WhoScored tipster: Arsenal injuries could see Liverpool's goal tally climb
While El Clasico stole the limelight last weekend and Tottenham played host to Manchester City, it’s the clash between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates that has tongues wagging this week, and for good reason.
It’s the first meeting between Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp since the two pitted their wits against one another in the 2016 Europa League final, with the Spaniard coming out on top when in charge of Sevilla. The Reds had the upper hand at half-time in Switzerland, but Emery’s words at the interval had the desired effect on his side and he’ll be hoping to get the better of his German counterpart once more.
To do so, however, Arsenal may have to overcome a fair amount of adversity with something of an injury crisis to contend with at the back. There is a real possibility that the Gunners could be without five of their ten first team defenders for the visit of the Merseysiders, including three of four full-backs.
Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac are all struggling with injuries, which has forced Granit Xhaka to start at left-back in recent times. It’s a position in which the Swiss’s unfamiliarity was exposed against Crystal Palace, so Liverpool’s famous front three will fancy their chances of breaching the hosts’ backline on Saturday, that’s for sure.
Suspension to youngster Matteo Guendouzi only serves to exacerbate matters for the home side, so the pressure will certainly be on Lucas Torreira to protect a potentially makeshift back four this weekend. Liverpool have no such concerns, with former Arsenal man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the only certain absentee ahead of the trip to the capital, though both Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita remain doubts.
In truth neither would be likely to force their way back into a side that won 4-1 last weekend, though the likes of Joe Gomez and James Milner are certainly in contention to do so. It’s Liverpool’s attack that Arsenal will be worried about most, however, even if they are tasked with breaking down a side that have conceded just four times in the league this season.
The Reds have scored at least three goals in each of their last five meetings with this weekend’s hosts, and if Arsenal are understrength that’s a trend that could yet continue. Emery may have inspired an impressive run of results of late, not withstanding a point a draw at Selhurst Park last weekend, but defensively there are still clear problems.
It seems likely that Xherdan Shaqiri will join Liverpool’s renowned trio up front at the weekend, with Roberto Firmino playing behind Mohamed Salah once more, and another attacking threat is the opposite of what Arsenal need to content with. The Switzerland international could come up against compatriot Xhaka on that side of the pitch in what would be an intriguing battle.
It’s on the opposite flank that the visitors could get even more joy if Bellerin is unable to recover in time, however, with Stephan Lichtsteiner his likely replacement tasked with keeping Sadio Mane under wraps. The Senegalese has scored in three of his four appearances in this fixture and found the net against the Gunners for Southampton too. Having taken his league tally to six for the season with a brace last weekend he’ll be in confident mood and is priced as high as 3.00 with multiple bookmakers to score at anytime.
Full match preview with predicted lineups
The over 2.5 goals market looks a no brainer, but that’s reflected in the odds, so over 3.5 may be the way to go (2.30 with Bet Victor), or if you fancy Liverpool to continue their run of having scored three or more goals in this fixture, over 2.5 goals from the visitors is worth considering at 3.30 with Unibet.
We’re backing goals galore at the Emirates, that’s for sure, so let’s hope this game doesn’t follow the suit of Liverpool’s recent clash with Manchester City!
