Liverpool vs Arsenal
The chance to be top of the Premier League at Christmas is the prize on offer when Liverpool and Arsenal lock horns on Saturday.
The runners up of the last two seasons are hoping to go one better this term and, with champions Manchester City in action further afield, this offers an opportunity to lay down a marker and an advantage, albeit a slight one, at the summit.
A draw, incidentally, and Aston Villa could be proudly atop the Premier League tree on Christmas Day – but that’s another story.
So often the team leading the table at Christmas has gone on to be crowned champions, yet a word of warning – the omens are not all great for Liverpool. Only five times in the last 15 seasons has the top-placed team at Christmas failed to lift the Premier League trophy, and it was Liverpool on four of those occasions.
Talking Points
If this Saturday teatime encounter is anything like as exciting as their two meetings last term, it could be a compelling Christmas offering on the table full of Premier League highlights.
In their defence, Brighton – who have proved somewhat of a bogey team for the Gunners in recent season – were a bit leggy following their Europa League exertions.
Arsenal should have the advantage in this contest too, given they have a free midweek while Liverpool were in action against West Ham in the League Cup – albeit the Merseysiders could afford to rest players as they thrashed the listless Hammers 5-1 in a non-too-taxing tie.
Their last league outing saw them frustrated by arch rivals Manchester United and they will be keen to avoid a repeat at time when champions Manchester City are, by their own standards, below par.
Both teams should be near full strength with Alexis MacAllister likely to be out for the home side and the main absentee along with left-back Andrew Robertson (not due back until the New Year) and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, who sustained a season-ending injury on his debut on the opening weekend in August.
Talented youngster Emile Smith Rowe has been in the last couple of matchday squads, coming on as a substitute against PSV Eindhoven and Brighton, and is likely to be on the bench again.
A statement win for either side could act as a catalyst ahead of the second half of the campaign – although there’s a pretty hectic festive period to negotiate first,
History
There is quite a history between these two English greats.
After dominating the English football landscape for 15 years in the 1970s and the 1980s, it was actually Arsenal who triggered the start of Liverpool’s decline with an unforgettable title-clinching victory at Anfield – one of two in three years in the late 80s/early 1990s as the Gunners were crowned top dogs twice in three years.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has largely had the edge in this fixture since he was appointed boss in October 2015, including five wins in the last nine.
Not last season though as Arsenal won a five goal thriller in North London before drawing 2-2 on Merseyside.
A 2-2 draw in the return fixture may normally have bene considered a good return but it was a game in which the Gunners first ceded their advantage in the title race.
They lost their composure and were pegged back in a 2-2 draw which sparked a run of four games without a win and just two victories in eight.
Overall, Liverpool have 94 wins compared to Arsenal’s 82 victories and 63 draws.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds give the home side the edge.
They can be backed 1X2 @ 2.22 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.02.
Arsenal are slightly adrift of that, both 1X2 @ 2.81 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.88.
The draw is on offer @ 3.39.
A re-run of last season’s dramatic encounter will pay out @ 12.00 with Correct Score 2-2.
There has so often been goals aplenty in this fixture which explains the difference between total goal 0-1 @ 3.94, compared to 2-3 @ 2.01 and 4-6 @ 2.82.
It is the middle of those options I am plumping for – Total Goals 2-3 as a ⭐⭐⭐ tip.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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