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Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Premier League Game of the Week: Arsenal and Liverpool simply can't afford to lose

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 2/1/24

Look: Not all headlining matches are classics. The last time Liverpool and Arsenal met in the league, just two short months ago, they played out a stale, tired 1-1 draw in front of a muted Anfield crowd. And who could blame them? Both teams were clear at the top of the table. Manchester City was adrift and missing talismanic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. Neither Liverpool nor Arsenal really needed to win that one, and they absolutely played like it.

But this headliner? This is different. In just a few short weeks Liverpool and Arsenal have gone from relaxed and unbothered to fiercely competitive. Liverpool’s transition has been inspired by its incredible on-field form, but also by an emotional outpouring for its departing hero: Coach Jurgen Klopp, who will leave the club at the end of the season. Everyone at Liverpool seems hell-bent on giving Klopp a proper send-off: a Premier League trophy.

Arsenal’s transition, though, has been spurred on by the opposite: a bad run of form sparking irritation and distrust at the highest level. There are many who believe that last year’s Premier League was Arsenal’s to lose, and lose it they did; the London club fell in the final weeks and allowed Manchester City to pip them to the championship on the final day. One lost Premier League is a tragedy; two lost Premier Leagues is an institutional problem. Arsenal desperately wants to avoid having an institutional problem.

Not all headliners are classics, but this headliner has the underlying edge that should make it more interesting than most. Here are the bets we’re watching as Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates:

Result. This is one of those games the odds haven’t quite caught up with, because Arsenal is still a clear favorite despite slipping five points shy of Liverpool in the table. It’s worth mentioning that Liverpool has a significant edge in recent meetings, too — the Reds won eight of the last nine games between these two teams, including a 2-0 victory in the FA Cup just a few short weeks ago.

We think Liverpool is the team with all the hunger and momentum here. We’d back them to steal this one at +210. For bettors looking for longer odds — or those who can’t shake the feeling that Liverpool like to win things late — choosing a halftime draw and a Liverpool win could pay big at +650.

Goalscorers. If there was a way to bet on players hitting the woodwork instead of finding the back of the net, Darwin Nunez would’ve made us a fortune this week — he hit the post a whopping four times against Chelsea but never managed to score. That embarrassing showing lengthened his odds to score against Arsenal all the way out to +225, and you know what, we’ll take them. They’re some of the longest scoring odds Nunez has had in a while, and that means they offer some of the biggest returns. Forget the woodwork. Players like Numez — players who create, and thrive within, chaos — are made for big games like this one.

On Arsenal's side, it's worth looking at winger Gabriel Martinelli. He's made a bit of a habit out of scoring against Liverpool, and he's available at +275.

Corners. Both teams must win this match to fend off Manchester City — there’s no excuse for plodding, defensive gameplay here. With that in mind, we can expect plenty of corners from each side. We think betting on 11 or more is interesting at +162.

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