone can throw this away, Liverpool can

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        1. 4-4-who?
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          I don't think so. If it was Arsenal 4-0 then you'd be right...

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          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            I'd had to be you to answer 🙂

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      • Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Miniskirt actually scores when he wants.

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      • Heydudes13
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Wilshere tries to dish it out, but sure as hell can't take it. 😆 #Glass

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      • FACUPARSE
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        I wonder if Wenger is gonna go nuts at the team??

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        1. Declan
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          Nope

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        2. Sheep Flavour
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          Nah....Hes on millions per year to win nothing and finish top four...if anything this year he is over achieveing.

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      • Siva Mohan
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Prediction people..

        Liverpool 5 - Arsenal 3

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        1. 4-4-who?
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          5-1

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        2. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          5-2

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        3. JT's Dog
            11 years, 10 months ago

            May as well try for 8-0

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          • Jax
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            5-1

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        4. Get up ya bum
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          This game has given me a chubby.
          As I said earlier arsenal's defence is a myth. Flattered by the fixtures. They've had 3 and half tough away games this season. 1 point 13 conceded

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          1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            😎

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          2. Declan
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            and your defence is rock solid. Simples.

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          3. isacki: full casual
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 10 months ago

            Arsenal's defence depends on the tactics used against them. This is a side that kept cleanies at Dortmund and Bayern and against Liverpool in the corresponding fixture, and also got wiped out by City and Liverpool today. Make it fast and we struggle

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            1. JT's Dog
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Too many attack minded mids, jog back rather than run.
                Flamini gap

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                1. isacki: full casual
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 10 months ago

                  Yeah no presence in midfield and no destroyer. Also, a generally slow team all round the pitch as shown today.

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            2. SamH123
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              they'd saved the highest % of shots on target in the league until this match which is normally a sign of luck

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            3. JT's Dog
                11 years, 10 months ago

                That is why I am arsenal free at moment

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              • The Light Knight
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                10 goals in 1 and a half matches.
                3 goals in 2 isn't bad against the best away from home

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            4. mr messi
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Owen shut up!

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              1. Balotellitubbies
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Almost Unlistenable might have to mute it. They need to make a Owen block plus app.

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            5. Optimus.
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Wenger will have no choice but to bring on Giroud for the 2nd half

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              1. Declan
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Please, no.

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                1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                  • 16 Years
                  11 years, 10 months ago

                  Keep up 😉

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              2. HuttonDressedasLahm
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                😆

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            6. Chris
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Really hope Vlaar and Clyne play now. Sagna first defensive sub.

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              1. 4-4-who?
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                +1

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              2. GreennRed
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Me too. But Vlaar is almost definitely out.

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            7. Jax
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              any sign my petition to get rid of michael owen as commentator.

              welcome to dullsville. population: him

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              1. mr messi
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                I will!

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            8. FACUPARSE
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Blow the whistle ref

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              1. Jax
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                lols

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            9. jas5sk - Youtube channel
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Why is Cissoko playing further up than the forward 😆

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            10. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              To be fair to Michael owen - he has watched a lot of football in recent years.

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              1. Jax
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                won't he just go away?

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              2. 4-4-who?
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Yes. And getting well paid for it.

                #whatawasteofmoney

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            11. Colonel Shoe 肝池
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              we really want this, come on liverpool!

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            12. Scottys Army
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              As a Suarez non captainer I feel lucky SO FAR

              4 goals and only 1 assist

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              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Captain?

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                1. Scottys Army
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 10 months ago

                  Benteke

                  Decided to gamble , abit nervous.....

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              2. MCH
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                Do many have him captain this week?

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            13. Heydudes13
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Won't be long until we'll be hearing #WengerOut from Arsenal's supposed 'faithfuls'.

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              1. Declan
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 10 months ago

                You wouldn't be a Utd fan by any chance?

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                1. onionbarje
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 10 months ago

                  can you stop asking this question, he has a good point, this time last year majority of Arsenal fans wanted to Wenger out.

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                  1. Declan
                    • 15 Years
                    11 years, 10 months ago

                    A good point? 🙄

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            14. Elniñorules
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 10 months ago

              Well played Liverpool.

              Great gameplan, brilliantly executed.

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