The EPL has one more weekend of action before Christmas Day, but who’ll be taking the lion’s share of the presents and who’ll be handing out the gifts?
We scour the form, look back through EPL history and offer up our pick of the best topical, relevant and sportingly attractive prop bets ahead of the matchup between Arsenal and Liverpool this weekend.
Sadio’s the Mane man
Liverpool striker Sadio Mane clearly LOVES playing against Arsenal.
He netted the winner against the Gunners in a 4-3 thriller at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in his Liverpool debut back in August 2016, and has scored against Arsene Wenger’s side every time he’s faced them since.
He found the net in the return fixture at Anfield as the Reds ran out 3-1 winners, then he scored Liverpool’s second in a 4-0 thrashing of the Gunners the last time the two sides met, on Aug. 27 this season.
There’s been a suggestion Mane’s form has dipped in recent weeks, but the Senegalese striker’s form against the Gunners is surely too good to resist.
TOP PROP: SADIO MANE TO SCORE AT ANY TIME @ +210
Roberto loves playing against Arsenal, too
Mane’s not the only Liverpool player who has a penchant for finding the net against Arsenal.
Brazilian goal-poacher Roberto Firmino’s recent record against Arsenal is almost as impressive as his teammate’s.
Firmino has scored four goals in his last four games against Arsenal, and in each game he found the net he scored Liverpool’s first goal.
On top of that, he’s opened the scoring in three of those four matches, meaning he’ll definitely be one to watch in the early stages of the game.
TOP PROP: ROBERTO FIRMINO TO SCORE FIRST @ +600
Quick on the draw
Liverpool has opened the scoring in 12 of their 18 EPL games so far this season. Compare that with Arsenal, which has scored first in just nine of their 18 EPL matches to date.
A glance at recent history between the two sides also shows Liverpool as the side that typically starts faster. The Reds opened the scoring in three of the last four matchups between the pair. If that run continues, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be particularly jolly this Christmas.
Yet despite Liverpool holding the edge in the early goals department, the bookies are leaning toward the Gunners in their goal prop markets.
Arsenal is a -115 shot to break the deadlock first, with Liverpool priced at EVEN. History suggests the latter is worth a look.
TOP PROP: LIVERPOOL TO SCORE FIRST @ EVEN
Going for goals
Matches between Arsenal and Liverpool often result in entertaining goalfests. Amazingly, SEVEN out of the last eight EPL matchups (including each of the last four meetings) between the two have produced four or more goals.
The only anomaly in that run was a goalless early-season meeting at the start of the 2015/16 season.
TOP PROP: OVER 3.5 GOALS @ +130
[Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons]
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