NOT A SLEW OF GOALS AT THE EMIRATES
With Arsenal now unbeaten in their last four Premier League outings, it seems as if the previous shipwreck that was their season, is now starting to finally sail on much calmer waters and suddenly, the North London outfit are very much moving up the table.
While although their progress may have been halted on Thursday night by a dogged Crystal Palace side, the Gunners will still be in confident mood going into their next outing and a second pairing with Newcastle this month.
The two sides recently met in the F.A. Cup 3rd Round and although it needed extra-time for Arsenal to book their passage into the next round of the competition, it was a win that they certainly deserved.
If only because of the air of negativity that continues to linger around the Magpies and with Steve Bruce looking for that continual element of safety first, all the signs point to a home banker come next Monday.
However, that is not really where the value lies in this fixture and instead, it may be more prudent to look at goals scored or perhaps the lack thereof, as on the evidence on Thursday night, Arsenal are not necessarily firing on a full set of cylinders.
While although they should have enough to deal with the minimal threat that Newcastle will provide, it will not necessarily be a barnburner in terms of performance or entertainment and that's why Under 2.5 total goals at 2.00 is something that should be seriously considered.
Summary: Arsenal to win, but not many goals in North London on Monday
MANCHESTER UNITED TO FINALLY END THE RUN
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 46 home Premier League outings, while impressive as that run is, there is a lingering fear that such a streak will have to eventually end, and a greater fear is that the run ends this Sunday.
While although it is not the day of the week which is necessarily the issue, the opposition that comes to Anfield will certainly be, as Manchester United are not only acting as arch-rivals but more importantly table toppers.
The Red Devils are now unbeaten in their last 11 league matches, while they have also won as many away league trips from their last 12 skirmishes on the road and it is this pair of statistical insights, that now has Liverpool fans worried.
Not only are they worried because of the form that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are in, but also because the form that their own club are currently generating and with no win in their last three, questions are being asked about the fitness of the Liverpool squad.
Because although much of the focus has been on Liverpool's patchwork quilt defence this season, it is their attacking trio that is now coming under additional scrutiny and manager Jurgen Klopp will hope that at least one of the three finds an ignition spark this weekend.
Then again, United are proving an incredibly difficult nut to crack and they would love nothing more than to go six points clear, while also ending the Merseyside outfits' incredible home record.
Summary: Back Manchester United to win at 3.75
ALL SMILES AT ELLAND ROAD
Is ‘Bielsa Ball' the biggest con in football today? Ultimately the answer depends on who you support and if you are not a fan of Leeds, you might be getting tired of the being told that the Yorkshire outfit are your second club.
After suffering a pair of 3-0 defeats in both league and cup, Leeds' stock has taken something of a plummet and after losing to one Sussex club on Sunday, they will hope to avoid defeat to another this weekend.
That's because the county's only other league club Brighton come to town and with the Seagulls hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, manager Graham Potter knows that his players need to end their run of results without a win.
A run that not only is it unwanted, but it is also the current longest in the division and with it currently standing at nine, put your money on Leeds returning to winning ways, as they deal Brighton some more misery.
Summary: Back Leeds to win at 2.10
