Arsenal host Liverpool today in a battle of top four clubs. The Gunners have games in hand over their rivals for the final Champions League spot while Liverpool are hoping to reel in Manchester City at the top of the league. Both clubs enter the match in good form and will be optimistic they can keep their winning streaks alive.
Manchester City dropped two points against Crystal Palace on Monday and a win here would bring Liverpool to within one point of Pep Guardiola’s men. Jurgen Klopp has a quadruple with in reach and the squad capable of delivering it. He has to pull the right strings of course but a win today would put the Premier League on their racket.
Mikel Arteta has been under criticism since he took the Arsenal job. The club’s patience has been rewarded and a return to the Champions League seems to be on the cards. Outside perception of him has shifted now that ‘Project Youth’ is producing results. That being said I believe there is still a gap in quality between these squads.
Klopp and Liverpool have owned Arsenal the last few years and I suspect that trend will continue. Mo Salah should shake off the knock he picked up and lead the line for the Reds. Arteta will name an unchanged team from the one who beat Leicester. Ødegaard and Saka have enough quality to trouble the Liverpool back line and I think Arsenal scratch out a goal. Defensively it will come down to how effective the Partey/Xhaka partnership is at denying time and space to Liverpool’s creative players. I have a real worry about Cedric against Diaz, Jota or Mane and Klopp will put him under immense pressure.
The Emirates will be up for this and Arsenal will not go down without a fight. My prediction however is that Liverpool have enough quality to leave with all three points. Back Liverpool to win at -110. As far as a goal scorer goes, any one of the front three would be a good bet but as long as Salah starts I’ll back him at +115 on FD.
