Liverpool vs. Arsenal – England Premier League, Anfield Liverpool England 8 AM EST Sunday September 2, 2012
By Jason, Soccer Handicapper, Predictem.com
Match Odds: Liverpool 2.00 / Arsenal 3.75 / Draw 3.50
Moneyline: Liverpool +100 / Arsenal +275 / Draw +250
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
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Arsenal and Liverpool have not had good starts to the England Premier League season and after 2 matches each is looking for their first win. Liverpool has 1 loss and 1 draw and Arsenal has 2 draws.
Liverpool was at home in their last match facing defending EPL champion Manchester City and they led late in the match at Anfield and looked to come away with a win, but DF Martin Skrtel made a horrible back pass and Carlos Tevez intercepted it and scored to tie the match at 2 apiece, which would stick.
After 2 matches Arsenal is in 12th place in the league table and Liverpool sits in 16th.
Arsenal has yet to score this season after 2 0-0 draws and while their offense has struggled, obviously, their defense has played well. However, they will be tested in this match by an attacking Liverpool team that really needs a home win.
The transfer window is closed on September 1st and there are rumors that Liverpool may make a move to get Arsenal’s young star in Theo Walcott. The Reds are looking to move Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam in order to get him and Carroll is a solid FW that has yet to see any action this season. The Gunners already lost last season’s EPL goal scoring champion in Robin Van Persie and the loss of Walcott will be a big blow.
Liverpool Recent Form
8/9/2012 Liverpool 3 Gomel 0 (Europa League)
8/12/2012 Liverpool 3 Leverkusen 1 (Friendly)
8/18/2012 West Bromwich 3 Liverpool 0 (Premier League)
8/23/2012 Heart of Midlothian 0 Liverpool 1 (Europa League)
8/26/2012 Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2 (Premier League)
Arsenal Recent Form
7/27/2012 Manchester City 2 Arsenal 0 (Friendly)
7/29/2012 Kitchee FC 2 Arsenal 2 (Friendly)
8/12/2012 FC Cologne 4 Arsenal 0 (Friendly)
8/18/2012 Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0 (Premier League)
8/26/2012 Stoke City 0 Arsenal 0 (Premier League)
FW Luis Suarez scored in the draw against Manchester City and he has a tall task to score in this match, as he will be marked by Arsenal’s best DF in Thomas Vermaelen. Suarez will have his chances in this big match, but he will not score.
MF Lucas Leiva was lost for 3 months due to a thigh injury and he will be missed. MF Joe Allen will now be the key guy in the midfield and he must play well in this match and he will set up a few scoring chances for the Reds.
Arsenal forwards Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have yet to find their groove this season and that is pretty obvious since the Gunners have yet to score in their 2 matches. I think one of them will score in this match facing a Liverpool defense that has conceded 5 goals already this season.
Arsenal MF Santi Cazorla has played well this season and he has to be more offensive minded in this match. He also has to look for the counter attack chances since Liverpool will look to score early and often in front of their home faithful.
Young Italian G Vito Mannone has 2 clean sheets in Arsenal’s first 2 matches and while I see him playing well he will not get a 3rd in this match.
Last season in the 2 matches these teams played each won on the away pitch.
Arsenal has dominated the time of possession in both of their matches, but do not look for that to happen in this match. Still, Arsenal will have their chances to score and they will not go scoreless again.
Jason’s Pick to Win: This one is a hard one to call. I think Liverpool will come out and play well and they will score at least one goal, but something tells me the Gunners will find their offensive groove against a struggling Reds’ defense and they will win at Anfield by a score of 2-1 or 3-1.