Paul Merson and Alan Shearer are both backing Liverpool to pile the misery on Arsenal at Anfield later today.
The Reds host the Gunners in their penultimate home game of the season, having already beaten them to the Premier League title. Mikel Arteta has confirmed his side will give Liverpool the customary guard of honor, despite the rules not actually forcing them to.
The Arsenal boss though is eager to show respect to Arne Slot’s title winners – even if there didn’t seem to be much of that earlier in the week from the Spaniard. The Gunners will be hurting after their exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, with their hopes of silverware over for another season.
Arteta then has something of a point to prove at Anfield, especially since his side has still not wrapped up a place in the top five yet.
Liverpool begins the day a massive 15 points ahead of its rival, and will be looking to assert its dominance over the final few weeks of the campaign. While Slot rang the changes at Chelsea last week, he might well revert to a more familiar team against the Reds’ closest challenger.
It might be a tough game to call then, given there is very little other than pride riding on it for both sides, particularly Liverpool. Former Arsenal star Merson though is anticipating his old team to come unstuck.
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Predicting a 2-1 win for Liverpool, Merson told Sportskeeda: “Arsenal will want to make a statement at Anfield on Sunday. The season has quickly fizzled out into nothingness for the Gunners and they need a win. If they lose this game, Newcastle could just be a point behind them in the table.
“I thought Arsenal were a bit unlucky against PSG. They had to score in the first 20 minutes and that did not happen. Arsenal quickly lost momentum and ended up losing the game.
“I don’t think Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League like Mikel Arteta claimed after the game. If they were, they would be in the final!
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“Barring an Arsenal win on penalties in 2020, the Gunners have not won at Anfield since 2012. Can you believe it? 13 years, that is unbelievable! That trend looks set to continue.”
And he’s not on his own in predicting a win for the Reds, with former Newcastle striker and Match of the Day pundit Shearer also backing Liverpool to win.
Shearer told Betfair: “Liverpool at home. I don’t think they’ll play like they did last week with them being back at Anfield so I’ll go for a home win.
“The guard of honour will hurt Arsenal but they’ve not put up a big enough fight as we thought so they’ll have to deal with the guard of honour.”
