John Barnes states his prediction for Liverpool FC v Arsenal
John Barnes looks ahead to Liverpool FC's home clash with Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday
John Barnes is backing Liverpool FC to claim all three points when they host Arsenal in Saturday’s showdown at Anfield.
The Reds and the Gunners are the only two teams in the Premier League to have won both of their opening games this season, with Liverpool FC leading Arsenal on goal difference at the top of the table as things stand.
Liverpool FC kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Norwich on the opening weekend, before a 2-1 victory over Southampton away from home last Saturday.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were 1-0 winners at Newcastle United on the opening weekend before their 2-1 home win over Burnley in front of their home fans last time out.
Barnes, who was speaking on behalf of bookmaker comparison site BonusCodeBets.co.uk, feels that Arsenal are poised to “cause problems” for Liverpool FC at Anfield this weekend.
However, he is tipping the Reds to claim all three points in front of their home fans.
Speaking exclusively to The Sport Review, Barnes said: “Liverpool have done better than Arsenal [recently] because they are defensively better.
“Arsenal are not going to change the way they play to be very defensive and negative to stop the front three.
“I think that’s why Liverpool have had the upper hand over Arsenal in recent years.
“So I’d expect Arsenal to cause problems and probably score, but Liverpool to win.”
The England and Liverpool FC legend also had his say on the Reds’ first two games of the season under Jurgen Klopp and their slightly shaky-looking defence.
He continued: “Well, they’ve got six points, which is good. Obviously in the first couple of games you can have a few teething problems.
“In the Norwich game they did allow them some opportunities and in the game against Southampton, they did allow them some opportunities.
“That’s very unlike Liverpool because they’ve been very strong defensively. And while they haven’t paid for it, I feel that the most important thing is that they’ve got the six points. They will improve.
“They haven’t looked as secure defensively as they did all of last season. You always see some funny results in the first couple of games.
“We’ll have a much better assessment after seven or eight games. You’re always going to have a few problems early on but the pleasing thing is that they’ve got six points and are top of the league.”
Liverpool FC finished second in the Premier League and won the Champions League last season.
