But with both sides having a lot to prove, Monday’s clash could be a belter. Last week, they bounced back with a 2-1 road win against Crystal Palace. The Gunners are yet to justify their pre-season billing as genuine contenders.

“There’s a real focus in this group, we know how to scrap and fight for the result as well as play good football”.

Liverpool travel to Arsenal on Monday looking to kick off the 2015/16 Premier League with three wins out of three, but they may have to do so without skipper Jordan Henderson.

Arsenal have no fresh injury worries. Welbeck and Wilshere are expected to be back after the worldwide break while Rosicky, who has undergone surgery, will be out for much longer.

That would be a huge blow for Rodgers, who has seen his captain quickly form an effective partnership with new signing James Milner in the centre of midfield. The return of midfielder Joe Allen (hamstring) remains uncertain while striker Daniel Sturridge continues to recover from hip surgery and defender Jon Flanagan (knee) is out until December. That’s where I’ve always felt he’ll be an outstanding talent for us. Benteke could exploit Arsenal’s and Petr Cech’s set-piece weakness, or I’m to isolate diminutive full-backs Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin by pulling towards the far post. No Liverpool supporter would wish injury on their captain, but it saves Brendan Rodgers a dilemma. He is struggling to put weight on his right foot and is listening to Liverpool’s medical staff over what is best and if that means missing Monday to ensure he is fit in the weeks going forward, he will have to accept the decision.

The Reds took only five points from a possible 24 against last season’s top four, and Rodgers said: “It is a game against a rival you are going to be competing with at the top end of the table”. “[But] we have the Europa League and cup games”.

Rodgers has clearly done his homework on Arsenal’s problems on home soil, insisting there is a familiar pattern to away wins at the Emirates.

After the opening two MD’s, Arsenal have attempted the most crosses (49, excl. corners) and Liverpool have made the fewest (14, excl. corners). Whether they can actually make a run at the title is another matter, but it won’t be the games against Liverpool that determine that. With his bite in midfield, the aforementioned Arsenal trio will find it far tougher to explore and expose gaps.

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