Alexis Sanchez is our man to watch when Arsenal face Liverpool on Super Sunday in the Barclays Premier League.
Newcastle v Sunderland (1330 GMT)
The season of goodwill will be extinguished for 90 minutes at St James' Park in the latest Tyne-Wear showdown, a derby that still remains as fierce as any depite the varying fortunes over the years of the north-east neighbours. It has certainly been advantage to the visitors of late with Gus Poyet boasting a perfect record since taking over at the Stadium of Light, while the Black Cats are going for four straight wins in a row overall in the fixture. So can the Toon stop the rot? Poyet's opposite number, Alan Pardew, may have had more lives than nine black cats but eighth place currently in the Premier League is looking nice and healthy as we near the end of the year. A run through October and November yielded five straight victories for them and although things have cooled off a little since, Newcastle were good value for their recent 2-1 success over runaway leaders Chelsea. Back-to-back losses in north London at Arsenal and Tottenham - where they conceded four on both occasion - just gets the alarm bells ringing as to whether the wheels are about to come off once more but that is countered by some formidable home form which has lately produced four wins from five games. Sunderland have emerged from a testing run of games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool with no little credit as Poyet's men continue to churn out the draws - they have five stalemates from their last seven. A lack of goals though is an issue and you have to go back to the start of November for the last time they scored more than once with three at West Brom. No wonder rumours are rife that Jozy Altidore could be on his way out with Burnley's Danny Ings on the radar as a potential replacement. That is all for another day though and I just feel this one could go the way of the hosts by a narrow margin with a Newcastle success by exactly one goal looking to have some potential to yield a profit.
Verdict: Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1
Opta facts:
Newcastle are without a win in three against Sunderland at St James Park, losing the last two 3-0.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last five Barclays Premier League games against Newcastle United (W3 D2), winning the last three in a row.
The Black Cats have never won four successive league derbies against Newcastle.
There have been five red cards in the last eight Premier League meetings between these two sides, though none in the last three.
Liverpool v Arsenal (1600)
It is over to Anfield for Sunday's second Premier League game and another fascinating clash looks set to be served up. We have, over the years, enjoyed the pair face off for titles and trophies but this one looks of as much interest in a perverse way as they struggle to find their best form. Liverpool's problems have been well documented since the exit of Luis Suarez in the summer but the drop off has been pretty astounding nonetheless. They have already lost more games (seven) than they did throughout last season, the defence has been little short of shambolic at times while Brendan Rodgers can't find a consistent solution up front with Daniel Sturridge a long-term injury casualty. They failed to convert some good possession in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United but a change of strategy which involved playing Raheem Sterling as a lone striker among other things saw them beat Bournemouth in the League Cup in midweek and can perhaps be the basis of something to build on. Whether Rodgers will stick with that against this better oposition remains to be seen but his season in the Premier League is verging on crisis point as they languish currently in the bottom half. Rodgers is not alone and Arsene Wenger has been the subject of some abuse from disgruntled Gunners fans over the past month as he battles a pretty serious injury crisis that has stripped him of much of his first-string midfield. But five wins from their last six in all competitions is a fine return all things considered with the prospect as well of more players coming back ahead of Christmas to boost options. The Gunners were walloped here 5-1 in February when Suarez and company ran riot but their previous two visits to the red half of Merseyside yielded 2-0 victories. It is no surprise to see the betting between them close this time and perhaps a draw would suit, but I am tempted to put up Alexis Sanchez in the first goalscorer market at 6/1. He has been Wenger's one shining beacon this season and two more assists last week helped his side to a 4-1 triumph over Newcastle. He has eight goals in his last 10 games and appeals as the likely source to help his side eke out an advantage.
Verdict: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1
Opta facts:
Liverpool have won just two of the last 14 Premier League meetings with Arsenal (W2 D7 L5).
Alexis Sanchez has scored (7) or assisted (4) 11 of Arsenal's last 17 Premier League goals.
Only Sergio Aguero (17) has had an involvement (goals or assists) in more Premier League goals than Alexis Sanchez (14) this season.
There have been four 90th-minute (or later) goals in the last six Premier League meetings between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.
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