Arsenal And Liverpool Battle For Top Four

Arsenal host Liverpool tomorrow hoping to make in-roads on the Premier League`s top two positions. The third placed side will jump one position should they get the beating of Brendan Rodgers` men, Manchester City just one point better off than the Gunners and without a game until Sunday. Conversely, losing to the Reds could see Arsene Wenger`s men fall into fourth position behind Manchester United and would allow Liverpool to move to within three points of the Champions League places.

Whilst a victory for the Merseyside club could allow for this move towards the top four, a defeat would see them liable to be usurped by both Southampton and Tottenham who currently stand one point behind them. They would not only lose their fifth place standing but could find themselves nine points off the race for the Champions League. The two sides have met just once this season, that being in the reverse Premier League fixture at Anfield back in December. That encounter ended tied with the clubs scoring four goals between them.

It was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half time through Philippe Coutinho though the short lived lead lasted just a matter of seconds as Mathieu Debuchy was able to level up for the Gunners just prior to the half time break. Things began to go wrong for Liverpool after the restart as Fabio Borini was given his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards and Olivier Giroud put the visitors in front for the first time with 25 minutes remaining. Despite their numerical disadvantage the hosts were able to level up with the match running into injury time. This important equaliser came from the head of Martin Skrtel.

A number of bookmakers have the best price of 14/1 on the game ending 2-2 once again with Skybet`s 9/4 saying that there will be a sending off at some point in the clash. Both boylesports and Spreadex have 14/1 on Coutinho once again providing the deadlock breaker whilst a half time/ full time prediction of draw/ draw can be picked up at 11/2 at bet365.

Whilst they were unable to get the beating of the Reds in their last encounter, Arsenal`s home advantage and superior league position means that they are the favourites to take all three points from the early kick-off. Betvictor have the best price on a home win - this being 20/23. Whilst an away win is available at 18/5 with boylesports, most bookmakers are offering 14/5 on the match once again ending tied.

Arsenal`s favouritism will also be because they have not dropped a point in a home Premier League tie in the last eight games, a full five of these victories being wins to nil. Spreadex have the best price on the North London side winning without conceding, this being 5/2. Whilst the Gunners have conceded three goals in these eight home games, they have not conceded more than one goal in any one of these home matches. Consequentially, 17/10 (Betvictor) says that Liverpool will score exactly one goal.

Their opponents are, however, also on an unbeaten run having not been defeated in their last six away matches in the top tier of English football. The Reds have picked up 16 points from the maximum of 18. Whilst they have scored a lowly seven goals in these six away games, Liverpool are 540 minutes in Premier League matches on the road without conceding a goal. Nine-to-two (bet365, betfair, Spreadex) says Rodgers` men will be able to keep another clean sheet away at Arsenal tomorrow.

Go To bet365

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03/04/2015     © Frixo 2024