London, England (My Sportsbook) - The Emirates Stadium is the setting on Sunday as traditional heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool renew acquaintances in an effort to keep their heads above increasingly-rising water.

Both sides have struggled in an attempt to round into form this season, costing them precious points and dropping them further and further off the blistering pace being set by Manchester United and Chelsea.

Arsenal seemed to be hitting its stride in recent weeks before a 1-0 slip-up at West Ham on Sunday cost them an important three points. The Gunners are 10 points behind table-setters Manchester United and have a game in hand, but do own a 1-0 win over the Red Devils at Old Trafford this season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have struggled against the top competition in the EPL this year. All four of the Reds' losses have come against top-10 teams in the Premiership, including a humiliating 3-0 loss to seventh-place Everton. Liverpool's other three losses have come against Chelsea, Manchester United and Bolton.

Manager Rafael Benitez will need his squad to elevate its play on Sunday if they are to take three points away from the match. Benitez will be without the services of central midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, who dislocated his shoulder in the team's Carling Cup win against Birmingham on Wednesday. Captain Steven Gerrard will most likely fill the role vacated by Sissoko.

Arsene Wenger will also have spots to fill in the midfield as Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Freddie Ljungberg (calf) and Julio Baptista (hamstring) will all miss the contest.

Thierry Henry will take the pitch for Arsenal, and will look to spark a suddenly stagnant offensive attack as the Gunners have scored just one goal in their last two league games. Henry and Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt sit near the top of the Premiership leaderboard with five goals apiece, and have the ability to lift their sides offensively.

While Henry is more of a playmaker, scoring goals and setting up teammates, Kuyt is a pure poacher, latching onto through-balls and picking up rebounds. If Kuyt and fellow striker Peter Crouch can get on the same page, and Gerrard returns to form as an offensive presence in the midfield, Liverpool can score goals with anyone.

Sunday's other match features Tottenham looking to build on its 2-1 upset win over Chelsea last week with three more points against a suddenly struggling Reading side.

In EPL action on Saturday, Manchester United looks to maintain its lead in the Premiership with an away win against Blackburn, Chelsea tries to rebound from last week's loss against Tottenham as they host Watford, who won for the first time last week.

Embattled Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder takes his banged up club to City of Manchester Stadium for a meeting with Manchester City, Everton entertains Aston Villa, West Ham and Middlesbrough meet up in a battle of bottom-half sides, Portsmouth looks to remain in the top five with a home win against Fulham, third-place Bolton attempts to regain momentum against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and a recently successful Wigan squad hosts bottom- feeders Charlton.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

Manchester City - Newcastle

Chelsea - Watford

Everton - Aston Villa

Middlesbrough - West Ham

Portsmouth - Fulham

Sheff Utd - Bolton

Wigan - Charlton

Blackburn - Manchester United

SUNDAY'S FIXTURES

Reading - Tottenham

Arsenal - Liverpool