Arsenal - can bounce back against Liverpool.

By Andy Schooler and Ben Linfoot

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BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	2pts Arsenal to beat Liverpool at 11/10 (general).	Liverpool still struggling despite form figures, especially away, and Arsenal can take advantage.
	2pts Aston Villa and Man Utd to draw at 13/5 (Boylesports, Sky Bet).	Villa lacking the goals to win but are solid enough against the better teams.
	2.75pts Blackburn to beat Hull at 10/11 (totesport).	Rovers look strong at home, while Hull are poor away.
	1.5pts Didier Drogba to score at any time v Everton at 13/8 (Coral).	Good record against Everton and in-form too.
	1pt Birmingham to beat West Ham at 5/2 (Coral).	Birmingham remain in good form while West Ham are struggling for form and goals.
	2.75pts Spurs to beat Wolves at 10/11 (Betfred, Blue Square).	Wolves struggling to score at home and Spurs can punish them.

Arsenal v Liverpool (1945 GMT)

Arsenal have lost three and drawn one since they won their mini-series with Bolton and consequently they are 11/10 to beat Liverpool at home on Wednesday. Seven games ago it's fair to say they would've been odds-on, but do defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea and a draw with Aston Villa warrant such a price change? After all, the top two represent a much tougher challenge than Liverpool, who have clearly been a shadow of the team who pushed Manchester United in the title race last year. The Reds have won five and drawn two in their last seven, but they haven't been playing with flair or cohesion and it is an undefeated run borne out of their rediscovered ability to defend. Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos has been at the heart of the renaissance at the back but he is suspended following his sending off against Everton. Six clean sheets in their last seven league games will encourage Reds backers, especially against an Arsenal team who are now starting to miss Robin van Persie, but four of their last five wins came at home and they are still struggling away. A 1-1 draw at Stoke and 0-0 at Wolves is hardly the sort of form to worry Arsenal, who were naive but not outclassed in their latest defeat at Chelsea. I think Liverpool will have to score to avoid defeat at the Emirates, but they have struggled to create chances on the road all season and it's the root of all their problems. Indeed, Wigan have scored three more away goals than Liverpool. Arsenal usually score against Liverpool and they can pass their way through the Reds' defence at some stage. 11/10 the Gunners looks a cracking bet, while 1-0 Arsenal at 6/1 is worth a second look. Andrey Arshavin, who has scored five in two games against Rafa Benitez's side, is 6/1 to score first and 2/1 any time.

Verdict: Arsenal 1 Liverpool 0 (BL)

Aston Villa v Manchester United (1945)

Manchester United have been in the groove of late, winning four on the trot with 15 goals scored in the process. The bookmakers are taking no chances, however, and odds-on quotes across the board don't appeal for a tricky trip to Villa Park. United have won 11 of their last 13 games at Villa and drawn the other two, but Martin O'Neill's present Villa side is a cut above any of those that have struggled against the Red Devils in recent years. They sit two points off the top five with a game in hand and they are genuine challengers for a Champions League spot. You get the feeling they would acquit themselves well in it too, considering their record against the top teams this season. They've beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool and drawn with Arsenal, Spurs and Man City which proves they can mix it with anybody. There is a concern, though. They are best on the counter-attack, and while they should get chances as United won't sit back, they do sometimes struggle to grasp the initiative at home. They haven't scored at Villa Park in the league since the 1-0 win over Stoke in December - losing to a last-minute Fernando Torres goal against Liverpool and drawing 0-0 with West Ham and Arsenal. I don't think United will get the chances they did at Arsenal, where they won 3-1, as Villa are much tighter at the back at home - they've only conceded seven all season and another goalless draw is tempting at 10/1. The problem with this bet is United haven't been involved in a goalless draw all campaign. The draw at 13/5 is a decent bet, though, and more appealing than either United at odds-on or Villa at 10/3.

Verdict: Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1 (BL)

Blackburn v Hull (2000)

These two sides may be separated by just four points in the table but we're confident about wading into Rovers here. To us the 10/11 chalked up about a home win looks massive - and here's why. Blackburn may be coming into this one off a 3-0 defeat at Stoke but, like the colours on their shirts, they have two different sides. Away they are a feeble bunch (just one win in 13) but at home it's a different story entirely - six wins, four draws and two defeats. That's fewer home losses than Spurs, while only Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have lost less games on their own patch. With Hull woeful on their travels - no wins and just four points from 12 games - Rovers have to get the nod. They may be without Christopher Samba due to suspension, but we are still confident they will cope with that loss and have too much for Phil Brown's side.

Verdict: Blackburn 2 Hull 0 (AS)

Everton v Chelsea (2000)

Given they have lost just twice at home this season, Everton may seem big at 9/2 for this game. However, the other members of the Big Four to visit Goodison Park this season - Arsenal and Liverpool - have both left with three points and you can bet your bottom dollar the home side will not be relishing their latest Chelsea test. For they have now played them 24 times without managing to register a victory. Admittedly they did trouble the league leaders in the reverse fixture, becoming the only side so far this season to leave with anything to show for their efforts, although a look back at that game shows they were helped by two bizarre goals. The absence of the banned Steven Pienaar and injured Marouane Fellaini hardly helps their cause, while John Terry's weekend leg injury has since healed and denies them a chance to find a chink in the visitors' backline. Hardly tempted by a punt on the hosts, we'll turn to Didier Drogba. Much was made of his record against Arsenal at the weekend and he duly delivered another goal. Well, his stats against Everton are virtually as impressive - seven goals in nine games. Clearly in form, we're happy to get with him in this one given Coral offer 13/8 about him scoring at any time.

Verdict: Everton 0 Chelsea 2 (AS)

West Ham v Birmingham (1945)

Birmingham have won four games away from St Andrews this season; West Ham, currently residents in the drop zone, have won three at Upton Park. So the question has to be, why the quotes of 13/10 about a home win and 5/2 about an away success? One reason is perhaps the fact that for the first time in 13 league games, Blues will be forced to change their line-up. Christian Benitez is injured but Kevin Phillips showed he's no mean replacement with two goals to turn around the weekend clash with Wolves. You certainly have to doubt whether losing one player will be enough to unsettle a side which has lost just once in 18 games. The Hammers, beaten 1-0 in the reverse fixture, come into this one having lost at Burnley on Saturday - a result which sent them spinning into the bottom three. Goals are now proving hard to come by (three in the last six games), so at the prices it all points to Birmingham. 5/2 looks good value.

Verdict: West Ham 0 Birmingham 1 (AS)

Wolves v Tottenham (1945)

One of Wolves' two away victories came at White Hart Lane but Tottenham can exact their revenge at Molineux on Wednesday night. Liverpool failed to win at Wolves recently but that was downto their own failings away from Anfield and a better indication of where Mick McCarthy's team are at can be garnered by looking at their previous two home matches. They lost 2-0 to Wigan and 3-0 to Man City and a similar performance against Spurs simply won't cut it. Harry Redknapp's team have beaten Blackburn, Portsmouth, Hull and West Ham on their travels this season and I think it's fair to say Wolves away is of a similar test. Spurs have stumbled recently with draws against Birmingham and Aston Villa, but they are both solid, top-half teams and Tottenham should really have won both games. They can bounce back here against second-bottom Wolves who, though dangerous with a lead, could capitulate if they concede first. Tottenham have conceded just one goal in their last three in the league and Wolves will find it tough to add to that tally. We'll side with Spurs at 10/11.

Verdict: Wolves 0 Tottenham 2 (BL)