Premier League Betting: Arsenal v Liverpool

Premier League / Mike Norman / 09 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

Dirk Kuyt (second right) is just about the hottest striker on show for Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal on Wednesday. Will he notch his fifth goal in his last five league games?

Best Bet: Back Under 1.5 Goals at [3.6] in Over/Under 1.5 Goals market

Also: Back Draw/Liverpool @ [9.6] in Half Time/Full Time market; Back 0-0 @ [11.0] and 0-1 @ [12.0] in Correct Score market

Big Four clashes have been coming thick and fast of late, though the Premier League's latest offering isn't one that will influence the title race says "Mystical" Mike Norman. Best Bet: Back Under 1.5 Goals @ [3.6].

On paper this game has all the makings of a classic; in reality it's a clash between a seriously wounded Arsenal team and a Liverpool side that are 'winning ugly' of late.

A four game sequence against Villa, Man United, Chelsea and now Liverpool was always going to define the Gunners' season and just one point from a possible nine means the Premier League trophy will not be residing in North London this year, despite what Arsene Wenger says. A win against Liverpool this evening will give Arsenal fans nothing more than a crumb of false hope going into the last third of the season.

In the Match Odds market, Arsenal are available to back at [2.16], Liverpool can be backed at [4.0], and The Draw is on offer at [3.4].

Liverpool's chances of winning the title have been non-existent since as far back as October when they went on a run of just two league wins in nine. But at least the Reds are entering this fixture on the back of a decent run. Rafa Benitez's men are unbeaten in seven now, but scrappy draws at Stoke and Wolves are sandwiched between a last minute winner at Villa and Saturday's not-so-pretty win in the Merseyside Derby.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos is suspended following his sending-off against Everton and is likely to be replaced by Martin Skrtel, but Yossi Benayoun, Glen Johnson, and Fernando Torres all remain sidelined. Arsenal have no fresh injury worries and are likely to give Nicklas Bendtner his first start since October ahead of the incredibly frustrating Theo Walcott.

I really can't call tonight's match and would prefer to stay clear of the Match Odds , though if pushed, my advice would be to lay Arsenal at [2.18].

My worry for the Gunners ahead of the game is their lack of a proven goalscorer in their ranks, combined with the slight downturn in form of star midfielder Cesc Fabregas. When Fabregas is at his best he can mesmerise the opposition and create chances from all over the field, and of course, he can score a few himself. But when he's not at his brilliant creative best the onus then becomes greater on Bendtner or Andrei Arshavin to tuck away the few chances that will come their way.

Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano will be fully aware of the threat posed by Fabregas, and just like the midfield of Manchester United and Chelsea, I fancy the Liverpool midfield to seriously reduce the Spaniard's influence tonight.

Without Torres, without a star striker in the home starting line-up, and in what promises to be a tight midfield battle, it's difficult to see where the goals are going to come from. True, Dirk Kuyt has been in good form of late (four goals in four league games) but the fact remains that Liverpool have scored just five goals on their travels in nine league games since they scored three against West Ham in September. Arsenal have scored just once in their last three games against the Premier League's better sides.

Not surprisingly then Under 2.5 Goals is available to back at just [1.87] (Over 2.5 Goals [2.14]), whilst the Under 1.5 Goals option is available to back at [3.6] and is my best bet selection in a game where I'm keeping my stakes low - I don't envisage goals, but need I remind you that a fixture between these two finished 4-4 not so long ago?

The only other markets I'm interested in are the Half Time/Full Time and Correct Score markets. I can definitely see the sides going in all-square at half time so Draw/Liverpool at [9.6] is my selection, whilst for a Correct Score I'm keen to cover both the 0-0 [11.0] and 0-1 [12.0] options.

I know Betfairians love the First Goalscorer market so just for you Arshavin should be available to back at around [8.0] once this 'wide-open' market materialises, just ahead of Bendtner [9.0], Kuyt [9.4], Fabregas [10.0] and Gerrard [10.0]. I wish you well.

Arsenal v Liverpool can be seen live on Sky Sports2, kick-off 19:45