THE eagerly anticipated blockbuster showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City will be on the lips of all and sundry this Sunday. However, on Saturday Arsenal will travel to West Ham, aiming to maintain their return to form as they take on their London rivals in another local derby.

Event # 1 – EPL – West Ham vs Arsenal – 12:30 pm

Both West Ham and Arsenal will head into Saturday’s London derby with renewed confidence, having posted victories last weekend. The Hammers, West Ham, have endured a largely miserably campaign so far but claimed an unlikely though impressive 2-0 win away at Newcastle on Monday, to offer hope that they can turn their season around. With new Coach Julen Lopetegui at the helm fans were expecting more from their team but their playing style has not improved significantly compared with the previous coach, David Moyes, who fans claimed made the team boring. With that said, West Ham’s home form might offer some hope for fans as they are unbeaten in their last three home matches, winning two and drawing one.

It appears Arsenal is coming out of a rough patch which had left them chasing league leaders Liverpool, but they have responded to that challenge in impressive fashion. Indeed, the return of their talisman and Captain Martin Odegaard seems to have sparked new life into the team, and they responded by duly dispatching Nottingham Forest away 3-0 last weekend, then followed up that win by thrashing the previously unbeaten Sporting Lisbon 5-1 away in Champions League midweek action. The Gunners, however, remain nine points behind the leaders Liverpool but that deficit could be cut to six as they have had the upper hand in this London derby in recent times. Indeed, when both teams met last met in February, Arsenal hammered The Hammers 6-0.

Key Stats

• West Ham – West Ham have scored in four of their last six home matches, but worryingly for them is that their last five defeats have been by more than one goal.

• Arsenal – Arsenal have scored eight goals in their last two matches and have scored 16 goals in their last five away league games against West Ham.

• Both sides – Arsenal have lost just one of their last 16 matchups against West Ham, and the last time they met, Arsenal ran riot with a huge 6-0 win.

The betting tip: Arsenal win.

Event # EPL – Liverpool vs Manchester City – 12:30 pm

A blockbuster Premier League clash awaits fans this Sunday when league leaders Liverpool and defending Champions Manchester City collide at Anfield. While it’s still early in the season, this is still a crucial match due to the repercussion it can have on the title race, as victory for Liverpool will see them amassing a huge 11-point lead over the defending champions. Indeed, Liverpool have started the new campaign brilliantly under new Coach Arne Slot, having won 10, drawn one, and losing one of their league games so far to sit top of the table. More impressively for the Reds is that they have won all five matches they have played in the Champions League so far, including a dominant, 2-0, midweek win over the defending European Champions Real Madrid at Anfield.

Defending Premier League champions Manchester City are on one of their worst runs in recent memory, with their 5-loss streak in all competitions continuing with another uninspiring 3-3 draw against Feyenoord at home in midweek Champions League action. Indeed, City were thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham last weekend and, having led 3-0 with 15 minutes to go against Feyenoord in champions League action, they conspired to throw away their 3-goal lead and collapsed, eventually holding on for the 3-3 draw. This is the first time in City’s coach, Pep Guardiola’s career that he is on a run of six matches without a win — and he has already conceded that losing against Liverpool at Anfield would end their hopes for a fifth-consecutive Premier League title.

Key Stats

• Liverpool – Liverpool have won 10 of their opening 12 league matches and have won their last five league games in a row.

• Man City – Manchester City have conceded 17 goals in their last six matches in all competitions, which is their longest winless streak in over a decade.

• Both sides – Liverpool have won seven home matches in a row while Manchester City have lost four away matches in a row.

The betting tip: Liverpool win.