Verdict: Over three goals
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With their spot as league leaders entering 2019 already confirmed, Jurgen Klopp s high-flyers will welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Saturday evening.
Liverpool
Starting with the hosts, now holding a six-point buffer over Tottenham at the top of the table, Liverpool have confirmed their spot as league leaders entering 2019 and many believe it is now their title to lose. Still the only team in England yet to be beaten in the Premier League this season, the Reds are 16 points better off than at this stage last season. Along with holding the best defensive record in the top-flight, Jurgen Klopp will also be impressed by his sides stellar record at Anfield. They are undefeated in 30 Premier League home games, their longest such sequence since a run of 31 between December 2007 and August 2009. Unsurprisingly, one man to watch for the hosts will be last year s PFA Player of the Year Mohamed Salah. Now sat second in the Premier League s goalscoring charts, the Egyptian international once again found the net against Newcastle on Boxing Day and now has six goals in his last five appearances for Klopp s side.
Team News
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could opt to freshen up his side, with Fabinho and Naby Keita among the contenders for a recall to the starting line-up.
James Milner and Dominic Solanke are both ruled out, but Alberto Moreno has recovered from a back problem.
Arsenal
As for the visitors, with Arsenal coming off the back of another worrying display in their 1-1 draw away at Brighton on Boxing Day, Unai Emery will now know he is out of the honeymoon period. The Gunners have now managed to pick up just one win in their last four outings, including crashing out of the EFL Cup at the hands of Tottenham a fortnight ago. Along with the London based side now failing to win any of their last three matches away the Emirates, Emery will have plenty of concerns over Arsenal s defensive issues. The Reds are yet to record a single clean sheet on their travel this season, two short of their longest run without a shut-out in the division. if Arsenal are to pull off a huge upset on Saturday evening, the former PSG boss will be looking for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to lead their charge. Now sat one clear of Salah in the Premier League s goalscoring charts, the Arsenal striker has been directly involved in 30 goals in his 32 Premier League appearances.
Team News
Arsenal are short of defenders with Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin still out and Nacho Monreal s fitness uncertain.
Shkodran Mustafi is nearing a return from a hamstring injury, although this game may come too soon for him.
Captain Laurent Koscielny should be fine despite suffering a minor foot issue in the draw at Brighton.
Key Factors to Consider
Arsenal are winless in their last five league games at Anfield (D2, L3), conceding at least two goals in each of those matches (17 in total).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven matches against the Gunners (W3, D4).
Jurgen Klopp s side are only the fourth Premier League team to be unbeaten at the halfway stage of a season.
Roberto Firmino, who has failed to score in his last 11 league games at Anfield, has been directly involved in eight goals in his last six league games against Arsenal, scoring five and setting up three.
Arsenal have conceded in each of their last nine away Premier League games.
Conclusion
Without a doubt this weekend s marquee matchup, we re expecting plenty of action at Anfield on Saturday. With 12 goals scored in the last three meetings between the two sides and both possessing a striker in red-hot form, we re backing over three goals at 13/10.
Verdict: Over three goals
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
