Liverpool vs Arsenal preview: Anfield form becomes key measure for Iraola

This Liverpool vs Arsenal preview centres on Anfield, where Liverpool host Arsenal on Sunday in a Premier League fixture carrying significance beyond the league table. Liverpool are fourth, have won their last five games, and arrive with renewed momentum under Andoni Iraola.

The match is also being framed as a practical test of Liverpool’s home authority. Paul Merson believes Liverpool have to beat Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday to be contenders for the Premier League title, but the broader question is whether recent results have turned a fragile run into something more reliable.

Anfield win changed the tone around Liverpool

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton has become the clearest evidence yet that their recent improvement is not only about results. Brighton arrived as the Premier League’s top scorers, having scored 23 goals in their first seven games, but Liverpool kept a clean sheet and secured their first home league win since April.

That matters because the run leading into Arsenal had carried caveats. Liverpool beat Brentford, but Brentford had a man sent off. Liverpool beat Villarreal, but conceded three. Those results counted, yet they did not fully settle doubts about control, balance or defensive security.

Against Brighton, the pattern looked different. Liverpool won without conceding, handled a side in scoring form, and finally gave Anfield a league result to build around after months without one.

Momentum has also come through knockout pressure

Liverpool’s recent sequence is not limited to the Premier League. They also knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup at Anfield on penalties, adding another result to a five-game winning run that has shifted the mood around the team.

Penalty wins do not answer every tactical question, but they can reinforce belief in a side that is still developing. For Liverpool, the Chelsea result added to the sense that Anfield may again be becoming a difficult venue for visiting teams.

That is why Arsenal’s visit feels especially revealing. A home win over Brighton showed a step forward; backing it up against Arsenal would carry a different weight in the Premier League title race.

Chance creation remains the unresolved issue

For all the recent progress, Liverpool are still described as a work in progress. The key concern is whether they can create enough chances and break down stubborn opponents when matches become tight.

That issue sits alongside questions about goals. Iraola’s team have shot up the table after a slow start, but they are still not scoring enough goals. The Brighton result was efficient and defensively strong, yet Arsenal are likely to present a separate examination of Liverpool’s attacking rhythm and patience.

Being fourth in the Premier League keeps Liverpool firmly in the conversation near the top. However, there remains a sense that nobody quite trusts what they are watching. The five-game winning run has improved the picture, but it has not removed the need for stronger evidence.

What comes next at Anfield

Sunday’s match gives Liverpool the chance to turn recent recovery into a statement result. It is not only about extending a winning run; it is about showing that the Brighton performance can be repeated against one of the league’s major tests.

If Liverpool beat Arsenal at Anfield, the debate around their Premier League credentials will become harder to dismiss. If they fall short, the questions over chance creation, consistency and whether the recent run was built on narrow margins will return quickly.