Liverpool v Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confident of ending Anfield hoodoo

Gunners have not won a league game at Liverpool's home in more than a decade

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta speaks to his players during the Premier League match against Leeds United. AP

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he wants to end the Anfield hoodoo, targeting a win against Liverpool on Sunday that would keep the Gunners on course to win the Premier League title.

Arteta's side lead Manchester City by eight points at the top of the table ahead of the weekend fixtures, with Pep Guardiola's team taking on bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Saturday.

Anfield poses a major challenge for Arsenal as they have not won a league game there since Arteta played in a 2-0 win in 2012.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have won the past six league meetings between the sides at home by a combined score of 22-4. But Liverpool are currently in eighth place in the table, 29 points behind the Gunners.

"We have to enjoy it," Arteta said on Friday. "We really need to embrace the moment and go for it.

"The team is really full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know we have a big challenge but a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something we haven't done for many years. That is what is driving the team in the last few days.

"We know what we have to do. We've played in the toughest places."

Arsenal have struggled to score at Anfield on their last few visits and Arteta said he was glad to have January signing Leandro Trossard in the side, with the Belgian netting a hat-trick for Brighton and Hove Albion at Liverpool earlier this season.

"It's great to have a player that has experienced something really nice and positive at that stadium. He was a crucial player that day and it was a beautiful game to watch," Arteta said.

"That's what we need, players with a lot of belief on that pitch so we can go there and win it."

Arteta said Bukayo Saka is back in contention to start while one of his injured players could return. The Spanish manager refused to divulge the player's name, although defender William Saliba is expected to return after missing two games.

Premier League predictions

SATURDAY - Manchester United v Everton (kick-off 3.30pm UAE): Marcus Rashord's 15th league goal of the season saw United edge out Brentford on Wednesday as they bounced back from losing to top-four rivals Newcastle. Everton sit outside the bottom three on goal difference only but are unbeaten in four games. Prediction: United 2 Everton 0. Getty

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (6pm): Forest manager Steve Cooper was given the dreaded vote of confidence from the club owner last week after their defeat at relegation rivals Leeds. It is now eight games without victory for Forest and they take on a Villa side that have won 10 out of 16 under Unai Emery. Prediciton: Villa 3 Forest 1. Getty

Brentford v Newcastle (6pm): The Magpies are flying after four wins in the spin and having battered West Ham 5-1 on Wednesday that gave another boost to their top-four hopes. Brentford have stumbled of late having managed just one victory in five games, denting their own European aspirations. Prediciton: Brentford 1 Newcatle 2. Getty

Fulham v West Ham (6pm): Both teams are struggling for form with Fulham having lost their last three games and West Ham coming in on the back of a dismal 5-1 home thrashing by Newcastle. The Hammers are one of three clubs outside of the botttom three thanks to goal difference only. Prediciton: Fulham 1 West Ham 1. Reuters

Leicester City v Bournemouth (6pm): Managerless Leicester sit second from bottom, two points and one place behind the Cherries and know they cannot afford any slip-up in this relegation six pointer. And they desperatley need to end a run that has seen them fail to win a game since February 11. Prediction: Leicester 3 Bournemouth 2. Reuters

Tottenham v Brighton (6pm): Fifth place takes on sixth in North London with Brighton, who have two games in hand on Spurs, look to close the gap to just a single point. Cristian Stellini takes charge of his second game following Antonio Conte's exit having drawn his first 1-1 at Everton. Prediction: Spurs 2 Brighton 1. Getty

Wolves v Chelsea (6pm): Frank Lampard finds himself back in the Chelsea dugout after his unlikely appointment as caretaker manager until the end of the season. The Blues are 11th in the table, seven points outside the top six, but taking on a Wolves side with just one win in seven games. Prediction: Wolves 1 Chelsea 3. AFP

Southampton v Manchester City (8.30pm): An away banker if ever there was one. Southampton - bottom of the table and without a win in four games - taking on second-top City, fresh from a 4-1 demolition of Liverpool. A must-win for City who are eight points behind Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand on the Gunners. Prediction: Southampton 0 City 3. Reuters

SUNDAY - Leeds United v Crystal Palace (5pm): Both clubs enjoyed 2-1 victories against relegation rivals last time out with Leeds beating Nottingham Forest, while Palace - in Roy Hodgson's first game back as manager - defeated Leicester. A draw awaits here, though, when three points would be far more welcome with the bottom of the table so tight. Prediction: Leeds 1 Palace 1. Getty

Liverpool v Arsenal (7.30pm): All eyes on Anfield for the game of the weekend. Liverpool have managed just one point from three games, managing just one goal along the way. In stark contrast, league leaders Arsenal have won seven on the trot, scoring 11 goals in their last three matches. Prediction: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 3. Getty

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Klopp insists he is remaining calm as a top-four finish continues to drift out of sight due to his side's inconsistent form.

The Reds boss said the wholesale changes made in midweek against Chelsea were not intended to send a message to under-performing players after an abject second-half performance at Manchester City where they conceded three goals to lose 4-1.

For the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Klopp removed more than half of that team, dropping the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but while the City display partly influenced his thinking, it was not intended to provoke a response.

"We had now one proper session since then and the boys don't show me that they don't want it or whatever, not at all," he said.

"(It's not) 'Why have you left me out?'. This is not the situation we are in."

Asked how much his team selection was a reaction to the City game and how much was as a result of three games in a week, Klopp added: "We had a game against City, which is an influence both physically and performance-wise, and then we have a game three days later so it is both."