Arsenal and Liverpool are the divison's in-form sides

Saturday 12:45, BT Sport 1.
Match Odds: Arsenal 1.86, Liverpool 4.80, The Draw [3.90]
The Premier League returns after last weekend's international break - and the opening game should be a cracker. Arsenal and Liverpool are the divison's form sides, with 27 and 25 points respectively from their last ten games, and recent meetings between these two have been particularly exciting. 
In terms of the basic statistics, it's difficult to know how to read this contest. Arsenal, impressively, have been ahead at both half-time and full-time in their last seven home Premier League matches. However, Liverpool have kept six consecutive away clean sheets, a remarkable record considering Brendan Rodgers was being criticised for Liverpool's poor defending only a couple of months ago. Either way, one of these sequences will be broken here.
Both managers have selection dilemmas, although for very different reasons. Arsene Wenger will be wondering how to cram his attacking talents into the side, while Rodgers' team selection will depend upon fitness.
Looking at Liverpool first, the headline news is that Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana all considered doubtful. However, it's likely Sterling and Lallana missed England's draw in Italy with only slight knocks, as is often the case when players are absent for international friendlies, and they should start here. Sturridge's problem seems more serious, and considering he's often made unsuccessful returns from injury this season, Rodgers might elect to leave him on the bench.
This could suit Liverpool tactically, too. In the reverse fixture, Arsenal struggled to cope with the movement of Lallana and Coutinho from wide positions into the centre of the pitch, and this problem was furthered by the acceleration and lateral running of Sterling upfront, who seems to suit this 3-4-3 system better than Sturridge. While the game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Liverpool needing a late equaliser, Rodgers will recall how Liverpool in the opening stages, and could replicate that Lallana-Sterling-Coutinho front trio this weekend.
This would mean Lazar Markovic coming into the side on the right flank. Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen are now established in the centre, while Alberto Moreno should continue on the left despite being outplayed by Juan Mata last time out.
Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel are both suspended following stamps in that 2-1 defeat to Manchester United - strangely, the latter might be a bigger miss. Skrtel would have been useful at challenging Olivier Giroud - instead, either Dejan Lovren or Kolo Toure will be handed that role, between Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho.
Arsene Wenger's decision is about shape - 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3? On current form, the first two names on the teamsheet should be Giroud, who has managed nine goals in his last eight Arsenal starts - and netted on international duty in midweek - and Francis Coquelin, who has been a revelation in the holding role.
Last time out, a 2-1 win at Newcastle, Mesut Ozil was absent through illness, and while he's likely to return here, it's difficult to know precisely where. Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla completed the midfield trio at Newcastle, with Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck out wide. While Welbeck is an injury doubt, and Ozil could take his place, will Wenger want Ozil wide against Liverpool wing-backs likely to spring forward quickly? 
Maybe Cazorla will revert to the wider role instead, or alternatively Ramsey has, on occasion, been deployed wide too. Wenger has a big choice to make here, and it could have a significant impact on the tactical battle.
The key to that tactical battle is how Arsenal respond to Liverpool's play on the flanks. Wenger won't let Coquelin be as exposed as Flamini was to the drifts of Liverpool's wide players, and Arsenal won't be naive enough to let the wing-backs fly forward unattended, as was the case at Anfield, with Sanchez and Welbeck not contributing enough defensively. That said, Liverpool will probably start this game cautiously, with the wing-backs more reserved.
Arsenal's attacking play will revolve around Giroud. Increasingly prolific from crosses, his hold-up play is also getting the best from Ozil and Ramsey, and Arsenal will look to play quick one-twos with him in the final third.
I don't often venture into the correct score market, but I fancy Arsenal to narrowly win this game, and can't help but notice five of their last eight domestic games have been 2-1 victories. Backing another, at 9.80, looks good value to me.


Recommended Bet
Back Arsenal to win 2-1 at 9.80