The Premier League title looks all but Arsenal’s as we fly into the second half of the season, but with the Gunners still to face Manchester City twice and an imminent clash with Manchester United, the only team to beat them in the league so far, it could all come crashing down.
We preview the league leaders meeting with the Red Devils and two other big games in this weekend’s Premier League action.
Liverpool v Chelsea
This fixture is usually one that generates season-round hype and anticipation with the top four places or titles at stake. But in 2023, both sides are having their worst seasons of recent years and don’t look capable of beating any team comfortably.
Liverpool however, are the firm favourites in the tie at 5/6 though a draw does seem to be on the cards at 11/4. With a win over Wolves in the FA Cup on Tuesday, it seems as if Liverpool may be able to dig themselves out of their current rut, and the same can be said for Chelsea, who managed to end their losing streak with a win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Blues are 3/1 to win and offer good value though it is hard to see them taking the result with ease. It is more likely that we will witness a long-drawn-out match with a late winner; 1-1 at 13/2 is the most likely score according to the odds, with 1-0 to Liverpool offering great value at 17/2.
Liverpool to win and Darwin Nunez to score at anytime is 27/10, and Chelsea’s main threat Kai Havertz is 27/10 to score at any time. We might also see Chelsea’s new showpiece signing, Mykhailo Mudryk, spring into life if he gets his debut. He is 3/1 to score at any time and, by the looks of his pace and technical ability, has what it takes to flourish in the Premier League.
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West Ham v Everton
There may end up being more eyes on this fixture than the Liverpool-Chelsea clash, with a lot at stake for both sides trying to maintain their Premier League status.
West Ham and Everton are both in the drop zone; West Ham sitting in 18th and Everton in 19th, both on 15 points. The two teams have had very poor seasons, and their respective managers’ positions are deeply threatened by the state of affairs.
West Ham are the odds-on favourites at 4/5, with Everton coming in at 15/4 though this one could truly go either way. West Ham’s odds are likely reflected by their influx of talent at the start of the season, though neither of their showpiece signings, Gianluca Scamacca nor Lucas Paqueta, have managed to turn the Hammer’s fortunes around just yet.
Michail Antonio is still seen as the main man for West Ham, despite his goals drying up in recent games. He is 7/2 to be the first goalscorer and 7/5 to score at any time. This is well and truly a relegation battle, and goals will be critical, so both teams will likely go at it from the beginning. It is 10/11 that both teams will score and 10/11 that the match will feature over 2.5 goals.
Though Everton are the underdogs, they carry a significant threat in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is just 3/1 to score at any time. It is Demarai Gray, however, who offers the best value with 19/5 odds that he will net at some point in the match.
Arsenal v Manchester United
Easily the biggest match of the weekend and one that could have the most serious consequences for both sides. It is sure to produce a good dose of drama, so you know where to be on Sunday.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been the best sides in the league since the restart after the World Cup and going off their recent performances against top sides, this should be a match of high quality.
Though Arsenal go into the game nine points ahead of United, most football fans will believe that United have a great chance of upsetting the leaders and unhinging their push for the title.
United are the underdogs but are given a healthy 27/10 to win in this tie offering good value, while Mikel Arteta’s side are 19/20. It might not however be so clear in practice as the tension of Arsenal’s position and United’s growing momentum may prove to unsettle the status quo.
We are only 7/4 to witness a game with over 3.5 goals, something that has been known in recent title races with the best teams throwing everything at their opposition. We might be in for one of the crackers we have seen between Liverpool and Manchester City in recent years, and at 9/1, this tie might even give us a goal from both sides in each half.
Arsenal are most likely to net their first goal in the 16th to 30th minute at 3/1, as they start slowly and steadily grow into the match like we have seen in some of their last games. Unfortunately for the Gunners, United will likely be on their game and looking to spoil the show, and they are just 2/5 to score at any point in the match.
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