Chris Sutton says Arsenal's trip to Liverpool is a big test after the week they have had. In BBC Sport's week eight Premier League predictions feature, he pointed to Arsenal's Carabao Cup humiliation by Fleetwood Town, while Liverpool arrive in better shape for the Anfield meeting.

Sutton's warning for Arsenal

Sutton's full line is simple enough. "Liverpool seem to be getting it together so this will be a big test for Mikel Arteta's side after the week they have had."

The context around that warning is clear. Arsenal were beaten by Fleetwood Town, a League Two side, and the cup exit has put Sunday's game under a brighter light than usual.

The league numbers still say Arsenal are not in crisis. They sit second in the Premier League with 21 points from 8 matches, have won 7 of those games and have conceded only 5 league goals. That is why the Liverpool trip feels more like a response check than a rescue mission.

Liverpool are fourth with 15 points from 8 matches, and their recent league run of 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss supports Sutton's view that they are finding rhythm again. That makes Anfield a stern setting for Arsenal, especially with the cup shock still fresh.

Hannah's Arsenal angle

John Hannah gives the feature its lighter side, but his Arsenal connection is not casual. He has supported the club since moving to London from Scotland more than 40 years ago, and the BBC Sport piece also ties in his role as the star of A Bad Day At The Office, which goes into UK and Irish cinemas from 30 October.

His football story is more personal than predictive. He said, "I'd like to compare myself to Bukayo Saka," and described himself as a right winger who was small and fast.

That fan view does not change the football stakes. It does, though, give the preview a bit more life than a standard match pick, and it suits a week in which Arsenal have had more to answer for than explain.

Sunday at Anfield is the point where those lines meet. Arsenal's form says they can still handle big fixtures, but Sutton's warning is that the pressure on them now comes from how they react to Tuesday's cup defeat.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →