Sunday afternoon’s game at Anfield sees Liverpool take on fellow top four hopefuls Arsenal.

Brendan Rodgers’ men go in to the match having booked their place in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup by beating Championship leaders Bournemouth 3-1 on Wednesday evening.

However, in the league they have taken just eight points from the last twenty-four available – a run that has left them in eleventh place, eighteen points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

Mario Balotelli is unavailable after being suspended for one game for breaking Football Association rules on social media while Dejan Lovren, Daniel Sturridge and Glen Johnson remain side-lined through injury.

Rickie Lambert is set to lead the line for the Reds, and is 9.0 (8/1) to open the scoring with Paddy Power, with Steven Gerrard a 12.0 (11/1) chance with the same firm.

The home win is priced at 2.8 (9/5) with most bookmakers, with the visitors favourites at 2.62 (13/8) with William Hill. The draw us a 3.5 (5/2) shot with Bet 365.

Arsene Wenger’s side have won five of their last six games in all competitions, and three of their last four in the league to remain in touch of the European qualification places.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nacho Monreal and Theo Walcott all face late fitness tests ahead of the game and Callum Chambers returns from suspension though Aaron Ramsey could miss all of the Gunners’ games over the festive period after picking up a hamstring injury.

Olivier Giroud, who bagged a brace last time out, is 7.5 (13/2) to get the first goal of the game with a variety of firms, with Alexis Sanchez favourite at 7.0 (6/1) with Sky Bet.

Liverpool were 4-0 up after twenty minutes in last season’s corresponding fixture, with the Reds ending up 5-1 winners while its was Arsenal who won at the Emirates Stadium, both in the league and in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

In fact, the North Londoners have won four of the last six meetings between the sides, scoring twice on each occasion and a 2-0 away win this time around can be backed at a mouth-watering 19.0 (18/1) with Bet Victor.