Jamie Carragher makes Mikel Arteta Arsenal point in surprise Jose Mourinho comparison

Jamie Carragher has questioned whether Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are transitioning more into a Jose Mourinho-type team than one similar to the Pep Guardiola mould.

The Spaniard arrived at the Emirates Stadium after working as an understudy to the Manchester City manager in the north west. Arteta has helped transform the Gunners, and restore the appetite for success in north London in the years after Arsene Wenger's departure.

In each of the last two seasons, have tasted disappointment in the Premier League, finishing behind City in the title race. They face a fresh test against with the suggestion that such as England star Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori.

Wiliam Saliba will miss the clash through suspension after his red card against Bournemouth and his absence has sparked a question from Carragher, on whether Arsenal might look to have a 'back-footed' approach against their Merseyside rivals.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he likened the transition from Arteta to one similar to Mourinho's pragmatic approach. He said: "It's interesting how they've done that, they've got better players as time moved on.

"I've always felt that Mikel Arteta came in as a disciple of Pep Guardiola but, over time, his team is getting closer in style, you see the defensive style, closer to Jose Mourinho.

"It'll be interesting with Saliba out, if they feel that they can go on the front foot and go man-to-man that they like to do. They might retreat a bit, against City at times, not a good watch but they get the job done."

Roy Keane believes Arsenal have to change their attitude and mentality to the game, amid the selection concerns. The no-nonsense Irishman has told the Gunners to ignore the media noise tagging Liverpool as favourites.

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"We know that they've got the quality, but they know how to win football matches and are hard to beat, they've lost about five in their last 45, they know what the game is all about, they know how to turn up for the big games."

He went on: "The key for all these teams is how they react, you're going to have disappointment.

The noise through the media is that Liverpool are favourites, but Arsenal have to be going; 'We're at home and we've done well the last couple of years, okay we've come up short'.

"I'll be intrigued to see how they turn up, with that pressure, but that's the game, dealing with the pressure and then putting in a performance."