Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea (R) makes a save from Liverpool's Raheem Sterling during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England December 14, 2014.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea (R) makes a save from Liverpool's Raheem Sterling during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England December 14, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble

The big match in the 17th round of matches for the 2014-15 season's Barclays Premier League will see Arsenal FC travel to Anfield to play Liverpool FC. Both the teams are travelling to this match day in very contrasting moods. Liverpool were hammered three nil by their arch rivals Manchester United FC in their last league meeting. Arsenal FC thumped Newcastle United FC four-nil and emphatically won that match at home. Arsenal FC will be able to rest their players all week whereas Liverpool FC will have to negotiate a very tricky away Capital One Cup quarter-final trip to Bournemouth.

Unfortunately Liverpool FC have not been able to kick start their season as we near the half way point. From the 16 matches they have won six, drawn three and lost seven. They occupy the eleventh position on the table with 21 points which is equal to their cross city rivals Everton. Liverpool FC's main problem this season has been goal-scoring. Veteran midfielder Steven Gerrard and rising young star Raheem Sterling have scored three goals each; the highest for them in the league this season. Striker Mario Balotelli has been a massive flop and is goal-less in the premier league and the other available striker Rickie Lambert has also scored just a single goal.

Arsenal FC, on the other hand are topping the injured players table every week. Especially having to play a different back four in almost every match because of injury is not doing their side any favours. Having won four of their last five matches across all competitions would do their morale no harm. The return of their combative striker Oliver Giroud has coincided with this recent set of victories that the club has been able to achieve.

In the last 10 meetings between the two clubs Liverpool FC have won two, drawn three and lost five. Their record at home is even worse with one win, one draw and three losses. What Brendan Rodgers will definitely do is remind his boys that the last time they played Arsenal FC at home they managed to beat them in a comprehensive manner with a score line of five one. Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger would be telling his boys to mark Raheem Sterling closely as he scored two of the five goals scored in that match.

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