The stage is set for the third-round clash in the FA Cup
For the second time in the last two weeks, two of England’s best club teams will go head-to-head. While the Premier League match at Anfield Road just before Christmas ended in a 1-1 draw, there will definitely be a winner between these teams in the FA Cup. If not on Sunday afternoon in the capital, then in the replay in Liverpool, which will be due in the event of another draw.
It doesn’t seem unlikely that Arsenal and Liverpool will once again draw in the third round of the world’s oldest cup competition next weekend, as the teams coached by Mikel Arteta and Jürgen Klopp are currently going toe-to-toe. As we are expecting a fast-paced and high-class match, just like on December 23, our anticipation for the highlight of this English soccer weekend is growing by the minute.
The Gunners are the favorites with the bookmakers. In the run-up to the match between Arsenal and Liverpool, the prediction for a home win is quoted at 2.02 at the top. However, if the Reds prevail in the capital after 90 minutes, the best odds are 3.40.
Arsenal – Statistics & current form
Arsenal Football Club are not going through the best phase in the English top flight at the moment. Looking back at the last five Premier League games, the Londoners have only managed one win. Coach Mikel Arteta’s team even lost the two most recent duels in the capital against West Ham United (0:2) and Fulham (1:2). The reigning runners-up have already slipped to fourth place in the league table due to this ongoing results crisis. Currently five points behind leaders Liverpool, the Gunners have by no means lost sight of the championship on the island in 2023/24
Arsenal hoping for a turnaround in offensive output
The Gunners have recently lacked penetration, particularly in attack. Gabriel Jesus and Co. only scored more than one of their own goals in one of the five PL matches mentioned above. However, if you take a closer look at the games, it wasn’t necessarily the lack of chances, but simply the poor conversion of the numerous top-class goals that led to unusual problems.
Although self-confidence has certainly suffered somewhat as a result of recent developments, it seems to be only a matter of time before the Arteta team regain their usual attacking power. It is quite possible that this will be the case on Sunday afternoon and that the prediction of at least three goals in the match between Arsenal and Liverpool will pay off.
In any case, the home advantage speaks in favor of the capital club. They have won seven of their ten matches at home so far. There have also been two draws and only one defeat. In addition, significantly more goals have been scored at home (22) than away (15). In seven out of ten cases, the bet on the over 2.5 would have gone through, which further underpins our betting recommendation for a fairly high-scoring encounter.
Predicted Arsenal line-up:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Liverpool – Statistics & current form
While the Gunners, as mentioned, are currently struggling with a minor form crisis, the Reds from the city of the Beatles have looked incredibly consistent, stable and mature throughout the season. At the end of September, LFC suffered their last and only defeat of the season at national level. In the Premier League alone, this means 13 unbeaten matches in a row, eight of which were victorious (five draws). They have also reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, where they will face Fulham next week and at the end of January in a first and second leg to reach the final.
At this – in many respects – important stage of the season, Jürgen Klopp will be without his most prolific scorer. Mohamed Salah left for the Africa Cup with the Egyptian national team a few days ago and, at worst, will not be available to the Merseyside side until mid-February. However, Liverpool have impressively demonstrated on several occasions in recent weeks and months that even the supplementary players have plenty of individual quality and, as is usual with the German coach, see themselves as an important part of the team.
How will Liverpool compensate for the absence of Salah
The absence of the agile right winger is therefore painful, but in our eyes it is weighted too heavily when looking at the Arsenal vs Liverpool odds. In general, we are far from labeling LFC as clear underdogs at the Emirates Stadium. In view of the unbeaten streak and the fact that the Reds already controlled the Premier League clash around two weeks ago, we would actually be more inclined to place a bet on the double chance X2.
Alternatively, the already mentioned Over 2.5 is also an option. On the one hand, because in the other cup competition, the League Cup, a whopping 13 goals were scored in three games involving Liverpool. On the other hand, the Klopp offense recently made a strong impression in the 4-2 win over Newcastle and will now create plenty of chances (also in the transition game) against an Arsenal team that wants to be in the game itself. In addition to Salah, however, the former BVB coach will also be without Dominik Szoboszlai. As a result, Harvey Elliott, who has often made a good impression recently, could move into the starting eleven.
Liverpool’s probable line-up:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Jota, Gakpo, Diaz
Arsenal – Liverpool head-to-head / H2H result
Of course, the direct clash around two weeks ago sets the tone. The then neighbors drew 1:1 in a very fast, racy and yet tactically very interesting Premier League match. Gabriel gave the Gunners an early 1-0 lead after a set-piece, Salah equalized after just under half an hour. In the second half, LFC had several chances to decide the match, but Alexander-Arnold’s crossbar strike, among others, did not find its way into the net.
Nevertheless, three or four goals would have been within the realms of possibility on the day. For Sunday, we are still checking the Arsenal vs Liverpool odds – based on the figures from the league – that more goals will be scored after the break. The Reds in particular like to come back stronger after the half-time speech. Neither team is likely to want to play a replay due to their tight schedules
Arsenal – Liverpool betting tip
In the third round of the English FA Cup, we have some classic David vs Goliath constellations this weekend. Meanwhile, the most exciting, interesting and high-class duel is sure to take place in London. Although the betting odds between Arsenal and Liverpool suggest that the home team is the favorite, we expect a 50:50 match with even a slight advantage for the visitors from Merseyside.
Although Jürgen Klopp will be without Mo Salah, who has left for the Africa Cup, and Szoboszlai, his team have been riding a wave of success in recent weeks. The Reds have not lost in 13 Premier League games in a row. At national level, they have only ever lost once in the league and cup – with nine men and only thanks to VAR against Tottenham. The league leaders are incredibly difficult to beat and will therefore also have a chance to win at the Emirates Stadium
Because a bet on the three-way market is inevitably associated with risk and the laws of the cup apply anyway, we switch to the goal market and ultimately decide between Arsenal and Liverpool for the bet on at least three goals after regular time.
