Arsenal v Liverpool Casumo Preview

Arsenal v Liverpool: a watered down clash

Liverpool’s free fall this season came as a surprise to us all and they were even given the tag of “bad champions” by Roy Keane. Arsenal’s season has been just as bad, but they seem to escape criticism due to the stage of their current development. But they are ninth in the standings, which is completely unacceptable by any measurement. Have we all, finally, accepted that Arsenal are just not Arsenal anymore? Ninth place is no good for a club which has such good recent history, a club which saw the likes of Bergkamp and Henry tear up the Premier League, a club which used to give us such entertaining football and even went totally unbeaten in one season. Ninth place, seventh place… these giants have fallen from dizzy heights.

Pairing these two on a Saturday night would have typically meant box office, but this Saturday seems different. Such poor football from Arsenal and such bad results from Liverpool have wiped out the entertainment factor from these sides who used to draw the neutrals in by offering something completely different. Watching the amazing Arsenal of Highbury was like ordering fancy Asian food when you normally go for Italian. Watching Klopp’s brilliant Liverpool was tuning into Heavy Metal when you’re normally a country type of listener. Now it’s not even country music as both are singing the blues.

Defeat for either side would all but wipe out the slimming hopes of a Champions League berth and we all know how disruptive the Europa League can be to the regular season. Teams almost might want to avoid that tournament due to the demand and ridiculous far-off destinations of Thursday night matches. 

Liverpool are pinning all their hopes on winning the Champions League. The pressure of the Premier League is lifted. They did finally win it and kill that curse, and winning the Champions League would be the only way to rescue this season. They are in the quarter finals and even despite poor domestic form, they found comfort in Europe once again.  

Arsenal’s hopes of reaching the promised land of the Champions League ironically do lie in the Europa League. Success there would mean automatic qualification, and there again lies the key to saving their season.

So these two teams have two similar aims. Playing for pride in the league might still be important, but you’d be surprised if they both go gung-ho on Saturday night. It’s a watered down affair, an alcohol-free beer when you normally go for the tasty Belgian IPAs in those fancy goblet-type glasses. 

Timidly, we’re going for a draw here. Hopefully not a goalless one, though that is priced up at 13/1 or 14.00. Let’s be optimistic. Let’s add some spice to this dish. Maybe a 2-2 due to sleepy defences? That’s priced at 21/2 or 11/5 but the more realistic 1-1 seems a safer prediction.

Correct score: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool: 6/1/ or 7.00.

We’ve given the warning… this might be a snoozefest. But hey, it’s Saturday night, there must be a good movie on too! 

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