SlipsTips takes a look at the Bet Builder market ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal's hotly-anticipated Premier League showdown at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Liverpool vs Arsenal (Saturday, 17:30)
The marquee match of the weekend in the Premier League will see Liverpool lock horns with Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Just one point separates the two title rivals at the summit of the standings, with the Reds currently one point behind the table-topping Gunners.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were knocked off top spot in the table last weekend after being held to a 0–0 draw by arch-rivals Manchester United, a stalemate that Arsenal took full advantage of by earning 2-0 win over Brighton earlier that day.
It’s Liverpool though who go into this fascinating festive fixture as general 11/8 favourites, however I’m going to follow a familiar theme in the Bet Builder market given that we have all the necessary ingredients required for a Christmas cracker.
There are no shortage of contenders and cases to be made in the player foul markets here but I’m going to opt for both Wataru Endō and Declan Rice to commit a foul at an eye-catching even-money with Sky Bet.
Whilst Liverpoo’s acquisition of Endō looks a shrewd one, the 30-year-old has been the Reds’ joint-highest hatchet-man this season, amassing five yellow cards in 21 appearances across all competitions to date.
What's more, the Japan international has averaged 1.4 fouls per-game in the Premier League this season, committing a total of 17 fouls across his 12 top-flight appearances, including four misdeameanours last weekend against Manchester United.
With that in mind, coupled with the magnitude of this match-up, Endō looks like an obvious option to get on the wrong side of referee Chris Kavanagh.
As for Arsenal, Declan Rice has swiftly become an essential cog in the Emirates engine room and he should relish what is likely to be an intense midfield battle between the two sides.
While the all-action Arsenal midfielder’s foul per-game tally in the top-flight this term currently sits at just 0.7, Rice has been reprimanded in each of his last three league matches, giving away no fewer than three free-kicks in the Gunners’ recent defeat at Aston Villa.
The aforementioned duo will no doubt be two of the main protagonists in what promises to be a fiery midfield battle so coupling up the pair to each commit a foul holds plenty of appeal at evens with Sky Bet.
With all things considered, the juicy 7/1 and 50/1 quotes on both Endō and Rice committing two and three fouls each also look like a nice couple of Christmas long shots to cheer on in what promises to be an enthralling encounter under the Anfield lights.
Recommended Bets
- Wataru Endō To Commit 1+ Fouls
- Declan Rice To Commit 1+ Fouls
- Bet Builder – 1/1 (SkyBet)
- Wataru Endō To Commit 2+ Fouls
- Declan Rice To Commit 2+ Fouls
- Bet Builder – 7/1 (SkyBet)
- Wataru Endō To Commit 3+ Fouls
- Declan Rice To Commit 3+ Fouls
- Bet Builder – 50/1 (SkyBet)
Freelance Sports Writer and Betting Analyst with over five years experience. I’ve written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. With a strong passion for the fascinating world of Scottish football, I also regularly feature in Nutmeg, the much-loved Scottish football magazine. Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. Feel free to follow me on X @SlipsTips
Great shout, managed to nail the 7/1 shot.