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Arsenal vs Liverpool preview, odds, team news and prediction

By on March 31, 2021

Arsenal get back to Premier League action after the international break when Liverpool visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night.

It’s been a difficult domestic season for the Gunners as we sit way down in ninth position in the table having won just 12 of our 29 games so far [W12 D6 L11] making it one of our worst league campaigns in over 50 years.

We could yet win some silverware as Mikel Arteta has navigated Arsenal to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and we still need to push for a top 6 finish in the Premier League so it’s vital we pick up a positive result this weekend.

Liverpool head to north London struggling for consistent form themselves as they’ve lost 7 of their last 11 league games and sit just four points ahead of Arsenal in seventh place. A win for us on Saturday would put us right behind the Merseysiders so this is a huge game.

Liverpool favourites

Any decent sports betting guide would say to look at a clubs recent form before placing a bet but despite their woeful results of late, the bookies are still pricing Liverpool as the narrow 6/5 favourites to win this game. Arsenal can be backed at 21/10 – which is tempting considering how bad Liverpool have been in recent weeks – while the draw is available at 5/2.

We’ve been on the wrong end of some hidings at the hands of Liverpool over the years but most of those results have come at Anfield and Arsenal actually have a decent record at home in this fixture. Let’s not forget we won this game last season and beat Liverpool in the community shield so I think we’ve got a chance of getting something out of the game.

Team news

Bukayo Saka is an early doubt for the match after being ruled out of England duty with a thigh injury that he picked up earlier this month. Let’s pray he’s passed fit as Saka has been a key player for Arsenal this season.

Martin Odegaard has recovered from a minor ankle issue that he sustained in training with Norway so he should be fit to face Liverpool but Willian will need to be checked due to a calf problem.

Liverpool will still be without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip while Jordan Henderson is also a long-term absentee so the visitors have a few key players missing.

Roberto Firmino is also a doubt with a knee injury while Divock Origi is carrying a muscle issue but they still have plenty of attacking firepower.

Prediction Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool: Games are usually low key after the gruelling international break so I’m not expecting a classic but I do fancy Arsenal to get something on Saturday. Liverpool are not playing well at all and if there is to be a winner, I would back it to be Arsenal, but predict the game to end in a 1-1 draw.