Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has been highlighted as the weak link Liverpool need to target when the Premier League’s top two teams clash at Anfield.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James might be biased towards his old club, but he is better placed than most to analyse the number one spot as the two former champions prepare for their last match before Christmas.
And he believes on loan Brentford man Raya has not made Arsenal any better since manager Mikel Arteta decided to oust Aaron Ramsdale as the club’s first choice between the sticks.
James said: “Arsenal have got a goalkeeper in David Raya who, from what I’ve seen, isn’t fully confident.
“If he’s not confident, then the Arsenal defence won’t be confident. His positioning is definitely questionable from my perspective, and if I’m Liverpool I’d be shooting from silly positions.
“With Raya’s positioning, there’s the opportunity to score from places that you normally would not, and with the ability of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, they can definitely nick a 1-0 win.
“Unfortunately, for him, Aaron Ramsdale has had three or four games in the past couple of months. This is the tough thing about being the number two goalkeeper – you’re looking at your manager thinking, ‘I know you don’t fancy me’, and you have to take on a different role in the squad.”
The ex-England international, talking to instantcasino.com, does not rule out Arsenal’s chances of winning, however, and identified captain Martin Odegaard as the man Jurgen Klopp must try to nullify.
“The key for Liverpool winning is keeping Martin Odegaard quiet,” James added. “He’s such a wonderful player to watch – he takes up brilliant positions and makes defenders and midfielders question where they’re supposed to be.
“When top sides like Man City last season kept him quiet, it prevented Arsenal from playing properly and going through the gears.”
“It doesn’t necessarily make for the most attractive of matches, but I don’t think Liverpool need to be pleasing people with aesthetics at the moment. A scrappy, horrible 1-0 win is all they would need.”
