Premier League: Arsenal and Liverpool Searching for Past Glories

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Liverpool head to the Emirates on Saturday night in the Premier League match of the weekend, in a welcome return of domestic action as the season approaches its climax.

Premier League: Arsenal vs Liverpool has been one of the most famous games in top flight football for decades. These two giants of English football were in the Premier League at the outset and have been mainstays throughout.

In fact, before the English league was restructured, Liverpool dominated the domestic league throughout the 1970s and 1980s, winning the title 11 times during those two decades but not again until their historic triumph in 2020.

In the meantime Arsenal achieved great success under Arsene Wenger, the peak of which saw his Invicibles team win the 2004 Premier League title. But the Gunners have been also-rans in the league over the past decade or so.

Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta led Liverpool and Arsenal to league and cup glory in 2020 but their long suffering fans are desperately hoping that was not the end of their success.

Talking Points

Arsenal’s Europa priority

The Gunners have had a frustrating 2020/21 Premier League campaign in many ways, but Arteta did pick up some silverware in his first season at the helm, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a double to win the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

They have been a little hit and miss in the league and are well off the pace for a top four assault; but they have progressed comfortably through the Europa League, beating Olympiakos in the Round of 16 and have a very winnable quarter final clash against Slavia Prague. A Europa League triumph would not only keep the Emirates trophy cabinet open, but it would open the door to the 2021/22 Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s team have shown signs of progress, on and off, throughout the campaign. They fought back from a three goal deficit to earn a draw against West Ham just before the break, and that rather summed up their season.

Martin Odegaard has made a big impact since his loan move from Real Madrid in the January transfer window and he had an exceptional second half against the Hammers.

The latest Arsenal vs Liverpool betting odds are backing the visitors for a victory but if Odegaard performs as he has in recent weeks then the Gunners have a half decent chance of continuing Liverpool’s poor league run.

But with Europa matters in mind Arteta may be tempted to rest some players.

Liverpool striker Diogo Jota has recovered from injury ahead of Premier League clash with Arsenal — Portugal’s Diogo Jota celebrates scoring their first goal against Serbia

Jota can revive Liverpool’s top four hopes

In contrast Klopp will field the strongest side he can because anything other than a win at the Emirates would leave the Reds well adrift of the Champions League places. They are still in this year’s competition but with Manchester City and FC Bayern still in the tournament the Reds are outsiders, and so a top four place in the Premier League is imperative.

Forth placed Chelsea are currently five points clear of Liverpool and the Blues face West Brom on Saturday, a game they will surely win. And if they do then the Reds need to match them against Arsenal.

The return from injury of Diogo Jota is a major boost to Klopp. Jota scored a double in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with Serbia and is likely to start alongside top scorer Mo Salah, while Roberto Firmino is back in contention for a place as Sadio Mane struggles for form.

The Reds won away to Wolves last time out, in fact they have been much happier on the road of late, also winning away to Sheffield United, while losing at home to Everton, Chelsea and Fulham, without scoring a single goal in those three games.

History

The head to head Arsenal vs Liverpool results tell the story of a fierce rivalry over the Premier League years, with Liverpool edging 23 to 21 wins and there have been 20 draws.

In the 2020/21 curtain raiser the Gunners beat Liverpool to lift the Community Shield. Aubameyang scored the opener and, after Takumi Minamino had levelled for the Reds, the Arsenal players kept their cool to win a penalty shoot-out.

Betting Tip

	Arsenal vs Liverpool	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.90
	April 04, 03:00 (GMT+8)

The Gunners are at 3.11 to win, here at SBOTOP, while Liverpool are at 2.14 to earn a crucial three points and the draw is at odd of 3.25.

Liverpool certainly have the bigger incentive, but Arsenal also have their pride to play for and, in Odegaard, they have a quality addition. I’m backing a 1—1 draw or a Liverpool win by the odd goal in three.