Arsenal vs Liverpool predictions: Jota to strike at the Emirates
- Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet against Liverpool at home since 2015
- Diogo Jota has scored eight goals in 13 appearances against Arsenal
- Recommended bet: Diogo Jota to score anytime
Two English heavyweights meet at the Emirates Stadium for FA Cup third-round action on Sunday, as Arsenal entertain Premier League leaders Liverpool.
It is only a couple of weeks since these two met in the top flight, that contest ending 1-1 at Anfield on December 23, and there may not be much to separate them again in north London.
Neither side will want a replay given the amount of fixtures they have both played over the recent festive period, so expect this one to be decided at the Emirates in what promises to be another enthralling meeting.
Team news
Arsenal are without midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who is representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, while defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is on Asian Cup duty with Japan.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is a major doubt for this clash due to a calf problem, an issue that could force the Gunners into the transfer market this month, while Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira are all out with injuries.
Liverpool are missing star forward Mohamed Salah, who will captain Egypt at AFCON, while Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo is participating at the Asian Cup.
The Reds are also without the injured Dominik Szoboszlai, who limped out of the Newcastle win last time out with hamstring pain, and he joins Ben Doak, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andrew Robertson and Joel Matip on the sidelines.
The stats
Arsenal have won just one of their last six matches across all competitions, a run of results that has seen them drop to fourth in the Premier League and five points off the pace.
The Gunners have lost only one of their 13 home assignments this season, though that sole loss at the Emirates came in their most recent outing in north London when going down 2-0 to West Ham.
Liverpool's only defeat in their last 12 games in all competitions came against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League, while that is also their only loss from their last five away fixtures.
Portugal international Jota has scored eight goals in 13 appearances against Arsenal, leaving Leicester as the only club he has scored against more times (nine).
Prediction
Both teams will have to reshuffle for this clash due to international commitments and injuries, but there is still considerable quality available to both Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp and an entertaining affair should be witnessed.
Picking a winner looks to be difficult, as highlighted by the 1-1 draw just before Christmas, so the prudent play here could be dipping into the anytime goalscorer market.
Of the attacking talent that is likely to be on show, it is hard to ignore Jota given the fact he has netted eight times in his 13 outings against the Gunners.
With Salah playing at AFCON, there will be more responsibility on the Portuguese ace's shoulders and he looks more than capable of stepping up to the mark.
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