A mouth-watering clash between Liverpool and Arsenal awaits at Anfield and striker Gabriel Jesus can have a huge say on the outcome of the contest....
A mouth-watering clash between Liverpool and Arsenal awaits at Anfield and striker Gabriel Jesus can have a huge say on the outcome of the contest.
Arsenal travel to Liverpool in a festive fixture to decide which team tops the table at Christmas. After 17 Premier League matches, the Gunners hold a one-point advantage over their opponents.
The magnitude of this match is huge and although the outcome of it won�t dictate how the rest of the season will unfold, three points for either side will send out a statement to the rest of their title rivals.
It�s a fixture that has seen big players step up to the plate in the past. Last season, Roberto Firmino�s 87th minute equaliser saw Liverpool come back from 2-0 down to rescue a point and knock the wind out of the Gunner�s sails in the title race.
In the season before, the Reds thrashed Arsenal 4-0 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino.
Whilst it�s a fixture Liverpool have dominated at Anfield for over a decade having gone unbeaten since 2012, the �sensational� Gabriel Jesus � as lauded by Micah Richards � is someone who enjoys playing against this evening�s opponents.
Across his time at Manchester City and the Gunners, he�s scored six and supplied four assists in 14 appearances, including the opening goal the last time these two sides met.
Why Gabriel Jesus can cause Liverpool problems
After putting in a �near perfect� performance against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, Jesus arrives with a spring in his step and will be up against two physically imposing defenders in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
The Brazilian, however, won�t be fazed by the physical challenge that awaits him as he�s so good at pinning defenders and protecting possession for his team.
With Liverpool deploying a high line, especially at home, Jesus can cause a threat by running in behind or shielding the ball on the halfway line and freeing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the wings.
He�s also great at driving forward with the ball and possesses the burst of pace to beat his man having ranked in the top 4% against his positional peers for successful take-ons, as per FBref, and the top 7% for carries into the penalty area this season.
Although he�s been criticised for his finishing, his all-round game is world-class and considering he�s never lost a Premier League in which he�s scored, the �265k-a-week star will hope to get his name on the score sheet here.
