Is This Liverpool’s Premier League Title to Lose?

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Certainly, no team has ever led the Premier League by six points or more at the halfway stage of the season – after 19 games – and failed to win the title.

So, it’s mighty rare that Premier League teams with such a healthy lead fall by the wayside.

Yes, it has happened before.

Some SBOBET fans will point to 1996 when Newcastle, at one point in January, held a 12-point lead over their nearest rivals Manchester United.

Others will pinpoint a similar lead United held over Arsenal in 1998 (albeit the Gunners had three games in hand).

In both campaigns, the chasers came from behind to triumph.

But on the whole, sides in positions like Liverpool find themselves in now go on to win the prize.

Talking Points

Liverpool have produced so many of the Premier League 2018 highlights so far and indeed are the new favourites with Premier League 2018 betting odds – no mean feat given what Man City achieved last season.

Boss Jurgen Klopp admits his team now need to show ‘tunnel vision’ to secure their first league title for nearly three decades.

As Arsenal arrive at Anfield – a little over six weeks after the sides played out an enthralling 1-1 draw – the Merseysiders are clearly in the pole position.

They are unbeaten after 19 games, winning 16 of them. They boast a six-point lead over Spurs who, in this observer’s view, do not possess a squad strong enough to overcome the injuries and suspensions which befall all teams at some stage.

More still, Liverpool have a seven-point advantage over City who are not playing well and have lost three of their last four league matches.

City have already lost one more game in the first 19 matches of this season than in their 38 last term.

Yet their current tally of 44 points would have been enough for them to top the table at this stage of the campaign in five of the last 10 seasons, which shows just how well their rivals have fared.

Klopp and his men are setting a relentless pace, helped by a defence which has only conceded seven goals and will approach the 101^st game of the German’s EPL managerial tenure with confidence, belief and defiance while not being complacent.

They also take on an Arsenal side who are having a sticky spell, winning only one of their last four matches following a previous 22-game unbeaten spell.

Can Unai Emery's side upset Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool? — Arsenal manager Unai Emery are aiming to give Liverpool their first defeat this season

Unai Emery’s team confirmed the defensive lapses which contributed to recent losses against Brighton on Boxing Day, and the last few years of Arsene Wenger’s reign have not disappeared.

Although the FA seems heavy-handed in its approach to charging Emery for kicking a water bottle (which accidentally clipped a supporter), his frustration was evident as his side struggled again to strengthen their top-four ambitions with a victory.

Defeat at Anfield in this one, and fifth place already seems the best they can hope for.

It should certainly be an attacking spectacle, and perhaps that is Arsenal’s best form of defence, given the number of goals the home side have conceded.

History

Although the sides draw last month and last season at Arsenal – a pre-Christmas six-goal thriller – Liverpool have a distinct edge in recent meetings at Anfield.

Last season, the Merseysiders won an early-season contest in some style – a 4-0 rout – courtesy of goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge.

Two seasons ago saw Liverpool record a 3-1 triumph, Firmino and Mane again on target along with Georginio Wijnaldum. You have to go back to September 2012 and one of the first games with Brendan Rodgers in charge for the last time Arsenal won at Anfield – a 2-0 success with Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla on target.

Overall, Liverpool have won 86 of their meetings compared to 78 Arsenal victories and 61 draws.

Betting Tip

	Liverpool vs Arsenal	Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.10
	December 30, 01:30(GMT+8)

Considering this is a battle between two of the so-called ‘big six’, Liverpool are even firmer favourites than you’d imagine.

1X2 odds price them @ 1.48 with Arsenal @ 6.20. Even the draw is considered unlikely @ 4.20.

Asian Handicap odds similarly reflect the difference between the sides with Liverpool -1.25 @ 2.07 and Arsenal +1.00 @ 2.12.

Goals are usually guaranteed in this fixture as shown by the odds on over 3.25 goals @ 2.09.

A repeat of last season’s romp – correct score 4-0 – will pay out @ 22.00, while a re-run of last month’s draw – correct score 1-1- offers odds @ 8.75.