Arsenal v Liverpool: Early Fireworks on the cards at the Emirates?

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Following an eleven game unbeaten run in all competitions, Unai Emery’s side dropped Premier League points at Selhurst Park last Sunday, in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The opportunity for the Gunners to regain the winning thread will be a tough one on Saturday evening – kick-off: 17:30 GMT as Liverpool make the trip south to the Emirates Stadium in an intriguing clash.

Liverpool are also in fine form. Eight wins and two draws in the Premier League sees the red half of Merseyside level on points with last season’s champions, Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp’s side maintained their position last weekend with a comfortable 4-1 home win over already relegation threatened Cardiff City.

It’s fourth plays second in this weekend’s stand-out fixture, with both teams desperate for victory to keep the pressure on their rivals. Who can come out on top? Read on for our thoughts of this important Premier League contest.

Match Odds

Liverpool are firm favourites with the bookmakers in this contest and can be backed at the best industry price at the time of writing of 53/50 with MarathonBet to make it three wins on the bounce in the Premier League.

Arsenal are on the drift in the Win Market for this game, with most bookmakers offering bigger prices on the Gunners from their initial opinion. Arsenal are a top price of 51/20 – again with MarathonBet – to close the gap on Liverpool to just one point in the league standings.

The Draw can be taken at 73/25 – once again with MarathonBet – and this is an option which could prove popular with punters. Four of the last eight meetings between the two teams have ended in stalemate, which offers hope for this outcome at decent odds.

Individual Goal Scorers

Goals look to be extremely likely in this game if you consider the high level of attacking talent on show. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah went through a small barren spell by his own high standards earlier in the season, but the Egyptian now looks back in the groove with four goals in his last three appearances.

Salah is a top price of 15/4 with BetBright and Betway to open the scoring on Saturday afternoon, and is the standalone favourite.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is next best at 6/1 with Boylesports and BetBright to enhance his fine record of seven Premier League goals so far this season. The former Borussia Dortmund man has found his feet in England now, and he will be a major threat to the Liverpool defence.

There is a plethora of other potential options to open the scoring in this game, but we will try and condense the potential options. Liverpool’s Brazilian striker, Roberto Firmino is a 6/1 chance with Ladbrokes and William Hill amongst others. Aubameyang’s likely strike partner, Alexandre Lacazette can be taken at 13/2 with Sport Pesa and 10Bet.

Sadio Mane – who is a personal favourite of mine in this particular market, because I feel he’s always overpriced is also a 13/2 poke with several layers, including Coral, and SportingBet.

Mesut Ozil and James Milner may well attract punters who are out thre looking for value, with both men at 16/1 with 10Bet and Sport Pesa respectively. Milner being Liverpool’s penalty taker is an obvious plus here.

Other Side Bets

A jaw dropping 27 goals have been scored in the last five meetings between the two teams, and my view is that this contest should prove no exception to the rule. Both Teams to Score is a very short price of 1/2 with William Hill and Sport Pesa, with most layers offering even more prohibitive odds.

Over 2.5 Goals is also very short at the best industry price of 11/20 with MarathonBet, but the one that takes my eye is Over 3.5 Goals at the more backable odds of 11/8 with William Hill. Both of these team’s attacking talent is their strength, which will make for an entertaining goal fest -hopefully. For the braver punter, Over 4.5 Goals can be taken at 3/1 with William Hill and Betfred.

My belief is that Liverpool will have too much for the Gunners in this game. Jurgen Klopp’s side could well be a cut above their opponents, and may well run out as comfortable winners. Since Virgil van Dijk’s arrival at Anfield, Liverpool’s defence has dramatically improved. However, Arsenal are capable of breaching the Reds’ back line which leads me to the Liverpool to Win the Match and Both Teams to Score at 23/10 with Coral and 888Sport.

A Correct Score bet is always worth an interest at juicy odds, and my preference for this game is for the match to end in a 3-1 win for the visitors. William Hill and Ladbrokes offer 14/1 for this bet in a contest that could turn into a potential classic encounter.