The Merseyside giants play host to the league leaders at Anfield on Wednesday. Liverpool will be hoping to return to winning ways after the 2 – 2 draw against Exeter City in the FA Cup third-round tie at the weekend.
The Reds suffered a 2 – 0 loss in their last Premier League match at Upton Park on January 2. Since the loss against the Hammers, Liverpool’s injury woes have gotten only worse. Jurgen Klopp will certainly miss the presence of the likes of Coutinho, Henderson, Skrtel and Ibe as he prepares his side to face Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. All in all, the eighth-placed Liverpool have 13 players sidelined due to injury with no first choice center backs available. The Gunners also have some of their best players, including the first team regulars Sanchez, Cazorla and Coquelin in the treatment room. But Arsenal are grinding results this season and thus they are the favourites to pick up three more points on January 13.
According to Ladbrokes, Liverpool are 2/1 to win the crucial clash, while Arsenal are 8/5.
Liverpool are the only team in the top half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. A defeat at home in the midweek match might even allow their fierce city rivals Everton to climb above them. They can potentially end up 12th in the league table and a loss will do no good to their confidence levels prior to the massive fixture against Manchester United at the weekend.
For the last few years, Liverpool vs Arsenal tie has mostly resulted in a goal fest but their last meeting in August 2014 at the Emirates was a goalless draw. Of the two teams, the north Londoners have a better form with five wins and a loss in their last six fixtures. The 18-time English champions have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six fixtures. Moreover, Arsenal have a slight upper hand over Liverpool when it comes to the last few head-to-head meetings between the sides. The Gunners have won two, drawn two of their last five fixtures against the mighty Reds.
It will be an interesting affair at Anfield on Wednesday and Arsenal might take the cake ahead of the hosts.
Arsenal at 8/5 to win looks a solid bet. Better still if you’re new to ladbrokes/paddypower/betfair you can get enhanced odds on this one ranging from 6/1 to 9/1
