Liverpool v Arsenal Preview
The English Premier League heads into the third round this weekend, with preseason cobwebs having been shaken off and new signings and tactics starting to come together. The fixture gods have been kind, throwing out marquee clashes for each of the first three rounds. First it was Manchester United hosting Chelsea in the opening round followed by Manchester City against Tottenham Hotspur, and this week it’s Liverpool and Arsenal’s turn to take centre stage.
Jurgen Klopp’s team do not seem to have slowed down from their record-breaking yet unrewarded 97-point tally from last season. The Champions League winners started their 2019/20 campaign with polished victories over Norwich City (4-1) and Southampton (2-1) and head into Saturday’s clash at Anfield full of confidence. Recent history heavily favours the Reds and it should come as no surprise that they are odds-on favourites to win at 12/25 with the Gunners priced at 21/4 and the draw coming in at a tempting 19/5.
The last time these two teams met in the Premier League at Anfield, the attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah - also commonly known as the ‘Fab 3’ – ran riot as Liverpool comprehensively battered their visitors from North London 5-1 in late December. Brazilian striker Firmino netted three times in that match and can be backed to score at 11/8. Senegal’s Mane, who also scored that day, is at 57/50 while the ‘Egyptian King’ Mo Salah is priced at even money to find the back of the net.
However it is a new season and there’s an air of positivity looming over the Emirates following successive victories over Newcastle United (1-0) and Burnely (2-1) from their opening two games. The Gunners had a successful transfer window as they added former Chelsea defender David Luiz, Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos (loan) and record signing Ivorian Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a reported £72 million. With midfielder Ceballos feeding into the Gunners’ equally deadly front three of Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Saturday’s encounter promises to be a goal-feast. Punters can look to benefit by backing Over 3.5 goals at 57/50 or Both Teams To Score at 8/15. There’s good value in a high-scoring draw with 2-2 being priced at 12/1.
Gabonese hit-man Aubameyang, who was last season’s joint top-goal scorer, has hit the ground running scoring in both of Arsenal’s matches this season. The 30-year old can be backed to score the first or last Arsenal goal at 13/2 or 15/8 to score at anytime during the match.
This will be somewhat of a barometer test for Unai Emery’s new-look Arsenal team who are desperate to get back to being genuine title challengers after a significant period of time in the periphery of the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. For Liverpool another win will reinforce their bonafide title credentials. Whatever the result, Sunbet has all of your betting needs covered with more than 350 pre-match markets already available which will also be complimented with our vast array of Live In-Play betting markets.
