It’s the first weekend of 2024, and there’s plenty designed to catch your eye on the European football schedule. Some major competitions across the continent move into their winter break, giving fans, players, coaches, and officials a well-earned rest following the unforgiving festive period. There are no English Premier League games on the schedule this weekend, but lovers of English football have the world-famous FA Cup to follow. The games begin on Thursday evening and take us through to Monday.
The FA Cup returns to our screens as we embark on the third round when the big names join the party. Until now, followers watched some of English football’s most ambitious smaller teams battle for a place in the third phase, knowing that’s when the big boys come out to play, and the cash incentives become exciting. If a team outside the Premier League draws an opponent from the top tier, it could seriously improve its finances.
One game stands head and shoulders above the others, and it’s a rare all-EPL third-round game in London. Arsenal hosts Liverpool on Sunday from 16:30 GMT. Keep reading as we preview the fixture and offer readers our researched predictions.
Gunners winless in three
Arsenal enter this FA Cup tie against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, showing poor recent form. Mikel Arteta’s men are winless in their last three Premier League games, taking just one point from the nine available. Will that rotten form follow them into the FA Cup, or will the players welcome the distraction of playing in the nation’s favourite knockout competition?
We last saw the home team in action against Fulham at Craven Cottage on New Year’s Eve. Despite being the away team, it was a game the Gunners were expected to win, and they did score but came up short. The Cottagers battled to a deserved and entertaining 2-1 victory, knocking their opponents down to fourth in the Premier League table. Arsenal fans demand a response from the players, and this is the ideal opportunity to return to winning ways. Will they claim the desired result?
Liverpool enjoy an unbeaten run
Unlike their opponents, Liverpool enter this game on a strong run of form and sit on top of the Premier League table. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five, collecting 11 of the 15 points available following three wins and a couple of draws. Will Jurgen Klopp’s team win the league and snatch the title from long-term rivals and EPL champions Manchester City? It’s certainly possible with the Reds sitting on 45 points, three better than Aston Villa and five ahead of the Cityzens.
Bet hereWe last saw Klopp’s pace-setters in action on Monday when they overcame a dogged and determined Newcastle United at Anfield in the league. A high-scoring game was predicted, and the pair delivered the goods, with Liverpool winning 4-2 in a six-goal thriller. It was a fascinating contest, and the Reds looked fragile in defence on occasion, but they more than made up for it with the accuracy of their attack. Fans want to see more of the same here.
Arsenal vs Liverpool prediction
Arsenal holds the home advantage for this game, but it’s Liverpool that boasts the better recent form of the two teams involved. Will that translate into an away win? It’s possible, but we must also try to second-guess how seriously both managers will take this fixture and the competition. We’ll lose a potential FA Cup winner at the Third Round stage, helping to make things more competitive.
The stats associated with this fixture show these sides met only a few weeks ago in the Premier League at Anfield in a game that ended 1-1. Each of the last two has ended in draws, with the pair fighting out a four-goal share late the previous term. Armchair fans hope to see more goals, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both teams on the scoresheet for the fourth time in four games.
FA Cup odds
The pre-match betting odds on Arsenal vs Liverpool are available to everyone with a valid 22Bet account. Traders allow members to wager on the winner of this game or play one of the many interesting specials, including both teams to score and handicap betting.
Prefer to stick to the match-winner market? Arsenal to win is priced at 2.06 while Liverpool trades at 3.33, and the draw is 3.75.
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