EPL Week 27: Liverpool vs. Arsenal and 3 Hot-to-Trot Tips

Arsenal travel to a Liverpool side fresh from their Carling Cup success in a match that could well determine who does and doesn't have the chance to play in the Champions League next season.

Whilst neither will win the Premier League, three valuable points are on the line and this one will prove to be a scintillating matchup.

Whether you're a diehard supporter, or just a casual observer, here are three hot-to-trot tips that are sure to make this game even greater for you.

Head to head

Liverpool may be the 2012 Carling Cup champions, but their Premier League form has not been anything to write home about.

They have only notched up one home win since Christmas, and are slipping away from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle in their race for fourth as a result.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have gone undefeated in their last four matches—including a 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn and an incredible 5-2 victory over Tottenham.

And if they can put five unanswered goals on Spurs, one thinks they may be able to do the same to Liverpool.

But we must remember that Liverpool have been one of the best Premier League sides at home. They have not been defeated at Anfield all year, and have held the current top three clubs in the league to draws when they've visited.

In fact, eight of their 12 home matches have finished in draws so far this season, and it may be worth taking that option again in this one.

The Gunners have been impressive away from home this season—finding the back of the net at roughly the same rate as at the Emirates—but they've also been open at the back.

They've conceded over 70 percent of their goals for the season on the road, cancelling out any attacking prowess they have.

Their last away game against Sunderland should have been a draw, as should have their match against Fulham back in the New Year.

Add to that a 0-0 draw with Bolton and the Gunners form away from home screams draw just as much as Liverpool's home form does.

Prediction: Match to end in a draw.

Total goals for the match

With any match involving Liverpool, taking the under goals is a solid option, as it's occurred in 64 percent of their games this season.

And at home, that number shoots up to 75 percent.

However, something says that this one is likely to feature some goals.

Arsenal currently seem to be able to score at will and even against Liverpool's strong defense, they should find the back of the net at least twice.

They did allow two goals to Cardiff City after all, and the Gunners' attack is 10-times stronger than what Liverpool faced in the Carling Cup.

We've already noted that the Gunners tend to leak goals on the road, and with the abilities of Bellamy and Suarez, Liverpool are more than capable of getting on the score-sheet.

The under might seem like the obvious move, but with Arsenal games going 'over' in 77 percent of their matches away from home, one thinks this one could turn in to an offensive shootout.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals for the match

Player to score at any time

If this game is going to feature some goals, then the chances of  picking a player to score at any time obviously will increase.

The question we've got to ask is: Which team is more likely to find the back of the net?

And the answer to that is Arsenal.

I still don't think they'll score enough goals to take all three points, mainly because of their defense, but the Gunners have shown that they have no troubles finding the back of the net—averaging 4.6 per goals in their past three matches.

Robin van Persie is the favorite to grab himself a goal, simply because he's done it time and time again this season. He will win the league's Golden Boot Award, but the price for him to score at any time isn't worth taking at all.

Yossi Benayoun has had an already fantastic month for the Gunners, and is in sublime form heading in to this one. The Israeli midfielder came of the bench against Blackburn, and started the match against Tottenham Hotspur last week.

His goal scoring abilities are well-known; the question simply remains as to whether he can find the back of the net in this one against his former club.

It's a bit of a long shot, but let's go for some value here in a player that loves to perform on the big stage.

Prediction: Yossi Benayoun to score at any time

Read more articles by Dan here or follow him on Twitter: @dantalintyre