Arsenal vs Liverpool Predictions

• Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games
• Liverpool have failed to win their last two in the league
• Arsenal are the best set-piece team in the Premier League
• Liverpool have conceded 12 non-penalty set-piece goals this season

Gunners good enough to down fading champions

Arsenal will be out to avenge their 1-0 defeat at Anfield earlier this season when they attempt to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League against Liverpool on Thursday. There seems to be less and less doubt now that Arne Slot’s side will relinquish the title they claimed in such impressive style last term.

Although they are now unbeaten in six league games after a dreadful autumn run, draws against Leeds and Fulham over the New Year programme mean they trail the table-topping Gunners by 14 points with 18 games to go. They were fortunate that tight offside decisions went their way in both contests and could slip out of the Champions League positions once more if they come away from North London without a point.

That scenario looks highly likely given Arsenal’s recent form, which has seen them win five straight league games – including a notable 4-1 home thrashing of third-placed Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta’s side have the best defensive record in the top flight by far and remain the set-piece masters of Europe.

Stark set-piece differences between rivals 

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s weakness on corners and free-kicks have been laid bare this season. They recently parted company with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs after a torrid first half of the campaign in which they scored three and conceded 12 goals from non-penalty set-play situations.

At the time he was sacked, Briggs’ charges had conceded the joint-most set-piece goals in Europe’s top five leagues – despite having arguably one of the best centre-backs and one of the top goalkeepers in the world.

Oddly, it was a set piece that decided the season’s first meeting between these clubs when Dominik Szoboszlai smacked in a 30-yarder at Anfield for one of only three such goals the Reds have scored in the Premier League.

Goals more likely when Arteta’s men are at home

That was a pretty dull affair with Arteta having set his side up for a defensive masterclass only to be undone by the dynamite in the Hungarian’s right boot. The Arsenal boss has tended to go on the defensive against his team’s perceived title rivals on the road, but he is much more likely to unleash the Gunners’ attacking prowess at home against a struggling opponent.

Goals are more likely to proliferate in this clash and with both of the clubs’ matches finishing as 2-2 draws last term, there will be plenty keen to back both teams to score. However, injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, who is hopeful of being back for this one, complicate that scenario – as does the ongoing absence of Mohamed Salah.

Back Arsenal to win with over 2.5 goals with the Gunners capable of getting all three required goals themselves if Liverpool suffer a really bad day at the office -as they did when losing 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. A 2-1 correct score play is the preferred bet in that market, however.