Liverpool vs Arsenal

Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday afternoon in a blockbuster Premier League encounter, with both sides firmly in the title picture. Andoni Iraola's men arrive in excellent form, having won five consecutive matches in all competitions, while Mikel Arteta's side will be looking to bounce back from a shock midweek cup exit.

Tipster Wizard picks out his two bet builders heading into this afternoon's game.

Liverpool v Arsenal Bet Builder 1 - 1/1 (0.5pts)

 

1st Selection: Cody Gakpo 1+ Fouls Committed

Gakpo is averaging 1.48 fouls per 90 this season and has committed at least one foul in each of his last five appearances, recording 2, 2, 1, 2 and 1 respectively. Arsenal average 15.5 fouls won per game this season, significantly higher than the league average of 11.2, highlighting how frequently they draw challenges from opposition players. Gakpo's aggressive approach to pressing and his eagerness to win possession back should see him involved in plenty of defensive duels, particularly against an Arsenal side that are comfortable keeping the ball and drawing opponents into challenges. He also committed 3 and 1 fouls in last season's two meetings with Arsenal, providing further encouragement for this selection.

2nd Selection: Ezri Konsa 1+ Fouls Won

Konsa has been consistently getting involved in situations where he draws contact, winning 2, 1, 2, 0, 3, 1, 1, 2, 2 and 2 fouls across his last 10 appearances. That means he has landed this selection in 9 of those 10 games, a particularly encouraging record for a player operating in the heart of defence. Playing at right centre-back, Konsa is comfortable stepping out with the ball, carrying possession into midfield and looking to progress play rather than simply keeping things safe. This often forces opposition attackers to engage him and make challenges to stop his forward movement, creating opportunities to win fouls. With his willingness to carry the ball and his recent consistency in drawing contact, just one foul won looks a favourable line.

 

3rd Selection: Under 4 Goals

Arsenal have arguably the strongest defensive record in the league this season and have been extremely difficult to break down, with all 8 of their league games finishing under 4 goals. That trend extends even further, with their last 15 consecutive Premier League matches all staying below this line. Their recent meetings with Liverpool also point towards a tight encounter, with the last two head-to-heads finishing 1-0 and 0-0 respectively. Arsenal are also without their first-choice wingers Saka and Tzolis through injury, potentially limiting their attacking threat and ability to stretch Liverpool's defence. With those absences, Arsenal are likely to prioritise defensive organisation, keep things compact and make the game scrappy rather than allow it to become an open end-to-end contest. Given their defensive solidity, recent scoring trends and the personnel missing in attack, under 4 goals looks a strong selection.

Liverpool v Arsenal Bet Builder 2 - 6/1 (0.25pts)

 

Cody Gakpo 2+ Fouls Committed

Ezri Konsa 2+ Fouls Won

Under 3 Goals

Worth backing higher lines on all 3 selections at a huge price too.