ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PICK - LIVERPOOL FC V ARSENAL FC

English Premier

2009-12-13 - Liverpool FC vs Arsenal FC

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

Analysis:

This is the match to watch this weekend as Liverpool who are in a crisis takes on Arsenal at Anfield. Rafa Benitez will want to silence his critics while Arsene Wenger will want to move into third spot currently vacated by Aston Villa after they surprisingly beat Manchester United last night.

Benitez are hard hit by injuries going into this match, while it has been claimed that Wenger's technically-gifted youngsters have been found to lack experience and endurance when it matters most. However Liverpool will be more desperate to pick up the three points after collecting only two wins from their last eight league games, against bitter rivals Manchester United and Everton, to leave a 13 point gap to table-topping Chelsea who drew with Everton yesterday.

Wednesday's late defeat to Fiorentina has further increased the pressure on Benitez and that compounded what has already been a disappointing season and it also ensured his club's UEFA Champions League campaign ended in further disappointment.

And even though Arsenal enjoyed a better season than Liverpool, they are not where they would like to be – currently fourth in the standings and nine points adrift of Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand.

With qualification to the knockout stages already assured, Wenger offered his fringe players a chance in the midweek Champions League and the Frenchman hopes that his youngsters learned that every mistake is punished at the highest level after they were beaten by Olympiakos.

Last season it finished in an epic 4-4 draw at Anfield which effectively ended Liverpool's title hopes as Andrey Arshavin scored four times for the Gunners. However this time around with injuries and struggling form in mind, a cagey encounter is expected despite the fact that both teams have defensive failings.

As for the team news, Fernando Torres is likely to start after he came on as a substitute in the defeat to Fiorentina after recovering from a groin injury. This means that David Ngog will have to be relegated to the bench.

Alberto Aquilani will be eager to keep his place in the side after the Italian made his significantly delayed full debut against his compatriots, but whether Benitez decides to field him remains to be seen. Jamie Carragher should return to partner Daniel Agger in central defence after being rested on the bench against Fiorentina, while Glen Johnson should also be back in the starting lineup.

For the record, Arsenal, who defeated Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, have not won at Anfield in the league since October 2003.

And their cause will not be helped by the fact that Tomas Rosicky is the latest on their casualty list. Kieron Gibbs, Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner and Johan Djourou are unavailable, so playmaker Arshavin is expected to play as a striker in this match.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Consider a bet on Under 2.5 goals