Premier League: big game focus: Liverpool v Arsenal
Liverpool face an in-form Arsenal at Anfield as thoughts move from the international break to the return of domestic action.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his players are fully aware of the challenge of playing at Liverpool with the London club looking to end a nine-year winless streak at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal were bottom of the table in August after losing their first three league games but Arteta's side have jumped to fifth spot on 20 points after 11 matches, with an unbeaten run of eight games.
The London club, however, have not won a league game at Anfield since 2012, when Arteta was still playing for them.
"It is a test," Arteta told reporters on Friday. "Anfield is a fascinating stadium to play football.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he hates international breaks as he prepares his side to resume their Premier League campaign at home to in-form Arsenal on Saturday.
"I hate international breaks and it didn't help from an injury point of view," Klopp told reporters on Friday, suggesting his players have had little time to recover since the 3-2 loss at West Ham which ended Liverpool's 25-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
"They have trained through all this because coaches want to have their own targets and then they often think they have to do physical work with the players. No. I don't like it."