Liverpool v Arsenal: A battle of two managers under growing pressure

This should have been one of the biggest games of the season. But numerous slip-ups from both Liverpool and Arsenal this season have left the pair battling it out for a top four place, rather than the Premier League title which both sets of fans are desperately craving.

And while Gooners have been divided for what seems like an eternity over their manager Arsene Wenger, the same can’t be said for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

At least that was the case a few weeks ago.

But 2017 has so far been horrific for the Merseyside outfit, whose form since the turn of the year is as follows: DDLDWLLLDLWL.

That run of form has seen the Reds fall from title contenders to top four hopefuls, while they’ve been knocked out of both the Emirates FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

And for the first time in his managerial career in England, Klopp has seen a number of fans calling for his head.

That led our traders to open a market for the former Borussia Dortmund boss NOT to be at Anfield on the opening day of the 2017-18 campaign with 5/1 offered.

Odds of Wenger being in charge at the Emirates next season are 10/11, but plenty are suggesting this could be the Frenchman’s last campaign with the north London outfit.

And that’s what makes Saturday evening’s clash so intriguing.

The losing manager will likely come under even more stick from supporters, as a defeat for either side could see them not only fall even further behind in the race for the title, but would probably see them leapfrogged by sixth place Manchester United.

They would then be playing catch-up with four sides in United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea who are all in great form right now.

And ahead of Saturday’s late-kick-off, we’ve opened a special market for both managers under pressure right now.

It’s not beyond the realms of imagination for both Arsenal and Liverpool to be looking for new managers this summer – especially if results in the coming months don’t go the way of Wenger and Klopp.

But as a match bet, our traders are fancying the German boss to outstay his French opponent, with 2/5 on offer for Wenger to leave Arsenal before Klopp leaves Liverpool.

However, victory at Anfield for the visitors this weekend would likely see those odds change substantially, meaning there could well be some value in the 7/4 currently on offer for the Liverpool gaffer to go before Wenger.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing