Arsenal v Liverpool: Reds capable of sinking Gunners

Liverpool can ease the pain of their shock FA Cup defeat to Oldham by picking up at least a point at the Emirates, though the wavering Champions League qualification hopes both sides are harbouring will not be boosted by a sharing of the spoils.

The draw is available at 5/2 – the longest match punt on offer ahead of this clash. It’s of the bookies’ belief that this one could go either way, pricing Arsenal up as slight 6/5 favourites ahead of the Reds’ 21/10, though preference lies with the visitors.

Both teams have endured up and down seasons but, with eight wins from 12, it’s got to be said that Liverpool are enjoying the better form and their continuing improvement under Brendan Rodgers must count for something against an Arsenal side who can’t seem to hit their stride this term.

The Merseyside club have fared reasonably well in the Gunners’ corner of north London recently; they’ve not left empty-handed on five of their previous seven ventures to Arsenal and claimed all three points on their latest visit.

A determinant to their chances here is that they’ve failed to better a team currently residing in the top half of the Premier League on the road, but the prominent threat they pose in the final third is likely to pay off at Arsenal more so than any other ground in the upper echelons of the division.

Over 2.5 goals have been registered in each of Liverpool’s last 10 games in all competitions, with the Reds treating themselves to 25 in this period. The more mathematically adept among us will have already figured out that this equates to an average of exactly 2.5 goals per game.

The Gunners lack the solid defensive base to categorically rule out the possibility of them maintaining that average here. Over 2.5 Liverpool goals pays out at 5/1 here, though for those who think the Reds bagging three at the Emirates is too much to ask, back over 1.5 goals for the Merseysiders at a generous 6/4.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date