Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups, Prediction & Betting Tips

Arsenal entertain Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime with both sides looking to give their top four hopes a major boost.

The Gunners head into the weekend action as the Premier League’s in-form team having won their last six games, with their latest victory coming with a hard fought 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park before the international break.

That impressive run has seen the North Londoners climb up to third spot in the table to within just a single point of Manchester City, and although there is talk of a late title push, the first priority is to secure their Champions League qualification place.

Arsene Wenger’s men sit six points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with a superior goal difference so they would go a huge step closer to ensuring they’ll be playing in Europe’s elite competition if they can beat their rivals today.

The Merseysiders arrive in the capital licking their wounds from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Anfield two weeks ago so they’ll be desperate to get their top four push back on track.

Martin Skrtel scored deep into injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Liverpool in the reverse fixture back in December but Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to go one better and come away with a much-needed victory this time around.

Team news

Arsenal will hand a late fitness test to Danny Welbeck after he picked up a knee injury during England’s win over Lithuania last week.

Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy, Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere all continued their comebacks after playing in a friendly against Brentford on Tuesday but Wenger hasn’t decided if any will be involved today as they still lack match fitness.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also back in full training after three weeks out with a hamstring injury but this game will come too soon.

Liverpool will have to make-do without Steven Gerrard after his dismissal against Man Utd while defender Skrtel is also suspended for the trip to north London after being hit with a three-match retrospective ban for stamping on David De Gea.

However, Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Dejan Lovren are all expected to be passed fit despite pulling out of international duty through injury.

Likely Line-Ups

Predicted Score

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool: Liverpool were on a fantastic run before the loss to United but they have a poor recent record away at Arsenal, only winning one of the last 18 in all competitions, and with Arsene Wenger’s men in excellent form I think the hosts will just edge this one.

Betting Tips

Arsenal are the 17/20 favourites to win the game but Football-Talk can get you enhanced odds of 4/1 for an Arsenal win or 8/1 on a Liverpool win, plus you can get money back if you lose and £100 worth of free bets. My prediction of 2-1 is on offer at odds of 15/2 while I also like the look of Alexis Sanchez opening the scoring at 9/2. If we combine those bets in a scorecast then we get very tempting odds of 22/1. Surely that’s got to be worth a couple of quid!?

BACK ARSENAL TO WIN AT 4/1 OR LIVERPOOL AT 8/1 + MONEY BACK IF YOU LOSE & £100 FREE BETS

What team would you like to see start and whats your predicted score for the game?