Welcome to our coverage for what is surely the most anticipated game of the day (if that is not too much of an understatement) as Liverpool host league leaders Arsenal at Anfield. The battle at the top has been intensely and closely fought so far this season with five sides – the two tonight plus Aston Villa, Spurs and Man City – in close proximity for most of the season.

Liverpool can go top this evening with a victory or, in fact a draw, but Arsenal will land a fairly hefty blow on their rivals with a win of their own. Were that to happen the gap between the teams would grow to four points. Not enormous at this stage of the season, but you would rather be four points ahead than behind and with one of the most difficult fixtures of the season out of the way.

How easy will that be for Arsenal? After last year’s title challenge collapsed in dramatic fashion they will be hoping to at least sustain their challenge into the final few games or – far more preferably – win the title for the first time in 20 years.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has transformed his team in the past two seasons but is aware of the challenges of going to Anfield. Indeed, Arsenal have not won here over 90 minutes since September 2012 when Arsene Wenger’s men triumphed 2-0. Since then their record has been seven losses and six draws. Admittedly some of those draws were in cup games and were won or lost on penalties, but it is a pretty average record at best.

“It [going to Anfield] is different, different like Old Trafford,” Arteta said.