The FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley take centre this weekend but the Premier League highlight is just down the road at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon where Arsenal host Liverpool and the home team are opposed.
The Gunners remain in the title race, I believe they are stronger contenders than their current price suggests, but their run-in is tricky and a tough run of matches starts with the visit of the Anfield club.
Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United on home soil could ultimately determine the destination of the Premier League crown but any dropped points before that match would leave Arsene Wenger’s men almost certainly looking at another trophy-less season and the odds-on about the Gunners winning on Sunday is off-putting, to say the least.
The north London side have actually performed better on their travels this term, nobody in the top flight has amassed more points away from home, and Wenger will rue home defeats to Newcastle, Tottenham and West Brom if they are to come up short.
Arsenal’s title challenge, along with exits in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League, has faltered in recent weeks and consecutive goalless draws against Sunderland and Blackburn have given United breathing space at the top.
Victory at Blackpool last time out stemmed the bleeding but Liverpool arrive full of confidence having battered Manchester City at Anfield on Monday night and I can see the Reds claiming a famous win.
The Merseysiders have not triumphed at Arsenal since a Titi Camara winner landed the spoils 11 years ago but even without Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool skipper will miss the rest of the season, I fancy them to go well with no pressure on playing staff or manager whatsoever and it’s hard to imagine Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez not causing a fragile Arsenal defence problems.
Having won seven of their last 10 top flight matches, I expected Liverpool to be no bigger than around the 4.50 mark this weekend and that means the 1.80 about a home win looks skinny.
Odds against about the draw and an away win therefore is the way to go and it’s a lay of Arsenal all day long at these prices for me.
3pts Lay Arsenal (vs. Liverpool) @ 1.80 (Betfair)