EPL 2017-18 : Liverpool vs Arsenal - 3 Key Battles that could determine the course of the game

Mesut Ozil vs Jordan Henderson

Ozil can silence Gerrard with a good performance against the Reds.

While the German has put in rather subdued performances thus far, bordering on the prospect of being invisible for large durations of Arsenal’s matches, this is perhaps the right game to make amends for his failures. It is time the German silenced his critics which include former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard who claimed Ozil is a liability away from home when his side does not have possession of the sphere. Yes, there have been claims that Ozil does not do enough to win back possession in the past as well but the creativity he brings to the table far overshadows any of his deficiencies.

Ozil has been Arsenal’s leading creator in chief this season having created a goal scoring opportunity every 18 minutes he spent on the pitch and is perhaps one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League at the moment and Jurgen Klopp will be aware of how deadly he can prove to be if he is handed a free reign.

However, knowing that will not solve Klopp’s troubles as the lack of a proven destroyer is already being touted to be a critical deficiency in this Liverpool side and he simply does not have a midfield that can keep Ozil at bay. He is expected to hand club captain Jordan Henderson another start in a deeper position, a position which many believe is not the right position for him. While industrious, Henderson has a habit of venturing out of his position and that might present Ozil with the opportunity to operate behind in a space in between the side’s midfield and defence, a position from which he has proven to be deadly in the past.

Henderson will need to be smart on the evening as he has to curtail his normal instincts of a central midfielder and look to hold his position deep in midfield while also providing the required attacking support from deep.

This is perhaps the battle to watch in the game. The deficient yet industrious Henderson takes on the magical Ozil and we believe it is this mini-battle that will largely determine the course of this game.