"I don't like to sit on the fence for big games" - Chris Sutton makes score prediction for Arsenal vs Liverpool

BBC Sport columnist Chris Sutton has backed Liverpool to defeat Arsenal 1-0 in their upcoming Premier League clash. The two sides are set to face each other at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, October 27.

Arne Slot has flourished as the Reds' manager this season, winning 11 out of his 12 games across competitions - the best start in the club's history. They recently defeated Chelsea 2-1 and are at the top of the league table with 21 points from eight games, four points ahead of third-placed Arsenal.

On the other hand, the Gunners have been dealt a massive blow due to injuries. The likes of Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Bukayo Saka are currently sidelined, while William Saliba will miss the Liverpool clash due to suspension.

Sutton expects the Reds to take full advantage of this as he wrote (via BBC Sport):

"Liverpool are not helped by having to travel back from RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but Arsenal have bigger problems. Riccardo Calafiori was excellent against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday but he came off after falling awkwardly. I was at the Emirates, and my hunch from seeing what happened is that he will not be fit for Sunday."

"Arsenal already have William Saliba suspended, which is a massive loss, so they will have to reshuffle at the back. There are rumours that Jurrien Timber could be fit to play at left-back, but if not and they go with Oleksandr Zinchenko against Mohamed Salah, you would fancy Salah to get the better of him."

He added:

"Liverpool can exploit all of this and then you think about how Arsenal are missing players in an attacking sense. There’s a lot of talk about whether Bukayo Saka might be fit after missing the past two matches, but Martin Odegaard is still out."

"Without them, Arsenal were unconvincing in front of goal against Shakhtar. Gabriel Jesus does so many good things for the team, but you would never back him to finish. So I am basing this prediction on a combination of what I saw against Shakhtar -because Arsenal were really flat all round - all their injury doubts and Saliba’s absence."

Sutton continued:

"If Saliba was playing, I wouldn’t be predicting a Liverpool win, but if Calafiori and Timber are not fit I don’t feel Arsenal have adequate cover. This would be a huge win for Liverpool, and everyone is saying that, with the run of tough games they have coming up, we will find out more about them soon."

"But they have beaten Chelsea and have enough nous and knowledge in their team to keep their good run going. I know everyone reading this will go for a 1-1 draw, but I don't like to sit on the fence for big games like this, and neither should you."

Sutton's Prediction: 0-1

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What happened the last time Arsenal hosted Liverpool in the Premier League?

Although Liverpool are slight favorites to seal all three points at the Emirates currently, it was a different story on February 4, 2024, when they fell to a 3-1 defeat to the Gunners in the Premier League.

Bukayo Saka (14'), Gabriel Martinelli (67'), and Leandro Trossard (90+2') scored one goal apiece to give the Gunners an impressive win. Gabriel Magalhaes did score an own goal just before half-time, but Ibrahima Konate was sent off in the 88th minute to hand the Reds a massive blow.

In addition, Mikel Arteta and Co. have statistically been better than the Reds in recent years. They are unbeaten in their last four league games against the latter, having won two and drawn two.