Benteke can exploit Arsenal's aerial weakness

Our analyst tells GARY LIM that Liverpool striker Christian Benteke can exploit Arsenal's high-ball phobia.

1 Which team look in better shape going into the game?

Looking at both Arsenal's and Liverpool's last games, the Gunners played much better.

Their football against Crystal Palace was very controlled and they had plenty of opportunities. But, defensively, they worry me.

In their midfield, I can't see any power too.

Francis Coquelin looked like he was always about to do something rash. Santi Cazorla and Mesut Oezil didn't really have the desire to get back to help out.

What also caught my eye was that they looked very tired in the last 15 minutes.

As for Liverpool, some of the players didn't really get involved in the match against Bournemouth.

The team were relying on Philippe Coutinho.

They had 18 attempts on goal, but only two were on target. It's clear they have to improve.

2 Do you think Christian Benteke, who scored against Bournemouth, can trouble Arsenal?

Benteke was brilliant in the air, controlled the ball and read the game well. He was always a threat in the box.

The Arsenal defence has been struggling with crosses and I include Petr Cech as well.

With Benteke, Liverpool have a player who can trouble goalkeepers and centre halves.

The likes of Coutinho and Adam Lallana will be instructed to deliver high balls into the box and the Reds will get goal-scoring chances that way.

And Liverpool will be far better when Daniel Sturridge comes back from injury.

Benteke offers a different option as well as dimension.

Against Bournemouth, he was always hanging on to the ball, looking to slip his teammates in behind the defence but, unfortunately, they all wanted to come short.

Sturridge, however, is the sort of striker who gambles and gets behind the defence.

With Benteke alongside him, Brendan Rodgers can change the shape the team play.

They can play with two up front and use a diamond midfield behind them, like what they did when they beat Spurs 3-0 away last season, which worked a treat for them.

3 But why do you think Liverpool at the moment lack the fluidity that Arsenal have displayed?

That's because of the number of changes made to the starting 11.

Benteke, Joe Gomez, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne are all new, and that's a third of the starting line-up.

They are still trying to settle in.

4 Do you see Arsenal's polished attack punishing Liverpool?

Arsenal are very good on the ball, and they have players who love to run behind the defence.

Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have genuine pace to hurt them. They will put Liverpool's defence under pressure for long spells.

But Liverpool's backline have kept two clean sheets in two games, so you can't say they have been rubbish. You have to factor in the quality of the opponents though.

This will be the start of a series of big tests for them, with more big teams set to face them in the coming weeks.

Then we will see what the Reds' defence is made of.

5 Many think Arsenal lack another top striker to mount a genuine title charge. Do you agree?

It's too simplistic to say they need just a striker.

Olivier Giroud will get you 15-18 goals a season, although I am not sure if that's going to be enough to help them win the title.

Then again, they still have Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Sanchez and many other players who can play in that role.

There has been talk about Karim Benzema joining them, which will be a great addition.

But that is because every team can do with a world-class player like him.

6 What's your prediction?

Arsenal have a slight edge.

But much depends on Cazorla and Oezil. If they can boss the midfield, Arsenal will win.

For Liverpool, it's a matter of whether they can defend well enough.

I'll still go for a 1-1 draw.

Normally we are strong at home. This is an opportunity to show that. We missed our first game and we had to look at ourselves, and we responded very well. Now we need to come back to our usual strength that we have at home.

— Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

We know they're an outstanding group of players with some quality individuals, but there's a real focus in this group for this season, a real toughness mentally.

— Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

---

REDS GAIN FROM BENTEKE-TAKA

Christian Benteke has undoubtedly added a new dimension to Liverpool's attack, especially in build-up play.

The 1.9m-tall forward offers a fast outlet for defenders' clearances or Simon Mignolet's goal-kicks.

The burly Belgian can then redistribute the ball through headers or flick-ons, or hold on to the ball and bring his teammates into play.

During the 1-0 win over Bournemouth, Benteke, due to his sheer strength on the ball, created a chance for Philippe Coutinho in the box, leaving Reds boss Brendan Rodgers to enthuse: ''In my time, that has never happened.''