Arsenal will host Liverpool on Wednesday night in a match that both teams really need to win. Brendan Rodgers' side can equal Arsenal with 37 points if they can grab the full three points at the Emirates.

 

Both sides had two very different weekends in the FA Cup. On Saturday, Arsenal eliminated Brighton with a 2-3 victory, but that victory did not come without some stress and hard work. The hosts came from behind on two occasions, but Theo Walcott's late strike sealed the deal for Arsene Wenger's side.

Liverpool was not as fortunate on Sunday when they traveled to Oldham and were defeated 3-2. Brendan Rodgers' side saw yet another title chance slip away, although they could well have equalized the match on a number of occasions.

Wednesday's match will prove vital for both sides. The Gunners have been extremely inconsistent this season, but they have enjoyed a lot of goals at home as of late. From their latest thumping of West Ham to their seven goal thriller against Newcastle, Arsenal fans have enjoyed some decent success at home as of late, with the exception of their defeat to Manchester City.

 

The match against Liverpool will give the Gunners a chance to jump into the top five, depending on how Everton does in their match at Goodison Park against West Bromwich Albion.

Arsene Wenger will welcome back captain Thomas Vermaelen into the team after he missed the FA Cup match with an ankle injury he picked up against West Ham. Co-Captain Mikel Arteta may also be ready to return to the first team, but given his lack of match fitness due to a calf strain, it would be best for Arsene Wenger to start the Spanish midfielder on the bench.

Liverpool could be without Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina due to a hip injury, but his availability could be a game time decision. Having to deal with Brad Jones between the sticks could turn out to be another disaster for Liverpool, considering how he did against Oldham.

 

Previous Matches

09-02-12 Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal

03-03-12 Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal

08-20-11 Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

04-17-11 Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

08-15-10 Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

02-10-10 Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool

 

Prediction

Liverpool stared elimination in the eyes on Sunday when they were defeated by Oldham from the FA Cup. Taking that heartbreak into Wednesday's match will not be all that exciting for Brendan Rodgers' side, but if anything, they can use it as motivation to bounce back. 

The Reds have been in good form as of late in the Premier League, having won six of their last nine matches. 

Their three defeats came against Manchester United and Stoke City away, while Aston Villa pulled of a shocking upset at Anfield, defeating the Reds 1-3. 

Wednesday will give Luis Suarez and his teammates a chance to erase their defeat to Oldham from the memory of football fans, but it will also give them an opportunity to seek revenge.

In the first meeting between these two sides at Anfield earlier in the season, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski capped off a brilliant performance from the Gunners with a 0-2 victory. 

With that result, Arsenal claimed their first victory in the new campaign, and they had yet to concede a goal. 

Now, 23 matches into the 2012/13 campaign, Arsenal and Liverpool are separated by three points. The hosts are sixth with 37 points while Liverpool is seventh with 34 points. 

Liverpool's away form has not been all that great, having claimed 13 points from a total of 33. They also have a zero goal difference away from Anfield, having scored 18 and conceded 18. 

Arsenal's home fans have seen their side claim six victories at the Emirates with two draws and three defeats. The three defeats came against Manchester City, Chelsea and Swansea. All three teams managed to score two goals against the Gunners at the Emirates.

Taking a look at the current form of both sides, all signs point to a high scoring match. Luis Suarez has really enjoyed success with a Liverpool uniform, but his only issue is that he does not have much help.

For Arsenal, not knowing what team is going to show up is the big question mark. You can get a side that is static offensively with no creativity, but just like they did against West Ham, they can come out of the locker-room and score two or three in a matter of minutes.

If Arsenal can come out with confidence and take hold of the match early on, the Gunners should be able to see off a Liverpool side that has struggled at times this season. Failure to take hold of the match early one will give the visitors some much needed confidence, especially after having exited the FA Cup on the weekend.

Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud will also be looking to continue their great form as of late. The German has been a major contributor with goals and assists while Walcott and Giroud have been scoring goals in large numbers lately.

Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool

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