Could the ‘SAS’ gun down Arsenal in the big weekend showdown?

Liverpool strike pair Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez will be looking to get the better of Arsenal in this weekends top of the table clash

Liverpool are currently flying high on the crest of wave, sitting third in the Premier League table and looking like real contenders for this season’s title.

One of the main reasons for Liverpool’s good start to the season is the strike-partnership of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

The Reds put their challenge to the test when they visit table topping Arsenal on Saturday evening.

It is undoubtedly the game of the weekend in the Premier League and the Reds forwards could have a big say in the eventual outcome of the clash.

SAS

When Blackburn claimed the Premier League title in 1995 their attack was led by the prolific strike duo of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.

The pair was dubbed the ‘SAS’ by media and fans alike. Well there is a new SAS in town and they belong to Liverpool.

The partnership between Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge is fast becoming the most prolific in the Premier League. The Reds have two of the most in-form strikers in the top-flight and that has led to real hope that the pair can help Liverpool launch an unlikely bid for the Premier League title.

Realistic

Most knowledgeable Liverpool fans have had to lower their expectations in recent years, as their team has gone into a slight decline. Reds fans are now more realistic about their aims for this season.

Although the Reds have started in such a good fashion I am sure there are a lot of Liverpool fans out there that would take a top four finish right now. Liverpool have struggled to even finish higher than local rivals Everton in the top-flight in recent years, let alone finish in the Champions League places, so a top four finish would not be a bad result.

Hope

With a front two of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge you always have hope of a goal. Even when the team is playing badly, a moment of magic from either could turn a game on its head. The thing that is even better is that they link-up so intelligently.

Ironic

It is slightly ironic that Luis Suarez could derail the Gunners title challenge, after Arsene Wenger’s men attempted to sign the Uruguayan striker in the summer. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the deal was never going to happen.

The deal looked like an unlikely one from off. Suarez had stated he wanted to move abroad and away from the British media and Arsenal were always going to be one of the Reds rivals this season. The deal never took place, much to Gunners fans disappointment and I suppose much to the delight of Reds fans.

The Anfield faithful may have felt betrayed by Suarez when he stated he wanted to move during the summer, but the controversial striker is currently doing the business on the pitch, so I doubt many Reds fans will be complaining about the presence of the former-Ajax striker in a red shirt this season.

Attributes

Between Sturridge and Suarez the pair possesses a lot of the attributes needed in a strike-partnership, intelligent movement, pace, finishing ability and ability to where their strike-partner is instinctly.

Neither of the pair presents much of an aerial threat, but as Suarez proved on Saturday is not completely useless with his head.

Challenge

Liverpool needs the pair to keep scoring goals and if they do then Liverpool may just be challenging for the title for the rest of the season. The rest of the team may not be up to the same standards of the Reds strike-force, but football is all about scoring more goals than the opposition.

If Liverpool keeps doing that then they will continue to be challenging at the top of the Premier League table. However, at some point in the season the pair is likely to go through a draught and that is when we will find out about the rest of the team.

Dangerous

Arsenal have made a strong start to the season, but Liverpool offer the biggest challenge yet to the Gunners credentials as potential Premier League title challengers. Sturridge and Suarez are likely to cause Arsenal centre-back pair Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny all sorts of problems.

Mertesacker prefers to play against big strong defenders, but seems uncomfortable with players that will run at him. The key to an Arsenal triumph is no doubt keeping Liverpool’s livewire strike pair quiet, if the Gunners do that their creative players can then go to work up the other end of the pitch.

Favourites

Despite having two of the league’s most in-form strikers, Liverpool head into this clash as underdogs at odds of 23/10 for victory, while the Gunners 13/10 and the draw is 5/2. I certainly would not write-off an away win in this one.

Liverpool’s strike-force is on fire at the moment and the centre-back pairing of Mertesacker and Koscielny could very well get burnt if they are not careful.

Could the ‘SAS’ gun down Arsenal in the big weekend showdown?