Liverpool v Arsenal
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Anfield Date: Sunday, 15 August Kick-off: 1600 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, full match commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB, live on Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day 2
Liverpool's new signing Christian Poulsen, who arrived from Juventus on Thursday, could go straight into the Reds' midfield.
Fernando Torres has recovered from the groin injury he picked up at the World Cup but may start on the bench.
Arsenal will leave it late to decide whether Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are fit enough to feature.
Summer signings Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny are in the squad, and Jack Wilshere is pushing for a start.
Liverpool
Doubtful: Torres (groin) Injured: Skrtel (ankle)
Arsenal
Doubtful: Denilson (abdominal), Diaby & Song (both calf), Fabregas & van Persie (both fitness)
Injured: Bendtner (groin), Djourou (hamstring), Ramsey (broken leg)
It's hard to remember Liverpool ever starting the season as 16/1 outsiders to win the league title but that is what some bookmakers are offering. This tough opener against Arsenal, who did the double over the Reds last season, will give some indication of how accurate those odds are.
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It's a new era now - we must forget about the horror of what happened last season and get this club back to where it belongs, which is the Champions League at the very least
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool captain
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It's not all doom and gloom at Anfield; with Joe Cole arriving, and Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres staying put, new manager Roy Hodgson has got some undoubted match-winners in his squad. New signing Christian Poulsen, capped 77 times by Denmark, is also a strong addition to Liverpool's midfield and may feature on Sunday.
Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004 and they begin this campaign with a fairly lengthy injury list. Captain Cesc Fabregas is lacking match fitness after an extended summer break following his World Cup success with Spain, but at least he is still at the club.
Robin van Persie is also struggling to be match fit but the key man for the Gunners on Sunday could be Andrey Arshavin, who has scored five goals in his two visits to Anfield, including all four in the remarkable 4-4 draw two seasons ago.
Head-to-head
• This is the 173rd time Liverpool and Arsenal have met. Liverpool lead by 68 wins to 60, with 44 draws.
• Liverpool have won only three of their last 18 Premier League games against Arsenal.
• Liverpool v Arsenal has produced five hat-tricks in Premier League history, more than any other fixture.
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606: DEBATE
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Liverpool
• If Liverpool win, it will be their 2000th victory in league football.
• Liverpool have won just two of their last seven opening-day fixtures. Last season they began with a 2-1 loss at Tottenham.
• If Liverpool win on Sunday, Roy Hodgson will become the first Reds manager since 1892 to win his first three games in charge. Liverpool have already beaten Rabotnicki home and away in a Europa League qualifier.
Arsenal
• Arsenal have won eight of their last nine opening fixtures in the Premier League.
• Arsenal scored more goals from outside the box (19) than any other team in the Premier League last season, nearly twice as many as any other side.
• Arsenal won more offside decisions than any other club in the Premier League last season (138).
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Liverpool
Torres: 22 goals (18 league); Gerrard: 12 goals (9 league)
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Arsenal
Fabregas: 19 goals (15 league); Bendtner: 12 goals (6 league)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Stephen Child
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
Liverpool (D 0-0 v Hull, a): Reina; Mascherano, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Lucas, Gerrard, El Zhar (Ngog 62), Aquilani (Pacheco 73), Babel (Robinson 88); Kuyt.
Arsenal (W 4-0 v Fulham, h): Fabianski; Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre (Djourou 62), Clichy, Eboue, Diaby, Nasri, Walcott (Lansbury 78), Van Persie, Arshavin (Vela 78).
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