We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Liverpool and Arsenal XI ahead of the Super Sunday showdown at Anfield.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are a combination of the teams’ most-used XIs so far at this early stage of the season and predicted lineups for the match itself.
Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker vs David Raya
It’s a close one this – and Alisson Becker certainly leads the way when it comes to keeping possession and playing out from the back. That said, he’s made just three more passes and his long pass accuracy is less than a full percentage better than David Raya‘s.
The Arsenal stopper is comfortably clear in his shot-stopping stats, with an incredible 78.26% save percentage so far this season and he’s conceded three goals fewer at this stage of the season. For most pundits and fans, he’s the top goalkeeper in the Premier League right now.
Winner: David Raya
RB: Ronald Araujo vs Ben White
The stats comparing full-backs are split into more defence-based ones alongside more attacking components. Here, Ben White certainly comes out on top when it comes to chance creation over Liverpool’s Ronald Araujo.
A centre-back by trade, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Reds’ loanee is ahead of White when it comes to clearances, interceptions and ball recoveries. But the Gunners defender’s duel success rate puts him ahead overall.
Winner: Ben White
CB: Jeremy Jacquet vs Ezri Konsa vs Virgil van Dijk vs Gabriel Magalhaes
A bit of a surprise here as both the Liverpool defenders come out on top when compared to Arsenal’s centre-backs. Virgil van Dijk wins out among the four defenders in four of the nine compared metrics – including forward passes and aerial duel success % – an area where the Gunners men have struggled this term.
Gabriel Magalhaes doesn’t lead the way in any of these nine comparisons. Ezri Konsa‘s 95.99% passing accuracy however, is among the best in the league. He leads the way in two metrics alongside Jeremy Jacquet, but the Frenchman beats him in six areas altogether.
Winners: Jeremy Jacquet & Virgil van Dijk
LB: Milos Kerkez vs Ricardo Calafiori
Milos Kerkez is looking much stronger than Ricardo Calafiori in the stats at this stage of the season. From our selected stats, the Hungarian is only behind his Italian counterpart in chances created.
The Liverpool man outscores his fellow left-back comfortably in terms of ground duels won, tackles made and crosses attempted per 90 minutes. He’s also comfortably clear in terms of clearances.
Winner: Milos Kerkez
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai vs Declan Rice vs Alexis Mac Allister vs Bruno Guimaraes
Liverpool’s midfield has been outscored by Arsenal in most metrics according to our Comparison Matrix. Although Dominik Szoboszlai has created the most chances per 90 of the four, Declan Rice‘s passing accuracy and forward passing numbers top this quartet.
Although he hasn’t yet become an automatic first-choice for Mikel Arteta, Bruno Guimaraes’ numbers are highly impressive, particularly off the ball. He leads the way among these four for success rate in both aerial duels and ground duels, as well as ball recoveries.
Winners: Declan Rice & Bruno Guimaraes
LW: Bradley Barcola vs Christos Tzolis
Christos Tzolis could return to the Arsenal line-up this weekend. We’ve paired him up with Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola for this comparison and between two summer signings, there’s very little to choose from.
With neither player scoring in the Premier League yet, we had them tied at four stats a-piece from the usual nine comparisons. After adding touches in the opposition box as the tie-breaker, Barcola just about edges clear.
Winner: Bradley Barcola
CAM: Florian Wirtz vs Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard is yet to register an assist in the Premier League this season. However, the Arsenal skipper still managed to edge out Florian Wirtz to take the attacking midfield slot in our Comparison Matrix XI.
The Norwegian leads the German on goals, shots on target, through-balls, fouls won and touches. Wirtz has been a better chance creator so far this season though and does have one assist to his name while coming out on top in the dribbling stats.
Winner: Martin Odegaard
RW: Vitor Munoz vs Noni Madueke
Two players facing a race to be fit this weekend, but both are expected to at least feature at some point. Victor Munoz has looked like a real handy addition for Liverpool and the stats say as much. He’s got more goals, more shots on target and a higher take-on success rate than Noni Madueke so far this season.
Although the Arsenal man is considerably clear when it comes to touches and chances created, Munoz overall just about beats him into our XI from our selected stats. Both players are still waiting to get their first assist of the Premier League season however.
Winner: Victor Munoz
ST: Alexander Isak vs Kai Havertz
Alexander Isak appears to have found his shooting boots again, scoring in each of his last three Premier League appearances. That clinical touch puts him just ahead of Kai Havertz in our Comparison Matrix XI as he leads the German for goals, shots on target and conversion rate.
Although neither player has registered an assist yet this season, Havertz has looked the more likely, creating an impressive 3.27 chances per 90 minutes compared to Isak’s 0.42 and completing more take-ons and more touches in the opposition box. That’s still not enough to get him in this team.
Winner: Alexander Isak
