Liverpool vs Man United and Fulham vs Arsenal: The Narrative.

Tactical Previews For This Weekend's Big Games.

Our GW8 tactical previews are for:

•⁠ Fulham vs Arsenal

• Liverpool vs Man United

This week’s Fan Voice Note is from The Redmen TV’s Chloe Bloxam, who, despite Liverpool’s form, is excited about Sunday’s big game. 🗣️📱

Subscribe to Chloe’s YouTube and watch her brilliant match reactions here. 🔴

Fulham vs Arsenal

Fulham welcome Arsenal to Craven Cottage this weekend, providing a big challenge for the home side against the league leaders following back-to-back Premier League losses against Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

The Gunners will be hoping to further cement their spot at the top of the table, having only dropped points against title rivals Liverpool and Man City this season so far.

How Will They Line Up?

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With Raul Jimenez looking set to return, we could see Fulham go back to their 4-2-3-1 formation, rather than the 3-4-3 that they lined up in for their 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth.

Arsenal can be expected to lineup largely as we’d expect them too, with the main question being whether we see Martin Odegaard, following Eberechi Eze’s incredible start at Arsenal, with their number ten starting in midfield in their last two league games.

Arsenal’s Impenetrable Defence

Arteta’s side, who have become known for their brilliance defensively, have only conceded three goals this season so far, which added to their second highest goals scored in the league with 14, they continue to look like strong title challengers.

Following Liverpool’s recent collapse, with three losses coming in a row after a perfect start before that, Arsenal fans will be hoping to see their team go on to make themselves true favourites for the title, if they weren’t already.

A win against Fulham, with a strong defensive performance which we’ve come to expect from Arsenal, is the next step into making that reality, though it won’t come easy.

Can Fulham Break Arsenal Down?

Fulham have shown time and time again that they can play excellent attacking football, with brilliant footballers such as Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi able to create and take chances, such as the beautiful goal we saw from Wilson against Brentford.

Arsenal, however, will be a much bigger challenge, especially without their starting striker in Rodrigo Muniz who is a huge part in Fulham’s attacking play.

With only 7.20 expected goals, compared to Arsenal’s 12.21, it’s hard to see them breaking down the best defence in the league easily, if at all, which makes it seem as though it could be a routine win for Arsenal.

Who Will Be The Key Players?

Eberechi Eze

Eze, who has scored once and assisted twice for Arsenal so far, as well as picking up a goal for England during the international break, gives Arsenal extra creativity and bravery, which they seemed too lack a bit before he joined.

His ability to create chances, make the most of transitions and score goals will always make him one to watch in any game he plays.

It will be important that Fulham, namely Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic, if he is fit to play, can try their best to keep him quiet which would be no small feat, as he continues to shine at his new club.

Joachim Andersen

While it will be important that the whole Fulham defence is switched on during this game, none more so than Andersen, who will likely be tasked with facing Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.

With the Swedish striker tending to drift to the left, as seen in his season heatmap, where he will come up against Fulham’s right hand side, Andersen will be expected to win his duels against Arsenal’s number 14, limiting the chances he gets as much as he can.

Gabriel Magalhaes

Gabriel, who has once again played brilliantly this season, will also be expected to win his duels, against veteran Jimenez.

While it would likely come as more of a challenge if the Arsenal defence faced Muniz, Jimenez won’t be easy for them either, who got Fulham’s only goal against Aston Villa in their last game.

Gabriel will need to be ready for the physical battle, with Jimenez undoubtedly set to target him after Nick Woltemade’s goal earlier in the season, where he went down under minimal pressure allowing the Newcastle striker a free header.

The Brazilian centre back will also need to keep providing threat from attacking set pieces, though this almost definitely won’t be an issue for him as it has become synonymous with his and Arsenal’s game.

With the league positions of both sides being fourteenth and first, it is no surprise that Arsenal look like heavy favourites going into the game in West London.

It would come as quite a shock if the game didn’t end in a win for Arsenal and it looks very unlikely that Fulham will be able to get anything out of the game considering the Gunners’ firepower going forward and stalwart defence.

Prediction – 0-3.

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