A pair of Premier League title hopefuls meet in the FA Cup as Arsenal host Liverpool in a third round match on Sunday.
The teams are embroiled in a hotly contested battle at the top of the league table, along with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham. Liverpool are the leaders to start the new year but Arsenal have spent much of the season atop the standings, with a recent dip in form seeing the Gunners slip to fourth place.
Now the teams will step aside from the league to face off in the biggest match of the round in the fabled cup competition. The game could be a precursor to next month's Premier League fixture, with a former Arsenal player suggesting that Sunday's match could influence how the teams play when they reconvene in the league on Feb. 4.
"For me, the most important game will be in the Premier League," Emmanuel Petit told DAZN Bet. "Arsenal and Liverpool meet twice in the space of three weeks, when they play each other in the Premier league after the FA Cup tie.
"Of course, it's important against the top team. But I'm quite confident, I think Arsenal have something to say because I look at Liverpool, and yeah okay they score goals and sometimes they look unplayable for the opponents.
"But for me, they still have weaknesses in defense. They concede many goals and they concede on many occasions, and if Arsenal can get back the same block, that tactical unity on the pitch and they keep playing the same way they play, I think they can do something on the field.
"I think I will bet for a draw. With every single game they have to play, they still have the same routine that when they draw, they have to play again? It’s too much, they shouldn’t play replays. I will say 1-1 or 2-2."