We take a look at this weekend's big Premier League match-up between Liverpool and Arsenal with our betting brain in gear today to recommend a few flutters. As well as looking at the most likely outcome, we're tipping a new man to help the visitors finally get on the scoresheet this season so without further ado, here are a few significant trends in games between the clubs at Anfield.
With so much attacking talent set to be on show come Sunday, it would be little surprise to see a run that has seen both sides score in each of their last 8 encounters at Anfield in all competitions extended. The odds on both teams notching again this weekend, at 1.75, may seem short but it seems more than likely that they will. Arsenal have enjoyed an excellent recent record against Liverpool when playing away from home and will be desperate to get their first goal of the season this weekend.
The Gunners have lost just one of said previous 8 meetings with Liverpool at Anfield, scoring at least twice in 4 of their last 5 trips to the red side of Merseyside. In turn, Liverpool have shipped 5 goals in just two matches this season as they adapt to Rodgers' new system and looked uncharacteristically prone to errors at the back.
Arsenal may not have conceded this season, but with Wojciech Szczesny's fitness still uncertain, the hosts will be keen to create plenty of chances against an Arsenal defence that hasn't really been tested yet. While it seems unlikely that the home side will be able to prevent Arsenal from scoring, Wenger's side have developed a nasty habit of drawing matches lately, picking up just one point in 5 of their last 6 league matches. If you fancy that streak to continue, the price at 3.30 seems fair for a draw, with a consecutive 2-2 result for Liverpool at a more eye-catching 17.00.
Liverpool both took and surrendered the lead twice against Manchester City last week, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Arsenal come from behind having built a habit of doing so last season. With that in mind the price for Arsenal to score last is tempting at 2.37, but which players can we look at to be amongst the goals?
When looking at the WhoScored team characteristics built up by the two sides so far, it seems Liverpool have struggled when defending against skilful players, whilst Arsenal have created plenty of chances through the flair of their attacking ranks. One man who has shone in particular in an otherwise indifferent start to the campaign has been new man Santi Cazorla, with impressive tallies of 10 shots, 9 key passes and 5 dribbles suggesting he may have enough to unsettle The Reds' defenders once again.
Having netted a European high of 8 goals from outside the box last season, and Arsenal trying their luck from distance more often than ever this term, it may be only a matter of time before a piece of Cazorla magic flies in. If odds of 4.33 for the Spaniard to score anytime don't take your fancy, maybe a cheeky flutter on Nuri Sahin might. The Turk seemed Arsenal-bound for much of the summer, and whose to bet against him scoring and throwing the cat amongst the pigeons on his home debut, with 17.00 to net first perhaps enough to entice the Liverpool fans to dig deep.