
Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Arsenal had been picked out as a potential end-of-season blockbuster that could determine the fate of the title. Instead, it’s nowhere near as meaningful, though the Gunners will be looking over their shoulder and keen to add to their points tally.
Arne Slot’s changes and Liverpool’s relatively flat performance at Stamford Bridge hardly caught viewers by surprise. The Reds’ previous fixture was a huge celebration at Anfield, and there is so often a big comedown immediately after a team is confirmed as champions.
There may still be a relaxed atmosphere about the place, almost two weeks on from the victory over Tottenham, but the manager and fans won’t want the campaign to peter out with a series of defeats.
Slot has confirmed that Conor Bradley will start for the Reds if fit from now on this season, following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure announcement.
It is going to be another trophyless season for Arsenal, who failed to take their chances in Paris on Wednesday night and suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League semi-final.
Finishing second in the league for the third successive year was not the plan at the beginning of the campaign, but Mikel Arteta will want to ensure that it gets no worse than that between now and the end of May.
Manchester City are only three points behind, but the Gunners lead the goal difference by a margin of nine. Newcastle United and Chelsea are a further point back, while sixth-placed Nottingham Forest are six behind Arsenal.
The last two Premier League head-to-heads at Anfield have ended all square. That’s a big improvement for Arsenal, who had lost the previous six encounters and haven’t taken all three points at the home of the Merseyside club since 2012. Arteta was in the starting XI for Arsenal that afternoon.
At the Emirates, Liverpool have found it more difficult recently, taking just one point from their last three trips. That draw occurred this season in Slot’s first game against Arsenal, as Mohamed Salah equalised late on.
The Gunners’ last three scorers at Anfield have all been named Gabriel. Magalhaes, Jesus, and Martinelli have each netted at the Kop.
Arsenal don’t win very often at Anfield, but they seldom draw a blank.
This is typically one of the more entertaining fixtures throughout the Premier League campaign.
The best bet for this match is for neither team to be shown a card. Under 0.5 cards is priced at 18/1 on Betfair.
The reverse fixture was all-action in October, with four cards produced by Anthony Taylor in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
It has been a fiery fixture in recent times, with 35 cards produced across the last five meetings.
Of course, that could happen again, with every chance that Arsenal’s frustrations boil over after a difficult two weeks and Liverpool bite back, roared on by an expectant Anfield crowd.
However, given the borderline dead rubber circumstances, I can’t resist a small play on the exact opposite type of game. Arsenal have picked up just one yellow card in their last three league matches, a sign that they’ve come to terms with missing out on the title and are no longer playing with the same edge.
Liverpool have also stayed out of trouble a fair bit. They went three games without a card through a tricky set of fixtures against Aston Villa, Man City, and Newcastle in February. Nobody had their name taken in matches with Fulham and West Ham last month either.
Taylor is a referee who is happy to keep his cards in his pocket. Seven of his 43 assignments this season have seen him book nobody, including two games involving Liverpool.
He only booked one player when he last officiated Arsenal in March against Manchester United.
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