Arsenal’s skirmish with Liverpool, which kicks off at 8pm at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, 8th January, is easily the showpiece contest of the Premier League’s midweek fixture slate.
The Gunners have opened up a six-point gap at the table’s summit, shortening their price in the Premier League outright winners market in the process, and the Londoners will be eager to reaffirm their status as title favourites with a win over the defending champions from Merseyside.
A Dominik Szoboszlai thunderbolt from distance was the difference between the sides in August’s reverse fixture at Anfield, though Arsenal look well-positioned to exact some revenge in Thursday evening’s rematch.
Current form
Inspired by a second-half double from Declan Rice, Arsenal overcame a stiff challenge on the south coast in their last assignment to see off Bournemouth in a five-goal thriller.
That 3-2 victory over the Cherries was the Gunners’ fifth successive win in the Premier League. Indeed, since losing to Liverpool in August, Arsenal have pocketed an impressive 42 of the 51 points on offer.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been close to picture perfect at the Emirates Stadium, where they have won 90% of their 10 league games since the summer, netting an average of 2.60 goals per 90 minutes along the way.
No side in the division has scored more or conceded fewer goals than Arsenal on home soil this term, with the Gunners’ only slight misstep in North London coming in a 1-1 draw with title rivals Manchester City in September.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have found their feet in recent weeks. However, despite embarking on an eight-game unbeaten surge in the Premier League, the Reds have rarely convinced and have failed the eye test more often than not.
Arne Slot’s outfit eked out narrow wins over Spurs and Wolves in late December, but dropped points in subsequent draws with Leeds (0-0) and Fulham (2-2), highlighting a lingering uncertainty in their ranks.
Away from Anfield, Liverpool remain fragile and have won only twice in their last eight attempts on the road, with those victories coming against 10-man West Ham in November and nine-man Tottenham just before Christmas.
Team news
The treatment room at Arsenal is as empty as it’s been all season, and with several key performers fit again and back in the fold, the Gunners’ squad looks strong ahead of Thursday’s tussle with Liverpool.
German forward Kai Havertz, who was left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad against Bournemouth due to load management, could return to the Gunners’ bench this week.
Noni Madueke was chosen to start ahead of Bukayo Saka on the right flank against the Cherries, though the latter is likely to be given the nod against Liverpool. Saka has scored in each of his last three Premier League home games against Liverpool, so expect the England international to start.
Eberechi Eze was an unused sub again at the weekend and could be handed a watching brief again, with Martin Ødegaard preferred for the number 10 position.
Riccardo Calafiori misses out again, meaning that the versatile Piero Hincapié should continue at left back in the Italian’s absence. Centre-half Cristhian Mosquera still hasn’t shaken off an ankle complaint and is unlikely to be involved.
For Liverpool, doubts remain over the availability of Hugo Ekitike, though the Frenchman will be given every chance to prove his fitness. If he misses out, Cody Gakpo could lead the line again, just as he did against Fulham on Sunday.
Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak remain long-term absentees for the Reds, while Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON with Egypt.
Arne Slot has decisions to make in both full-back positions, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong competing for a spot on the right, and Milos Kerkez and Andrew Robertson vying for a single berth on the opposite side.
Head-to-head
Arsenal have been priced as odds-on favourites to triumph against Liverpool on Thursday, though few teams have presented the Gunners with more problems over the years than the Merseysiders.
In fact, Arsenal’s loss to Liverpool earlier in the campaign was their 26th Premier League defeat to the Reds. No other side in the competition has beaten the Londoners more often.
Liverpool will also be aiming to complete the league double over Arsenal for the eighth time on Thursday. Their current tally of seven ‘doubles’ is already the most any team has against the Gunners in the division.
Arsenal have also conceded at least one goal in each of their last 20 league meetings with Liverpool in a run stretching all the way back to August 2015.
In short, Liverpool are Arsenal’s prime bogey side, though the Gunners have come out on top in two of the clubs’ last three Premier League meetings at the Emirates Stadium.
Six of the teams’ last eight encounters in league and cup have also produced at least three goals, and more excitement could be in the works in the latest edition of the fixture on Thursday evening.
Arsenal will be pleased that Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON. The Egyptian star has scored 11 times and lodged four assists in 17 Premier League appearances against the Londoners.
Key players to watch
Declan Rice – England regular Rice remains the driving force behind Arsenal’s title push, and the 26-year-old’s match-winning double against Bournemouth at the weekend highlighted his influence. Rice is an expert at putting out fires, especially when dangerous counter attacks start to develop, though he has also played more progressive passes per 90 (7.25) than any of his Arsenal teammates in the Premier League this season.
Gabriel Magalhães – Fit again and restored to his position at centre-back, Brazilian Gabriel remains a menace in both boxes. The 28-year-old is rock-solid defensively, though he also carries a major goal threat when he marauds forward during Arsenal’s set pieces. The defender scored goals in each of the Gunners’ last two league fixtures against Aston Villa and Bournemouth.
Martin Ødegaard – The Norwegian has been back to his silky best in recent weeks, scoring against Brighton and laying on assists against Villa and Bournemouth in his last three appearances. With his injury issues hopefully behind him, Ødegaard’s creativity and weight of pass should help Arsenal to unlock the Liverpool defence on Thursday.
Cody Gakpo – With Alexander Isak out for the foreseeable and Hugo Ekitike a major doubt for Thursday’s visit to the capital, Dutchman Cody Gakpo could be chosen to spearhead Liverpool’s attack in North London. The 26-year-old notched his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign from a central position against Fulham on Sunday and his pace could unsettle Arsenal’s backline.
Florian Wirtz – Wirtz has endured a tough start to his career in England. However, two goals and an assist in his last four Premier League appearances is a major upswing for a player who had blanked completely before that. The 22-year-old has a chance to impress in a high-profile fixture on Thursday – if he shows up, it would do wonders for his confidence.
Virgil van Dijk – Veteran Dutch defender Van Dijk has been way under par by his own lofty standards this season, and Liverpool will need their skipper to be at his very best to stand a chance of leaving London with points this week. The 34-year-old was sluggish again in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday, however, and Arsenal will be determined to expose his dwindling pace.
Our expert prediction
Arsenal have been imperious at the Emirates Stadium this season, holding a 90% win rate in the Premier League there since August, and the Gunners can harness home advantage again to beat Liverpool on Thursday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s squad is as strong as it’s been all season, and fresh from four wins on the spin, Arsenal can outclass a Liverpool side that has rarely convinced.
Arsenal overpowered in-form Aston Villa (4-1) in their last runout in North London, and it wouldn’t be overly surprising if something similar unfolded against Liverpool.
Despite their overall patchiness, the Reds have retained a measure of threat in the final third and have scored at least twice in five of their last six Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool’s goal-scoring output suggests that Arsenal might have to net at least twice to collect maximum points here, so it might make sense to combine a home win with over 2.5 goals here at 2.31 with Tonybet.
The Gunners have been averaging 2.60 goals per home game this season, and they can push for more against a shaky Reds defence that ranks 11th in the division for total goals conceded (28).
As always, Tonybet has extensive markets and odds for Arsenal vs Liverpool this week, as well as each of the other nine fixtures on the Premier League’s midweek slate. At Tonybet, you’ll find unparalleled variety for Bet Builders, with options for cards, corners, combos and much more besides.
