Liverpool v Arsenal preview, form, odds, betting tips, team news and key stats

Premier League
BT Sport 1, 5.30pm Saturday

Match odds
1-2 Liverpool
11-2 Arsenal
15-4 Draw

Form
Premier League leaders Liverpool have opened up a six-point advantage at the summit, becoming new title favourites in the process as the mood around the red half of Merseyside reaches fever pitch in anticipation of a first championship since 1990.

Jurgen Klopp's outfit have won seven straight matches in all competitions and it's eight in a row in the Premier League by an aggregate total of 22-2.

Anfield has been an absolute fortress for Liverpool with eight victories out of nine. Manchester City are the only Premier League team to escape with a point after a 0-0 draw.

Arsenal had been 22 matches unbeaten in all competitions heading to St Mary's on December 16, although a defeat to Southampton was followed by a League Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham and the only win in the last four came against struggling Burnley.

The tactical battle
Liverpool's DNA under Klopp had been 4-3-3 with a high press, but they have definitely calmed down this season and the German has also overseen a tactical shift to 4-2-3-1.

Roberto Firmino has often dropped into a deeper, almost midfield position, with Mohamed Salah taking up the central role and the Egyptian king has notched six times in his last four outings.

Arsenal are still trying to figure out their identity, but this is unlikely to be a match in which Mesut Ozil is trusted from the opening whistle and Alexandre Lacazette, who bagged the equaliser in the reverse fixture in November, could also find himself out of the starting 11.

Unai Emery has selected Lacazette in the same side as fellow striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for just four away matches and those came against supposed weaker opposition with Brighton (13th), Crystal Palace (14th), Newcastle (15th) and Cardiff (17th).

Team news
Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are long-term absentees for Arsenal, who are also without Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hector Bellerin. Shkodran Mustafi is close to a return but is not yet back in training and Nacho Monreal is also doubtful.

The Reds are missing Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but should welcome back James Milner.

Verdict
Unbeaten Liverpool look a class above Arsenal, particularly in defence and should be able to kick further clear of City in the title race. Salah looks a worthy favourite in the first goalscorer market and Klopp's men could also cover the handicap. 3-1.

Key stats
Roberto Firmino has scored five goals against Arsenal and those strikes have come every 117 minutes, compared to his career MPG of 251

Liverpool have not lost any of their last 30 Premier League games at Anfield

Only Manchester United (two) and Fulham (one) have kept fewer clean sheets than Arsenal in this season's Premier League

The Gunners have scored in all bar one of their 19 top-flight fixtures and a bet on both teams to score has banked on 15 occasions.

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