Liverpool are a whopping 13 points ahead of Arsenal in the current Premier League table, and are thus heavily favored when they host the Gunners on Saturday. It’s the weekend’s only all big six match-up and thus the most hyped up fixture of the period in between Boxing Day and New Year’s this season.
It’s also a series that has been extremely evenly matched during the Premier League era. The two teams have met 53 times in PL competition with the Reds claiming 19 wins, Arsenal 15, and the two sides splitting the points on 19 occasions. Let’s take a look at who the two managers may select for their first teams in this one.
The Bank Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction vs Arsenal (4-3-3)
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Midfielders: Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum
Back line: Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno
Goalkeeper: Alisson
The Bank Arsenal Predicted line-up (4-3-3) at Liverpool
Attack: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette
Midfield: Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka
Defense: Sead Kolasinac, Laurent Koscielny, Sokraitis, Stephen Lichtsteiner
Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Arsenal FC at Liverpool FC FYIs
Kick-off: 5:30 pm (BST), 12:30 pm (EST) Saturday December 29, Anfield Stadium
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win- 65%, Draw 20%, Arsenal win- 15%
Odds via Bet Fair: Liverpool win 1/2, draw 15/4, Arsenal 6/1
Injury Report: go to this link
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Arsenal 1
So far, Arsenal have been exactly what we thought they would be this season, high-scoring but also with a leaky defense. Liverpool can match them in firepower, quite easily, but the Reds’ stingy back line hasn’t conceded much and with that we’re picking Jurgen Klopp’s side to roll in this one.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.