There may be just two matches in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday but they are two pretty important games with a couple of rivalries in focus across the day.
The first game sees Liverpool hosting Man Utd in what is always one of the matches of the season on paper given the history between the two clubs and then it is off to the Britannia Stadium to see if Arsenal can get the better of Stoke for once.
Just when you thought watching paint dry would be more entertaining than watching a Man Utd match they go and play out a 3-3 draw with Newcastle in midweek and as luck would have it they head to a side who replicated that scoreline the following night.
Whether that means we’ll suddenly get goals in this match I’m not sure but I am unsure of the unders now I have to admit. These matches are usually fairly tight affairs with the rivalry ensures both sides do all they can to avoid losing but that doesn’t mean to say we won’t get goals here.
I can’t really get a feel for the match in all honesty. Neither side have much consistency about them so it is just one to watch for me. I hope there’s an early goal and it becomes a cracker but I have my doubts it will play out that way.
You have to go back to 2010 for the last time Arsenal won at Stoke in the league and since the Aaron Ramsey injury and the subsequent fall out from it I always feel there is a bit of needle in this match and Mark Hughes is never one to shy away from a bit of spice so this should be a good game.
Arsenal are going well this season and a win here will open up a two point game at the top after Leicester could only draw on Saturday. Even a draw will take them back to the summit so that will be their minimum aim.
The Gunners are nothing like certainties here though. We’ve already seen both Manchester clubs come to this ground and leave with their tails firmly between their legs and even though Xherdan Shaqiri misses out here there is enough in this Stoke attack to cause Arsenal problems.
Usually you get little joy out of Stoke’s defence at the Britannia but if any side are going to get anything from it then I fancy it will be this confident Arsenal side so I like the look of both sides to score in this one.
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