There’s two big Premier League games on Sunday with Arsenal and Liverpool both hoping to open their goal accounts but the two top-four hopefuls face tough tests as the Gunners go to Stoke and Brendan Rodgers’ side entertain champions Manchester City.
Stoke v Arsenal (1.30pm)
The early kick-off features the Potters at home to Arsene Wenger’s side with both clubs hoping they can turn the draws they earned on the opening weekend into a win.
Arsenal are favourites to come out on top at 23/10 in the match betting but plenty will see value in the home side triumphing in this with 5/2 looking generous, considering the Potters are traditionally very hard to beat in front of their loud home fans.
Tony Pulis’ side kicked off the campaign with a 1-1 draw at newly-promoted Reading but it was so nearly a 1-0 win as Michael Kightly’s goal was only cancelled out by Adam Le Fondre’s last-minute spot-kick at the Madejski Stadium.
Stoke are always up for it at the Britannia – as are those fans – and Wenger’s men may have to weather an early storm on Sunday lunchtime with the Potters eager to get off to a flying start. With that in mind, Peter Crouch to score the first goal is worth backing at 8/1.
Arsenal have only won once at Stoke in the last four seasons but created enough chances in the ultimately disappointing goalless draw at home to Sunderland in their opener to suggest goals will not be a problem this season, despite Robin van Persie’s exit.
The onus is on summer signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud to fill the void left by the Dutchman, while more will be expected from the likes of Theo Walcott in the final third. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns to the Gunners’ squad and he could even earn a start with his pace a worry to the Potters.
Including pre-season friendlies, Stoke have drawn their last five games 1-1, which can be backed at 6/1, and another draw could well be the outcome here although an entertaining 2-2 is predicted in the correct score market at an attractive 14/1.
Liverpool v Manchester City (4pm)
All eyes then turn to Anfield for an eagerly-awaited clash between Rodgers’ men and Roberto Mancini’s title favourites. City are on offer at 11/8 to win with Liverpool 2/1 shots and the draw 12/5 in the match betting.
Rodgers could be the first Liverpool manager to lose his first two league games since a certain Bill Shankly suffered that fate and, if the Reds are beaten by the champions – and there will be plenty expecting the visitors to come out on top in this – the pressure will be turned up a notch on the former Swansea chief.
The Merseysiders folded badly when losing Daniel Agger to a red card at West Brom last weekend and ultimately slipped to a thoroughly disappointing 3-0 opening-day defeat.
A workmanlike 1-0 success over Hearts on Thursday in the Europa League will have done little to ease fans’ worries that it will be another difficult season for the Reds and they will hope to raise their game, like they did last season against the better sides, when City come to town.
However, Mancini’s men look too strong, even without Sergio Aguero up front, for a side still very much getting to grips with a new system and manager and expect them to pick up all three points to make it two out of two for the title-chasers.
Their entertaining 3-2 win over Southampton last weekend was a lot closer than many thought and this could equally have just one goal in it with City fancied to triumph 2-1, which is on offer at odds of 9/1.
In Aguero’s absence, Mario Balotelli will hope to get the nod ahead of Edin Dzeko to partner Carlos Tevez up front and the Italian is well worth backing at 7/4 to score anytime.
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