Holland hot-shot Robin van Persie simply has to be backed to score the first goal in Saturday’s lunchtime tussle between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.
Totesport’s ‘Double Delight – Hat-trick Heaven‘ offer could see the 4/1 for the dynamic Dutchman to bag first pay out 8/1 if he scores another in the match, or 12/1 if he joins the likes of Andrey Arshavin (2009), Peter Crouch (2007) and Robbie Fowler (1994) in the Anfield hat-trick club.
If your player scores the first goal of the match and goes on to score another, we’ll double your First Goalscorer price. If they go on to score a hat-trick, we’ll treble your First Goalscorer price. Who is your money on to bag the first goal of the match at Anfield?.
Van Persie could have had a hat-trick before half-time in last week’s north London derby demolition of Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners’ spearhead has scored 23 Premier League goals so far this season, bagging in 15 of the 26 matches he has appeared in, and grabbing the all-important first goal on eight occasions.
That represents almost one in every three matches in which he has played and suggests there is good value in taking the 4/1 for him to open the scoring on Saturday, while hoping that he adds to his tally later.
Another player who could be incredible value in this market is Yossi Benayoun (11/1 – First Goalscorer). The irrepressible Israeli was a surprise inclusion in Arsene Wenger’s side for last weekend’s 5-2 win over Spurs, but he did enough to suggest he will keep his place against his former club.
Benayoun, who scored two for Liverpool against Arsenal in that epic 4-4 draw between the clubs in 2009, has always had a tidy goal ratio during his injury-hit time in English football.
He has scored once in three starts for the Gunners this season, once in one start for Chelsea last term and 14 in 40 starts for Liverpool in the previous two campaigns, although there were a handful of substitute appearances in each of those years.
Aside from the goalscorer betting, which manager is likely to be smiling smugly into the camera in the post-match interviews and which one will be sourly shrugging at Sky TV’s microphone man?
Totesport makes Liverpool (Evens) the favourites, but with Daniel Agger definitely out with a cracked rib and Steven Gerrard struggling, the bet has to be Arsenal (11/4) to claim a point at 13/5.
Both dressing rooms will be buoyant after their results last weekend but Liverpool’s Carling Cup victory over Cardiff City was a draining occasion – and still left many observers wondering about Kenny Dalglish’s recent transfer activity.
Dalglish will make changes with Durk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy potentially returning to the starting line-up unless the Anfield boss believes Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson are the men to knock the Gunners out of their stride.
Wenger will feel that his faith in Theo Walcott has been partially vindicated by the will-o’-the-wisp winger’s second-half brace last week, but the fact remains that he does not score enough or do enough with his final ball to justify selection ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League at home this season, although they have won only four of their 12 matches. But seven of the last 12 matches between these two have ended in draws and six of them have finished at one apiece – which makes 1-1 in the Correct Score market at 11/2 another tempting option.
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