I was going to hold off until the New Year and do a review of Liverpool’s season so far, but this Sunday’s clash with Arsenal is too big to miss.

The 2008/09 season has already been billed the title that nobody wants, after the “big four” have all failed to win on two separate weekends. Liverpool took top spot from Chelsea a few weeks ago with a whimper, drawing 0-0 at home to West Ham, and have done their best to give it back since. Last weekend saw Liverpool draw 2-2 with Hull giving Chelsea the job of beating West Ham at home to regain top spot. A 1-1 draw later and it’s as you were in the Premiership.

This weekend Manchester United don’t play so the other teams need to pick up as many points as they can. Chelsea don’t play until Monday evening and so will once again know the situation at the top before they kick off. Liverpool head to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal knowing that a win puts them top of the pile for Christmas, and that they have a big chance to finally make their mark on this season’s title race.

If I’m honest I’d take the draw as Liverpool and Arsenal have both beaten Man United and Chelsea. An away draw against one of the “big four” is always a decent result. The fact neither of the others in the group managed it would make it a good result. A win over Arsenal though, would guarantee top spot for Christmas (the leader on Christmas Day has gone on to win the title for the last 4 seasons), and Liverpool would be top having beaten all of their closest rivals. Two of them away from home!

And so to the game. I expect Liverpool to field a more cautious/solid team and try to win it with substitutions rather than winning it from the start.

A few key decisions for Benitez to make as always. Centre-back, left-back, 3 or 2 midfielders, striker, right-wing.

Parts of the team pick themselves. Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Reira. Gerrard picks himself too but where? I’d be shocked if it’s not the usual 3 midfielders, Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard. I’d expect Dossena to continue at left-back as this isn’t the game to put a youngster like Insua or a returning Aurelio in. The team starts to take a more familiar shape then.

Up front is where Benitez has to earn his paycheck. Against a team like Arsenal I’d expect Kuyt to play right-wing to offer hard work and cover for Arbeloa at right-back. That means a choice of Keane, Babel or Ngog to play up top with Gerrard supporting. Has to be Keane. Although Babel may do a better job, he’s untested so this is not the time.

It is the decision of playing Keane up front on his own (leading to a situation where there is no striker in the box at times) that makes me think it’ll be the subs that’ll win it. Gerrard may come good once more but I don’t think we can hold out for that this time.

Babel had a telling impact against Arsenal in last season’s Champion’s League and I believe Benitez will look to him again this season, giving him a run out from the 60 minute mark rather than the usual 80 minute one.

So what’s my team? I’m thinking Agger instaed of Hyypia so it’s;

I’m going for a Liverpool win, but only by a one goal margin. Keane or Babel? Who wants to be the hero?

What d’ya say Santa? Top for Christmas?