Football betting tips: Super Sunday
2pts Under 2.5 goals at evens (General)
0.5pt Under 1.5 goals at 3/1 (General)
1pt Arsenal to keep a clean sheet at 12/5 (General)
0.5pt No Goalscorer at 11/1 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair)
Three weeks ago Manchester City visited Anfield at the perfect time from a narrative perspective.
It was the first round of fixtures after a longer-than-usual international break, during which City had been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules in a period when Liverpool repeatedly finished as runners-up in the title race.
On the pitch, though, it could hardly have been scheduled on a worse weekend for anyone hoping to see a proper contest between two of England's heavyweight sides.
City arrived with a 100% league record and close to full strength, suspended Phil Foden aside. Liverpool had Lewis Koumas up front.
That's no slight on the young striker, who has impressed with his physicality and work rate, but the Reds were without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and long-term absentee Hugo Ekitike. Bradley Barcola wasn't match fit either, while the noise surrounding Florian Wirtz's lack of impact was reaching fever pitch.
And yet Liverpool were on top until Ryan Gravenberch was sent off just after the hour for a second, harsh yellow card, before wilting to a 3-0 defeat.
Improving Liverpool
That remains the only defeat of Andoni Iraola's reign, and Liverpool have made clear progress since then, with his team beginning to take on a much clearer shape.
A weakened XI matched full-strength Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek, earning a place in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.
Arsenal's second string were not so effective, suffering possibly the biggest shock in EFL Cup history as they were knocked out by League Two minnows Fleetwood.
Whatever Mikel Arteta said publicly about his players' attitude not being an issue, the Gunners started sluggishly and were punished. They responded well and should have won in normal time, but that lack of intensity early on will not have gone unchecked in their debrief ahead of Sunday's game.
David Raya, Gabriel, Ezri Konsa, Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard are all certainties to return and make a huge difference.
Injury issues for Arsenal
Elsewhere, Arteta has some difficult selection decisions to make.
Bukayo Saka is out, Noni Madueke is doubtful and Max Dowman is suspended, potentially leaving Arsenal needing to play someone out of position on the right wing. With Christos Tzolis also unlikely to recover in time, the Gunners could be without a recognised winger altogether.
Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz are the most realistic options to fill the two wide positions, unless Arteta opts to use a full-back, with Jurrien Timber the likeliest candidate.
It bears all the hallmarks of a game in which Arteta will be desperate to avoid defeat, meaning this really could end up being one for the purists.
Arteta to stick to blueprint
He will be forced to narrow the game because of the players available, while also looking to deny Liverpool space in behind and limit their biggest attacking threat: pace on the counter-attack.
There is more than enough evidence from Arteta's time in charge to suggest his preference in these big games is to set up for a draw and hope to nick a goal, and only an 84th-minute Szoboszlai free-kick for the ages prevented both meetings from ending goalless last season.
UNDER 2.5 GOALS at even money has to be the way to go, but I'm also prepared to take the 3/1 about UNDER 1.5 GOALS and the 11/1 about NO GOALSCORER.
Given their attacking absentees, ARSENAL TO KEEP A CLEAN SHEET at 12/5 also appeals.
The Gunners have looked better than ever defensively this season, with Ezri Konsa taking much of the credit. They have kept five clean sheets in eight Premier League games, with their 3-0 defeat at Brighton looking like an anomaly. They have not conceded in any of their other three away matches.
Part of me is tempted to get Liverpool onside given Arsenal's injuries, but several players are touch-and-go to return, and the champions have been far too consistent for far too long to oppose, while the hosts remain very much a work in progress.
A dogged 1-0 away win that you wish you hadn't spent two hours of your Sunday afternoon watching feels like a distinct possibility.
Score prediction: Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
Odds correct at 15:30 GMT (30/10/26)
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