Arsenal - Liverpool Special: What Odds Andrey Arshavin Making It A Night To 'Four-Get' For Rafa Benitez Again?
They're out of the title race but both sides are pushing for third spot. If recent encounters are anything to go by we're in for a treat at the Emirates. Goal.com looks ahead to the match and picks out some tasty bets to have a punt on...
Feb 9, 2010 4:00:00 PM
By Patrick Reilly, Goal.com Betting Editor
Odds Supplied by Titanbet
By lunchtime last Saturday the Premier League table had a rather familiar look to it. Liverpool's derby win with 10 men vaulted the Reds into fourth spot for the first time since last October. The status quo has been restored.
Rafael Benitez's side travel to London knowing a win would put them only two points behind the Gunners in the race for third place. Such a scenario would have been unthinkable only a few weeks ago, but consecutive defeats to fellow big four sides Manchester United and Chelsea have wrecked the Gunners' title chances. Finishing third is the best either of these sides can hope for from a dismal campaign.
2-1 to Arsenal - Repeat of December result: 7/1
1-1 Draw - Repeat of corresponding fixture last year: 11/2
0-1 to Liverpool - Repeat of Reds' last win at Arsenal: 15/2
4-4 - Repeat of April epic at Anfield: 100/1
Something we can expect on Wednesday is goals and most likely at least three given the recent crackers we've been served up by these sides. A Julio Baptista inspired Arsenal battered Rafa's Reds 6-3 in the Carling Cup at Anfield in 2007, Liverpool won 4-2 at home in the Champions League a year later and we had that dramatic 4-4 draw on Merseyside last April which put the nail in Benitez's title dreams.
You have to go back to the tail end of the '90s to find a scoreless draw featuring these attacking outfits. It occurred on January 9, 1999 and let's never speak of it again.
Rumour has it Rafa Benitez has gone off vodka after the damage Andrey Arshavin has dished out to the Reds. The little Russian genius has bagged five in his two appearances against Liverpool, including that spectacular quartet last April and the winner in December. Niklas Bendtner, meanwhile, scored in the corresponding fixture at the Emirates in the 2007/08 season.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has scored three goals against Arsenal in his
career while team-mate Fernando Torres was on the mark twice in that 4-4 draw.
Niklas Bendtner to score at any time: 11/8
Fernando Torres to score at any time: 15/8
Steven Gerrard to score at any time: 15/8
Even with the boardroom wrangles and constant speculation surrounding their star players and manager, Liverpool are unbeaten in seven league matches. Rafa Benitez, who has been heavily linked with Juventus, has steadied the ship with his side taking 17 points from a possible 21.
Steven Gerrard to be a Liverpool player at start of next season: 1/8
Fernando Torres to be a Liverpool player at start of next season: 1/6
Liverpool to have new owners by start of next season: 15/8
Arsenal and Liverpool are back in the top four as the contenders beneath them
simply haven't been consistent enough. Finishing third (at best) will be slim
consolation for two outfits who started the season with genuine title hopes. With the league a distant dream the only silverware they can hope for is in
Europe. Arsenal take on Porto in the last 16 of the Champions League next week while Liverpool have been installed as favourites for the Europa League directly ahead of Rafael Benitez's old team Valencia and, who knows, maybe his next one from Turin...
Arsenal to win Champions League: 8/1
Liverpool to win Europa League: 6/1
Arsenal to win a trophy this season: 9/2, Tropheyless: 1/8
Liverpool to win a trophy this season: 6/1, Tropheyless: 1/12
Both to win a trophy: 50/1
Both to win nothing: 2/9
For a comprehensive list of bets for the Premier League click here
By lunchtime last Saturday the Premier League table had a rather familiar look to it. Liverpool's derby win with 10 men vaulted the Reds into fourth spot for the first time since last October. The status quo has been restored.
Rafael Benitez's side travel to London knowing a win would put them only two points behind the Gunners in the race for third place. Such a scenario would have been unthinkable only a few weeks ago, but consecutive defeats to fellow big four sides Manchester United and Chelsea have wrecked the Gunners' title chances. Finishing third is the best either of these sides can hope for from a dismal campaign.
Arsenal to finish in top four: 1/10, Outside top four: 11/2
Liverpool to finish in top four: 11/10, Outside top four: 4/6
Both to finish in top four: 11/8, Outside top four: 10/1
Both teams are hardly strangers to one another having clashed frequently in the Carling Cup and those epic Champions League matches in recent years. Arsenal have already turned the Reds over twice this season, dumping them out of the League Cup and stealing a come-from-behind league win at Anfield in December.
On home turf Arsene Wenger's charges have a vastly superior record and haven't lost to Wednesday's visitors in 11 matches. Indeed, you need to go back almost exactly a decade to find Liverpool's last victory, when Titi Camara (remember him?) notched the winner on February 13, 2000 at Highbury in a league match. Factor in Liverpool's poor away form, with five defeats on the road already, and it's no surprise the odds favour a home win.
2-1 to Arsenal - Repeat of December result: 7/1
1-1 Draw - Repeat of corresponding fixture last year: 11/2
0-1 to Liverpool - Repeat of Reds' last win at Arsenal: 15/2
4-4 - Repeat of April epic at Anfield: 100/1
Something we can expect on Wednesday is goals and most likely at least three given the recent crackers we've been served up by these sides. A Julio Baptista inspired Arsenal battered Rafa's Reds 6-3 in the Carling Cup at Anfield in 2007, Liverpool won 4-2 at home in the Champions League a year later and we had that dramatic 4-4 draw on Merseyside last April which put the nail in Benitez's title dreams.
You have to go back to the tail end of the '90s to find a scoreless draw featuring these attacking outfits. It occurred on January 9, 1999 and let's never speak of it again.
Rumour has it Rafa Benitez has gone off vodka after the damage Andrey Arshavin has dished out to the Reds. The little Russian genius has bagged five in his two appearances against Liverpool, including that spectacular quartet last April and the winner in December. Niklas Bendtner, meanwhile, scored in the corresponding fixture at the Emirates in the 2007/08 season.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has scored three goals against Arsenal in his
career while team-mate Fernando Torres was on the mark twice in that 4-4 draw.
Niklas Bendtner to score at any time: 11/8
Fernando Torres to score at any time: 15/8
Steven Gerrard to score at any time: 15/8
Even with the boardroom wrangles and constant speculation surrounding their star players and manager, Liverpool are unbeaten in seven league matches. Rafa Benitez, who has been heavily linked with Juventus, has steadied the ship with his side taking 17 points from a possible 21.
Steven Gerrard to be a Liverpool player at start of next season: 1/8
Fernando Torres to be a Liverpool player at start of next season: 1/6
Liverpool to have new owners by start of next season: 15/8
Arsenal and Liverpool are back in the top four as the contenders beneath them
simply haven't been consistent enough. Finishing third (at best) will be slim
consolation for two outfits who started the season with genuine title hopes. With the league a distant dream the only silverware they can hope for is in
Europe. Arsenal take on Porto in the last 16 of the Champions League next week while Liverpool have been installed as favourites for the Europa League directly ahead of Rafael Benitez's old team Valencia and, who knows, maybe his next one from Turin...
Arsenal to win Champions League: 8/1
Liverpool to win Europa League: 6/1
Arsenal to win a trophy this season: 9/2, Tropheyless: 1/8
Liverpool to win a trophy this season: 6/1, Tropheyless: 1/12
Both to win a trophy: 50/1
Both to win nothing: 2/9
For a comprehensive list of bets for the Premier League click here
Inside Goal.Com
-
Germany must drop their gutless Bayern stars
The Bavarians appeared to buckle under the pressure of Saturday's match against Chelsea. Now Goal.com investigates whether several in their ranks remain worthy to start for country
-
Del Piero's farewell Serie A's Moment of the Season
The legendary No.10 waved goodbye to Juventus after 19 years, scoring a goal and making a mid-game lap of honour against Atalanta in May
-
The cost of Villarreal's dramatic fall from grace
The Yellow Submarine have fallen through La Liga's trap door, and their financial prudence will be pushed to the limit as they aim to restructure for life in the Segunda
-
Why Liverpool must consider bringing Benitez home
The Spaniard endured a disastrous spell at Inter following his dismissal by the Reds but could be the man to turn things around at Anfield following Kenny Dalglish's sacking
-
All the players available for free in Spain
With the exception of Real Madrid and Barcelona, all of the clubs in the Primera Division will be releasing first-team footballers imminently. Goal.com takes a closer look
