{"id":14680,"date":"2026-10-31T10:15:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14680"},"modified":"2026-10-31T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:15:31","slug":"there-is-a-tide-in-the-affairs-of-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14680","title":{"rendered":"There is a Tide in the Affairs of Men…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Santi Cazorla fires in Arsenal’s second goal at Anfield in September 2012<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

November opens with one of our most difficult away trips; a trip that has always been a test of our mettle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since our very first visit in the Second Division in January 1884, as ‘The Woolwich Arsenal’, a 2-0 defeat, we have played at Anfield 111 times, winning 27, drawing 25 and losing 59. It took six visits to win our first point, a 2-2 draw in League Division 1 on 27 December 1909, and a further 5 visits to get our first win, 3-2 on 1 September 1919.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arsenal\u2019s last Premier League victory at Anfield was in September 2012 when goals by Podolski and Cazorla secured a second consecutive victory for a team featuring Mikel Arteta in midfield. Our last five visits have seen a relative improvement in our fortunes at this venue with four draws and a solitary undeserved 1-0 defeat, last season, due to a spectacular Szobozlai free kick. However, in the Premier League era (when socca began, of course) our record at Anfield is disappointing with 5 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool were rather a basket case last season and have been described as being ‘in a transitional period’ this season. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks, it does look as if Iraola\u2019s methods may be beginning to bear fruit at Liverpool. The \u2018dippers had a slow start to the season with draws against Newcastle, Forest and Fulham and unconvincing away wins against Ipswich and Bournemouth before their tame defeat to Shitteh* (albeit handicapped by a harsh red card), since when they have beaten Brentford and Brighton while winning all three of their Champions League games. While none of these wins were comfortable, there is no doubt that Liverpool look a better team than they did last season, with Wirtz and Isak developing an understanding since the Interlull and the Swede scoring six goals in seven Premier League matches. Meanwhile, Jacquet and Araujo appear to have added security at the back. They now sit in fourth place in the league on 15 points with 11 goals scored and 8 conceded; for context Arsenal are 2nd on 21 points with 13 scored and 5 conceded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool prepared for this match by resting key players in their Carabao Cup tie with Chelsea while the Londoners played a full strength side whom the Scousers more than matched despite their absentees. Alisson, Jacquet, MacAllister, Wirtz, Barcola and Isak started on the bench while Koumas and van Dijk were rested after 59 and 72 minutes respectively. Wirz and Barcola joined the fray on the hour mark and Isak and MacAllister after 80 minutes but couldn\u2019t prevent the stalemate and penalties. Gomez, Gravenberch and Gakpo played the full match. In contrast to our dispiriting shoot-out failure against Fleetwood the evening before, Liverpool survived a couple of Chav misses to win the tie. Their key players effectively had a low stress warm-up for our visit and are undoubtedly looking forward to it with little trepidation about our blunt forward line. On Friday, Iraola suggested that Munoz and Szobozlai could also be available to face us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what about the Arsenal? The outing against Fleetwood Town didn\u2019t exactly prove ideal preparation for a visit to Anfield. In theory, we were able to rest our first-choice goalkeeper, back four, midfield and wingers and give our two underperforming \u2018strikers’ an opportunity to rediscover their goalscoring reflexes while giving a few underused legs a run out under match conditions. \u201cThe best laid plans o\u2019 mice an\u2019 men gang aft agley!<\/em>\u201d as Rabbie said or, rather less elegantly, if you prefer mid-20th century American vernacular, \u201cShit happens!<\/em>\u201d I will not revisit that debacle as ClockEndRider has more than adequately covered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our squad is already looking slightly ragged despite having been widely hailed as the squad most replete with talent in the UK, only a few weeks ago. Of course, we will be without long term absentees Saliba (back), and Saka (thigh) with possible return dates quoted on premierinjuries.com<\/a> as 21\/11\/26 and 2\/12\/26 respectively. Those are clearly rough estimates rather than precise targets. In his press conference, Arteta reported that Saka has made good progress and could be available to play before the international break. He also stated that Tzolis could be available for this match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time of writing, Rice (thigh), Calafiori (other!) and Madueke (ankle\/foot) were listed as \u2018late fitness test\u2019 with the first two quoted as having a 75% chance of playing on Sunday and the Madueke with a 50% chance. In his press conference, Arteta observed that Rice and Calafiori trained on Friday and are likely to be ready but Madueke must be re-assessed after training on Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we must also add Max Dowman to the absentee list because of the red card for what was, in context, a pretty mild reaction (IMHO) to assault by northern louts particularly to a potentially leg-breaking challenge. The failure of Arsenal\u2019s appeal against the three match ban for \u2018violent behaviour\u2019 was to be expected from the powers that be, given the usual response we get from English football authorities. Arseblog nicely highlights the crass stupidity of a system of punishment that gives Max the same duration of suspension that Ryan Shawcross received for his deliberately. violent GBH on Aaron Ramsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal’s goalkeeper and centre backs for this game (indeed, atm for any game!) are clearly a no-brainer. Hopefully all our fitness testees recover fully and make the cut. I think White and, if fit, Calafiori will be our starting full backs but Timber and Hincapi\u00e9 do offer able alternatives though both looked extremely rusty against Fleetwood. Indeed, the latter was SO erratic that Charles Watts suggested that MLS should play at left back in this game if Calafiori isn’t fit enough to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Rice is fit, the second biggest decision for Mikel Arteta is whom to play alongside him and \u00d8degaard in midfield – I would choose MLS over Guimar\u00e3es for off-the-ball security (This is Anfield<\/em> – as the sign says). However, I would replace Rice with Guimar\u00e3es if the Anglo-Irishman is not fit enough to start and replace him after 45-60 minutes if necessary. Zubimendi will be standing by to replace any of the starting midfielders incapable of going the distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arteta’s biggest decision is who to play up front. Hopefully, Madueke will be fit enough to start but, if not, I would start Havertz on the right of the front three with either Merino or Gy\u00f6keres in the centre. Havertz\u2019s recent poor finishing has, for many Gooners, eclipsed his work rate and his ability to get on the end of moves and, if he is not needed to fill a gap on the right, I would definitely start him in the centre over Gy\u00f6keres, as I think would Arteta. The Swede’s persistent failure to hold up the ball and his inability to get on the end of crosses reliably, renders him, for me, third choice at \u2018centre forward\u2019 behind Havertz and<\/em> Merino. Unless Tzolis has fully recovered, Eze will surely start on the left and he really must now grab this opportunity to claim that position as his own. Where better to build on his achievements last season against the Spudz than Anfield?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, I expect the following starting XI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White Konsa Gabriel Calafiori<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00d8degaard MLS Rice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madueke Havertz Eze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool\u2019s attack looks threatening on paper but their scoring record this season suggests that, as a team, they are no better at putting the ball in the net than us and their victories this season have really not been as convincing as the score-lines would suggest. Although our attack has frustrated us regularly for months with ponderous build-up play and clunky finishing, we have scored more goals than Liverpool this season. Further, our defence, whilst not looking as secure as last season\u2019s, has been the most miserly in the league to date, despite the leakage of three goals at Brighton. It does seem unlikely that this will be a high scoring match.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Holic Pound? The weight of history in this fixture inclines me to predict a low\/no scoring draw. Indeed, that is what last season\u2019s Anfield fixture was heading towards until Szobozlai scored his \u2018worldy\u2019 from a free-kick, so late in the game that we had no time to salvage a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bet365 offers the draw at 5\/2 and Paddy Power offers it at a slightly more parsimonious 23\/10. The latter offers exact score odds of 11\/1 for 0-0, 5\/1 for 1-1 and 10\/1 for 2-2. Those odds rather confirm my pre-match instinct. However, if you are of a less pessimistic disposition than I am, you can splash out on 0-1 or 1-2 to the good guys, both offered at 15\/2, or, if you are even more optimistic (aka slightly bonkers), you can have 0-2 at 11\/1, 1-3 at 14\/1 or 0-3 at 20\/1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the game, Holics, however and wherever you view it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summon the spirit of \u201989, fellas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COYG !<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

November opens with one of our most difficult away trips; a trip that has always been a test of our mettle.\u00a0 Since our very first visit in the Second Division in January 1884, as ‘The Woolwich Arsenal’, a 2-0 defeat, we have played at Anfield 111 times, winning 27, drawing 25 and losing 59. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14680"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14700,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680\/revisions\/14700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}