Home of football statistics and historyLiverpool and Arsenal go head-to-head at Anfield on Monday aiming to maintain their unbeaten starts to the new Premier League season.
The Reds have kicked-off the defence of their title on a positive note, recording victories over Leeds United and Chelsea in their first two matches.
Arsenal have also collected six points from their games against Fulham and West Ham United to spark talk that they could be a contender to finish in the top four this term.
All sports betting sites make Liverpool odds-on favourites to win the game, but Arsenal will fancy their chances of making things difficult for the hosts.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will miss the match, while Joel Matip, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also on the sidelines.
Alisson and Thiago Alcantara both face late fitness tests, but Joe Gomez is in line to return alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence.
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney should recover from a groin problem, but Shkodran Mustafi, Gabriel Martinelli, Sokratis, Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and Emile Smith Rowe all miss out.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven home meetings with Arsenal in the Premier League, with their latest defeat coming back in September 2012.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have compiled a formidable home record in the league since losing to Crystal Palace in 2017, winning 49 and drawing 11 of their last 60 fixtures.
Only Chelsea (86 between 2004-2008) and Liverpool themselves (63 between 1978-1980) have had longer winning runs in the English top flight.
Arsenal have lost their last four matches at Liverpool by an aggregate score of 15-3, but they will take heart from their two most recent meetings with the reigning champions.
The Gunners triumphed 2-1 in the league at the Emirates Stadium during July and followed up with a penalty shoot-out victory in the Community Shield at the end of August.
Manager Mikel Arteta implemented ‘rope-a-dope’ tactics in both those games, allowing Liverpool to have the bulk of possession in each encounter.
He will probably set up his team in a similar way on Monday, but it remains to be seen whether the strategy can pay dividends at Anfield.
Arsenal have failed to win their opening three games in a Premier League season since the 2004/05 campaign, and it’s difficult to believe that they will snap that streak against Liverpool.
The Reds were given a fright by Leeds on the opening weekend but looked in fine fettle as they dominated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Since Klopp’s first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool, only Manchester City (35 vs Watford & 30 vs Bournemouth) have scored more goals against a side than his team has versus Arsenal (27).
On that basis, and despite Arsenal blog ArsenalAction.com thinking the Gunners can spring a surprise, Liverpool are strongly fancied to come out on top in a game that should feature plenty of goals.
Prediction: There have been four goals or more in the last seven league meetings between these two sides at Anfield, so backing four or more goals in the match and Liverpool to win at odds of around 19/10 looks a solid wager.
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