Match preview

Preview: Liverpool v Arsenal Women

Liverpool v Arsenal. Prenton Park. January 28, 2024

Our Gunners head up to Merseyside this afternoon to face Liverpool in the Barclays Women's Super League. 

Today's match is Jonas Eidevall's 100th in the Arsenal dugout and he'll be looking to cap off the occasion with a win to keep pace with the top of the table.  

Last time around

Last time around at Prenton Park, Frida Maanum and Lia Walti got on the scoresheet with a pair of fantastic goals in a comfortable 2-0 win over Matt Beard's side. 

We have a point to prove against the Reds this season, however, after our opening day defeat at Emirates Stadium back in September. They currently sit in fifth place in the WSL table, just a point behind Manchester United.

Facts and stats

Vivianne Miedema wearing our Stella McCartney away kit
  • We've won all 10 away fixtures against Liverpool in the Women’s Super League. This is the most wins any WSL side has ever achieved on the road against a single opponent
  • This season, our Gunners have forced the most turnovers high up the pitch with 194. 30 of these high turnovers have resulted in a shot on target. We also have the lowest passes per defensive action figure so far in the league (8.8)
  • Vivianne Miedema has recorded 13 goal involvements in only six WSL games against the Reds with eight goals and five assists. On average, Miedema scores or assists every 36 minutes against Liverpool
  • Both of Liverpool’s last two WSL defeats have been heavy 5-1 losses in away fixtures to Chelsea and Manchester City
  • In her last seven WSL appearances, Caitlin Foord has scored three times and assisted twice. Our Aussie winger has been on the winning side in 17 of the 18 games she’s scored in

Team news

Hurtig

At his pre-match press conference, Jonas Eidevall confirmed that there were fresh injury concerns. He confirmed that there was no "clear prognosis on Lina [Hurtig] at the moment, which of course is frustrating. We have to wait and see."

After Leah Williamson's return to the pitch against Reading on Wednesday in the Conti Cup, Eidevall did not reveal whether she would see any minutes against Liverpool: "It’s very unlikely that you’ll get an answer from me regarding my starting XI! "

What the managers say

Jonas on Liverpool: "Liverpool are a very capable team. I think they didn’t have the strongest performance in the last game against Man City, and I think they’re probably going to be up to correct that against us. 

"They’re aggressive in their pressing, they go player-for-player and you need to be able to deal with that intensity as well. It’s a challenge, but we’re up for it."

Beard on us: "We'll need to make sure that we're on our 'A game' against an Arsenal side who have hit a bit of form and who have also strengthened their team in this window.

"We can definitely take confidence from the fact that we know we can beat Arsenal as we did on the opening day."

Match officials

WSL referee Rebecca Welch

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Assistant referee: Emily Carney

Assistant referee: Anastasiya Voloshchuk

Fourth official: Lucy May 

How to watch

Cameraman in the stands at Prenton Park

All the action at Prenton Park will kick off at 4.30pm UK, with the match streamed live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 4pm.