Liverpool fans aren’t stupid. We can see with our own eyes what’s happening on the pitch and no amount of spin is going to change that. All this talk about unbeaten runs and positives to take is comfort blanket stuff and utter nonsense.
The reality is simple. Liverpool have won FIVE of their last fifteen games.
Five!!! That is not a blip, not bad luck and not fine margins. That is form over a long enough period to start asking proper questions.
Fans are not buying the narrative anymore. We know what intensity looks like. We know what control looks like. And we definitely know what drifting through matches looks like. You can dress it up however you like, but the performances tell their own story and the results back it up.
I came across this older discussion and wanted to add something that might spark it back up. What moments in football made you feel most connected to people around you, even strangers? For me, it was celebrating a last‑minute equalizer with fans I’d never met. It made me wonder how others experience that shared buzz. Anyone else have stories like that or traditions that bring people together on match days?
Arsenal and Liverpool renew their rivalry on Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium in one of the standout fixtures of Premier League Gameweek 21. The reigning champions host a Liverpool side still searching for consistency, with the stakes high at both ends of the title picture.
Arsenal enter the new year in commanding form and with momentum firmly on their side. Despite a shaky opening at Bournemouth last weekend, where a costly Gabriel Magalhaes error handed the Cherries an early advantage, Mikel Arteta’s side showed their resilience. Gabriel atoned with a crucial goal, while Declan Rice struck twice to seal a dramatic 3-2 comeback win. Results elsewhere only sweetened the mood, as Chelsea’s late equaliser against Manchester City allowed Arsenal to extend their lead at the summit.
That victory made it seven wins in a row in all competitions for the Gunners, including five straight Premier League successes. While not all of those wins have been convincing on the scoreline, Arsenal have repeatedly found ways to grind out results — often the hallmark of a title-winning side. At the Emirates, they have been formidable, winning 14 of their 15 home matches this season and each of the last 12 in succession.
Liverpool, by contrast, arrive with questions lingering. Arne Slot’s men are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions, but recent draws against Leeds United and Fulham have blunted the optimism generated by an earlier winning run. The 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage was particularly frustrating, as a stoppage-time thunderbolt from Harrison Reed denied Liverpool victory moments after Cody Gakpo thought he had settled the contest.
Although the Reds sit fourth and remain within touching distance of the top, their margin for error is slim. A defeat in North London would further dent already fading title hopes, especially given their recent struggles at the Emirates, where they have not won in their last three visits.
Liverpool did beat Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield earlier in the season thanks to a spectacular Dominik Szoboszlai free kick, but replicating that success away from home looks a much tougher task.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arsenal’s injury list is relatively light. Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera are sidelined with ankle issues, while Riccardo Calafiori remains unavailable due to an unspecified injury. Kai Havertz was left out last weekend for load management reasons and could again be eased back, given Arsenal’s depth in attack.
Bukayo Saka is expected to return to the starting lineup and will be chasing a personal milestone, aiming to become the first Arsenal player to score in four consecutive home league games against Liverpool.
Liverpool’s absences are more disruptive. Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON, Alexander Isak is out with a leg injury, and Hugo Ekitike remains a doubt after missing the Fulham match with muscular problems. Florian Wirtz is managing a hamstring issue but is expected to feature. Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are ruled out, while Jeremie Frimpong could be introduced if Slot opts for a tactical reshuffle.
City rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will lock horns once again on Thursday evening as they contest a place in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With silverware on the line, another intense Madrid derby is expected under the lights.
Atletico enter the semi-final aiming to claim the Supercopa for the fourth time in their history, while Real Madrid are chasing a record-extending 14th triumph in the competition.
Atletico Madrid arrive in Saudi Arabia unbeaten in their last five competitive outings, although their momentum was checked slightly by a frustrating 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad at the weekend. Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring shortly after half-time against his former club, but Gonçalo Guedes responded quickly to deny Diego Simeone’s side all three points.
That result left Atletico fourth in La Liga and 11 points adrift of leaders Barcelona at the halfway mark of the season. With the league title now looking out of reach, greater emphasis has shifted toward knockout competitions, making the Supercopa, Copa del Rey and Champions League critical to Atletico’s hopes of ending a five-year trophy drought.
The Rojiblancos qualified for this tournament thanks to last season’s third-place finish and will be targeting their first Super Cup success since 2014, having previously lifted the trophy in 1985 and 2014. However, recent history in the four-team Supercopa format has not been kind to them. Atletico have won just one semi-final in this structure, beating Barcelona in 2020 before losing the final on penalties to Real Madrid.
Since then, Simeone’s men have fallen at the semi-final stage against Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid in 2022 and 2024 respectively. That said, they can draw confidence from September’s emphatic 5-2 league victory over Los Blancos, a match in which Julián Álvarez scored twice in a dominant display at the Metropolitano.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, travel to Jeddah on the back of four consecutive victories across all competitions, easing some of the pressure on head coach Xabi Alonso. Their most recent outing ended in a commanding 5-1 home win over Real Betis, despite the absence of injured Kylian Mbappé.
In Mbappé’s stead, young striker Gonzalo García stole the headlines with a perfect hat-trick, becoming the youngest player in the 21st century to achieve the feat in La Liga at 21 years and 286 days. Goals from Raúl Asencio and Fran García completed a dominant performance that moved Madrid back within four points of Barcelona at the top of the table.
Alonso now has a chance to secure his first trophy since replacing Carlo Ancelotti last summer, knowing that two victories would see Real Madrid crowned Supercopa champions. Los Blancos have won three of the six editions played under the four-team format, most recently in 2024 when they defeated Atletico after extra time before thrashing Barcelona in the final.
Despite their pedigree, Real Madrid may have some cause for concern. They have beaten Atletico inside 90 minutes just once in their last seven meetings and have not kept a clean sheet in the derby since December 2021.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Atletico Madrid will be without Clément Lenglet and Nicolás González, who remain sidelined with knee and hamstring injuries respectively. Pablo Barrios is also a major doubt after suffering a calf issue in the draw with Real Sociedad.
Conor Gallagher is pushing for a start after replacing Barrios at half-time on Sunday, although Johnny Cardoso is another midfield option for Simeone. Robin Le Normand is also in contention to return to the starting XI after featuring from the bench against his former club.
Real Madrid will once again be without Mbappé, who continues to recover from a knee injury. Éder Militão has been ruled out due to a hamstring problem, while Brahim Díaz remains away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has travelled with the squad but is not fully fit, casting doubt over his availability. Dean Huijsen could be drafted into defence if he recovers from a minor issue that kept him out of Madrid’s first match of the new year.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Atletico Madrid:
Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko; Simeone, Gallagher, Koke, Baena; Sorloth, Álvarez
Real Madrid:
Courtois; Valverde, Huijsen, Rüdiger, Carreras; Camavinga, Tchouaméni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior; García
Arsenal and Aston Villa meet for the second time in four weeks on Tuesday night, with three crucial Premier League points up for grabs at the Emirates.
Villa came out on top when the sides last met in Birmingham less than a month ago, but this time it’s Arsenal who remain in pole position at the summit, while their visitors arrive in the middle of a remarkable run of form.
After briefly being knocked off the top by Manchester City, Arsenal wasted no time reclaiming first place on Saturday with a hard-fought 2–1 home win over Brighton. Martin Ødegaard fired the Gunners ahead before another opposition own goal helped tip the balance. Brighton made things uncomfortable late on, but Mikel Arteta’s side showed resilience to see the game out.
That result marked Arsenal’s fifth straight league win since their late defeat at Villa Park, and their home form has been just as impressive. They’ve won nine of their last ten Premier League matches at the Emirates, including each of the last six, their best home streak since 2022.
Two points clear of their closest rivals and three ahead of Villa, Arsenal know another win would see them end 2025 top of the table.
Still, Villa have had the upper hand in this fixture recently. Arsenal have lost three of the last five meetings between the sides, while Villa have taken four points from their last two visits to North London, a 2–0 win in April 2024 followed by a 2–2 draw earlier this year. By contrast, Villa’s overall record in year-ending league games is poor, with just two wins from their last 13.
That draw required a spirited second-half fightback, something Unai Emery’s side have made a habit of. Villa have become experts at rescuing games, and their comeback ability has been a defining feature of their season.
Most recently, Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice in a 2–1 win at Chelsea, after Emery rang the changes at half-time. That victory meant Villa have now recovered 18 points from losing positions, more than any other team in the league.
They are also in the middle of a historic run. Eight straight Premier League wins is their best streak since 1910, while an 11-game winning run across all competitions matches club records set over a century ago.
Considering Villa were 18th and winless after five matches, the turnaround has been extraordinary. Since then, no team has won more games or collected more points in the Premier League.
Emery now returns to the Emirates, a ground where he’s enjoyed mixed but respectable results since his departure, knowing that another victory would pull Villa level on points with his former club.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
With fixtures coming thick and fast over the festive period, Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad on Tuesday, especially after Declan Rice was forced to slot in at right-back against Brighton.
Arsenal were already short in defence before Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury during the warm-up, while Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White all remain unavailable. Given those absences, the return of Gabriel Magalhães was a welcome boost, though it’s still unclear whether the Brazilian is ready to start from the off.
Eberechi Eze will be pushing for a place in the starting XI after making a strong impact from the bench. The England international has been directly involved in five goals across his last four home league games against Aston Villa, and he has also found the net in his side’s final league match in each of the past three years.
For Villa, match-winner Ollie Watkins is likely to lead the line once again. The former Arsenal target has scored four times in his last five Premier League appearances at the Emirates and is expected to get the nod ahead of ex-Gunner Donyell Malen.
Unai Emery, meanwhile, is dealing with a couple of enforced changes. Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are both suspended after picking up bookings at Stamford Bridge, with Amadou Onana set to replace Kamara and Lamare Bogarde a likely option at right-back.
Villa also remain without defenders Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, midfielder Ross Barkley, while Evann Guessand is away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
Both sides have proven their resilience in recent weeks, often grinding out wins where other teams would fold. So, it could be another back-and-forth contest in North London.
But, after 11 straight wins, Aston Villa's incredible streak may finally end, with Arsenal so tough to beat on home turf. If it does end all square, the beneficiaries would be Man City.
Just a few weeks after their thrilling six-goal encounter at Elland Road and the Mohamed Salah storyline that followed, Liverpool and Leeds United meet again, this time at Anfield, for a New Year’s Day Premier League showdown.
Liverpool come into the match on the back of four straight wins, their latest a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Leeds are unbeaten in five games after grinding out a 1-1 draw with Sunderland. On paper, this fixture looks like a mismatch, with the reigning champions facing a side widely tipped to struggle badly, but recent weeks have shown that even teams near the bottom can pose problems, as Arsenal discovered at Molineux.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool side eventually did enough to overcome Wolves, helped by quick goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. Wirtz’s strike was particularly notable, as it was his first Premier League goal after 21 attempts, capping an impressive all-round performance that reflected Liverpool’s renewed confidence. The Reds have now won four matches in a row across all competitions, including three consecutive league games, lifting them back into the Premier League’s top four.
That position could still change depending on results elsewhere, but optimism is returning to Anfield, even with Mohamed Salah absent and watching events unfold from afar. History is also firmly on Liverpool’s side, as they have not lost a Premier League game on January 1 since 2005, winning five and drawing one of their New Year’s Day fixtures since then.
Leeds, meanwhile, have far less experience of playing on New Year’s Day at this level. Their last Premier League match on January 1 came back in 2003, a 2-0 win over Birmingham City, and while they did beat the same opponents in the Championship on New Year’s Day last year, that remains their only victory from their last six league games played on this date. Their record away to reigning champions is also poor, with just one win from their last 16 such matches, the standout being a shock victory over Arsenal in 2003.
Still, Daniel Farke’s side arrive with confidence, having gone five games unbeaten and built a comfortable gap over the relegation zone, even if most of that success has come at home. The draw at Sunderland was respectable but also stretched their winless away run to six matches, and they are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season.
Their dramatic 3-3 draw with Liverpool in December felt like a point gained, and having already beaten the Reds at Anfield in 2022, Leeds now have a rare opportunity to claim back-to-back league wins at the famous stadium for the first time in their history.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
After serving his suspension, Liverpool can welcome back Dominik Szoboszlai, who is expected to come straight back into the starting lineup at the expense of Federico Chiesa, substituted after just over an hour in his rare start against Wolves. Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a muscle problem, while Wataru Endo is still recovering from an ankle injury, and Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni are also unavailable. Mohamed Salah is, of course, absent as he continues his Africa Cup of Nations duties.
Cody Gakpo will be hoping to make an impact at the start of a new calendar year once again, having scored in Liverpool’s opening fixture in each of the last two years, something no player at the club has achieved since Ian Rush in the 1980s. Even so, the Dutch forward is likely to begin the match on the bench and feature later on.
Leeds have their own injury concerns, with Daniel Farke losing Joe Rodon to what looked like a serious ankle problem at Sunderland. While the full extent of the injury is still unclear, a return in time for Thursday’s match appears highly unlikely. Rodon joins Sean Longstaff, who is struggling with a calf issue, and Daniel James, who has a thigh injury, on the sidelines.
Rodon’s absence could prompt a switch back to a back four, with Ao Tanaka a strong candidate to come in after replacing him during the first half at the Stadium of Light and later scoring Leeds’ equaliser against Liverpool in December.
There is better news further forward, though, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues his remarkable scoring run. He has now scored in six consecutive Premier League games, becoming the first Leeds player to do so and surpassing the longest scoring streak ever managed by Harry Kane in the competition.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Perri; Bogle, Struijk, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
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