Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. It's fifth versus fourth as both sides look to bolster their Champioons League qualification hopes with a much-needed victory. It's not quite win or bust, but whoever fails to pick up the three points will come under further scrutiny after indifferent form at an important stage of the season. The victor will move up to third. Kick off 17.30 GMT.
Premier League / Matchday 27
Anfield / 04.03.2017
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- R. Firmino(9')
- S. Mané(40')
- G. Wijnaldum(90+1')
- D. Welbeck(57')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 04/03/2017 at 19:22 GMT
1st Half
1'
KICK OFF! Arsenal get the battle to move up to third underway.
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Image credit: Reuters
17.27
The big talking point as we edge within a few minutes of kick off? Wenger's decision to bench Sanchez.
17.22
Indeed, Liverpool's German coach feels he has given the squad he inherited its chance. It's now time for the owners to get out the wallet.
17.20
"I'm not a clown!" Klopp wants to get serious...
17.17
More from Wenger on his future. The will he, won't he saga surrounding his future continues as shifts his stance on his hopes for next season.
17.12
As it stands, Liverpool are fifth with Arsenal a point better off in fourth after sixth-placed Manchester United failed to apply pressure with a 1-1 draw with 10-man Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
17.10
Eurosport's Marcus Foley argues the case For and Against and then predicts how the top four will end up. Look away now Liverpool fans...
17.04
VIDEO: Wenger talks to the media.
17.00
DID YOU KNOW? The only Arsenal player in Premier League history with more Premier League goals versus Liverpool than Giroud (5) is Thierry Henry (8). Andrey Arshavin has five alongside Giroud. The Frenchman likes facing the Reds, having netted five goals in his last seven Premier League appearances against them. That includes three in his last two at Anfield.
16.55
AND... LAST TIME IN L4.... Honours were even in a 3-3 epic. Roberto Firmino twice gave Liverpool the lead with the Gunners levelling through Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud. The visitors then edged in front via Giroud's second of the contest before Joe Allen rescued a point in injury time.
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Image credit: Reuters
16.53
The last one of the games Klopp referred to in his press conference: A seven-goal thriller on the opening weekend of the season. The Gunners took the lead through Theo Walcott before the visitors stormed back to lead 4-1 courtesy of Philippe Coutinho (2), Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. Arsenal made it interesting through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers, but Klopp's men held on to kick off the new campaign with a win at Emirates Stadium.
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Image credit: PA Sport
16.50
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool): "The last games we played against them were kind of spectacular. Maybe the next one will be similar. It's Anfield, our stadium. The last game we played there was fantastic. We want that feeling again."
16.50
Mesut Ozil absent for Arsenal. Discuss...
16.45
The big news for Arsenal sees their main man in attack, Alexis Sanchez BENCHED! Olivier Giroud comes in to lead the line as Arsenal make four changes from their last Premier League match against Hull. Nacho Monreal, Danny Welbeck and Granit Xhaka come in.
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Image credit: Reuters
16.40
No Jordan Henderson or Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool, so it's just the one change from their defeat at Leicester. Lucas Leiva, who was given the run around by Jamie Vardy, is replaced by Ragnar Klavan. Dejan Lovren had a fitness test ahead of the match and is fit enough to take a spot amongst the substitutes.
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Image credit: AFP
16.35
CONFIRMED TEAMS - LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner, Wijnaldum, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino... Subs: Karius, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Lucas, Origi, Woodburn. /// ARSENAL: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Welbeck; Giroud... Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Ramsey, Walcott, Alexis, Lucas.