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Cape Town - This one is too close to call, but there’s no fun in not making a prediction!
Liverpool are looking brilliant in attack and vulnerable in defence while Arsenal seem to be unable to step out of their Jekyll and Hyde act this season.
The Reds are unbeaten in this fixture in five outings and a loss on Friday night seems unlikely given Mohammed Salah’s red-hot streak. The Egyptian is in the form of his life leaving many at a loss to describe his brilliance.
He is being ably backed up by Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino and Jurgen Klopp would do well to go on all out attack as he looks to stretch his side’s staggering run of four consecutive away wins with a three goal margin.
The Gunners have the better defence, even if it can be porous at times, and create more chances per game compared to their visitors (2.28 vs 1.94) but the home side need to find goals and quickly.
Arsenal have scored three goals in their last four league fixtures, a run that has only yielded one win.
This game has massive ramifications for both side’s top four aspirations.
Arsenal start the match one point behind Liverpool and five behind third-place Chelsea - a loss, in what we can now call a “promotion six-pointer” will not only allow Liverpool to extend their advantage but it will give neighbours Spurs a sniff.
The Lilywhites have dropped to seventh, but are only two points behind their rivals and a home loss on Friday will give them immense belief in starting their slow charge to Champions League football.
Friday night’s will be a massive statement of what Gooners can expect going into the second half of the season.
A limp performance from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil could see the contract rebels running foul of the Arsenal Fan TV crowd while also reigniting the usual “Wenger Out” chants around the Emirates.
Arsenal start as favourites (13/10 v Liverpool 17/10) and the Reds are 3/1 to score three or more goals not that either is likely.
Instead, look for this one to finish as a draw 27/10 and Mo Salah to get his name onto the scoreboard (12/10).
Sit back, relax (if you are a neutral anyway) and enjoy an open ended game, one that neither side can avoid to take the back seat in.
