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Dave Tindall’s Friday night Pick 4 Correct Score Preview

This Friday evening we have a cracker of a Pick 4 kicking off with Arsenal v Liverpool, a fixture which has nearly always guaranteed goals over the last few years. Football writer Dave Tindall has written for us to preview his Syndicate ticket that you can get involved in here.

Arsenal v Liverpool

The last time Arsenal had a Premier League fixture on a Friday night, they played out a seven-goal thriller against Leicester. It could be a similar story here as this pair have shared 21 goals in four matches since Jurgen Klopp took charge at Anfield.

Liverpool have won three of those, including a 4-3 triumph at the Emirates last season and, in all, the Merseysiders have blasted in 14 goals in those four head-to-heads. Right now, the Reds are scoring for fun on the road (19 in last five games in all comps) and could do all sorts of damage on the break.

Arsenal have won eight of nine at home this term so should play a part too. Correct scorelines have to include plenty of goals and I’ll lean towards Liverpool but it could be wise to throw a 1-1 in there just in case the predicted script doesn’t play out.  

 

Prediction: 1-1, OD, 2-3, OAW

 

Real Madrid v Barcelona

It’s very unusual for one team to go into El Clasico 11 points ahead of the other but that’s the case for Saturday’s showdown in Spain with Real Madrid struggling.

That said, they have been boosted by victory in the World Club Championship and what better incentive to kick-start their stalling La Liga campaign than a pre-Christmas win over Barcelona. It’s a different Barca we’re seeing under Ernesto Valverde as they now play a much tighter game.

The proof can be seen in the stat that no team in Europe’s five major leagues has conceded fewer goals on the road (just three). This fixture has had goal make-ups of 5, 4, 4, 7, 3 in the last five seasons at the Bernabeu but I think the count will come down this time and perhaps the midday kick-off helps that idea. Barca look best equipped to win a tight contest.

 

Prediction: 1-1, 0-1, 0-2

 

West Ham v Newcastle

The Hammers are much improved under David Moyes while Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle don’t seem to know where their next point is coming from.

This is a meeting of two managers who believe in organisation and discipline and, to be fair to Newcastle, four of their eight defeats in the last nine games were by a 1-0 margin.

Since Moyes took over, West Ham’s home games have shown a 1-1 draw, a 1-0 win and a 0-0 while they were edged out by a single goal in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat away to Arsenal. There are enough hints in both sides’ recent games to suggest the goal count will be fairly low.

 

Prediction: 1-0, 2-0, 1-1

 

Juventus v Roma

The most eye-catching aspect of Juve’s recent form is that they’ve stopped conceding goals. It’s now seven straight clean sheets after the 2-0 midweek home win over Genoa and their run of shutouts includes games against Barcelona, leaders Napoli and third-placed Inter.

Roma keep it tight too and their concession of just three goals in seven away games this season is the best in Serie A although all those three goals have come in their last three road trips. Juventus have won this fixture 1-0 for the last two seasons and that seems a good place to start.  

 

Prediction: 1-0, 2-0