Liverpool vs Arsenal verdict reached as Arteta set for fresh blow in top-5 race

Liverpool host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, with Arne Slot's side celebrating their Premier League title win as the Gunners aim to secure qualification for the Champions League

Mikel Arteta takes his Arsenal side to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, with the Gunners looking to regroup following their exit from the Champions League. A defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday saw the Gunners be knocked out of the European Cup at the semi-final stage.

They now face the unenviable task of travelling to Premier League champions Liverpool. Anfield will be in full party mode as the title celebrations continue on Merseyside.

Arne Slot's side have nothing left to play for this season, besides trying to impress their Dutch boss. Arsenal meanwhile still have not confirmed their place in the top five and with it qualification for next season's Champions League.

They sit four points ahead of Aston Villa in sixth, with the Midlands side having two games to play. They could even be caught by Nottingham Forest, who sit down in seventh.

A win over Liverpool would guarantee Champions League qualification for the Gunners though a victory will not be easy to secure. Here, Mirror Football's writers offer their predictions for Sunday's clash.

Tom Victor

Liverpool vs Arsenal is a tough one to call, if only because it’s hard to tell what kind of line-ups we’ll see at Anfield. The champions have the luxury of shuffling the pack with nothing on the line, while the fixture list means it would take an unlikely combination of results for Mikel Arteta ’s men to drop out of the Champions League spots.

After the midweek defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal no longer have to hedge their bets while chasing European glory. The bigger question is whether they have the energy to pick themselves back up after the physical and mental exertions of Wednesday night.

While Liverpool will want to bounce back from a rare defeat last time out at Chelsea, Arsenal may well be motivated by the pressure to finish above an Manchester City side who have been out-of-sorts for long periods. A win for the visitors might be a bridge too far, but they have the quality to take a point which - in other circumstances - might have been considered a very good result.

Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Mark Jones

Liverpool made changes at Chelsea and I suspect they will at Brighton a week on Monday, but I think Arne Slot will see this as almost the first game of next season. Arsenal are bruised after their defeat in Paris, and Slot will want to keep the wounds open.

A refreshed Liverpool playing in an Anfield party atmosphere in the first home match since the title was secured does not sound like the ideal afternoon for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, especially not when the Gunners still need points to secure Champions League football.

I'm sure they'll get them eventually, but I just can't escape the notion that this is a game they really don't need. Their record at Anfield is poor, and if this opens up into an entertaining contest then I can only really see one winner.

Prediction: Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2

James Whaling

I can’t see Arne Slot making as many changes as he did against Chelsea. Liverpool will get their first Anfield guard of honour and those on the Kop will be expecting a performance of champions to follow.

Arsenal will still be stinging from their Champions League exit and have looked vulnerable in the Premier League in recent weeks. I think this could be a real day in the sun for the Reds as they celebrate their title triumph.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal

Jacob Leeks

Arsenal are reeling after their season came crashing down around them in Paris on Wednesday night. I can’t see them recovering from that blow against a Liverpool team in party mode.

There will be a celebratory atmosphere at Anfield, with neither side now really playing for anything. With that in mind, I can only really see Liverpool coming out on top.

Games between these two in previous seasons have been blockbusters but I doubt Arsenal will be able to match the Reds, who are flying high on morale. Arteta needs more time to regroup.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal

Scott Trotter

This match certainly doesn't have the bite it might have done six weeks ago. Liverpool can celebrate until the season ends, with perhaps a few players trying to earn a future at the club, while Arsenal could still be mourning another term without silverware.

Can Anfield's crowd spark up an intensity that may be lacking from the game? It's tough to tell. Mikel Arteta will want his side to bounce back in the hope of earning some momentum heading into next season but they know little is required to cement their place in the Champions League.

It could ensure talented players have plenty of freedom to go and produce an entertaining tie. But there's a sense the match may struggle to get out of second gear.

Prediction: LIverpool 1-1 Arsenal