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Liverpool and Arsenal disappointed on the opening weekend and Richard Aikman just can't find reasons to back either in the Premier League winner market even at their current enormous prices...


It is impossible to read too much into the opening day of the season, but the frustration felt by Liverpool and Arsenal fans on the opening weekend is unlikely to be a one-off. Only the most blinkered fan can realistically believe that the title is destined for anywhere other than Manchester United - who are priced at 2.42 to retain their crown - or Chelsea 4.1, or perhaps at a push Manchester City, who are a tempting 5.0, but respective draws against Sunderland and Newcastle United ensured the Reds' odds moved out to 16.5, while, at 14.5, the Gunners are the longest price they have been after day one since the inception of Betfair.

Liverpool's 1-1 draw was probably the least expected of the two draws, and therefore the most frustrating. A lay-out of over £100m since January has brought in myriad attacking options. Luis Suarez is a natural goal poacher, Andy Carroll a force of nature, albeit an unproven one, while Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson all featured in Opta's list of top eight players who created the most chances in the Premier League last season. There was even a touch-up to the defence as José Enrique arrived from Newcastle at the 11th hour.

Even after Suarez missed an early penalty, and Kieron Richardson was somehow allowed to stay on the pitch despite denying the striker a clear goalscoring opportunity, things appeared to be going to plan for King Kenny's new-look side. The Uruguay international, who is 10.0 to finish the season as top goalscorer, made amends for his earlier mistake with a flicked header from Adam's whipped free-kick, Carroll found the net, only to have his effort harshly ruled out for a foul on Anton Ferdinand and Downing embarked on a defence-shredding run that culminated in a ferocious shot that cannoned back off the bar.

Liverpool were on fire. But whatever Steve Bruce said to his players at half-time worked. Sunderland are the only side to have bought more players than Liverpool in this calendar year and yet only two of this summer's arrivals were deployed.

"I wanted to stay loyal to the boys that did so well last season," said Bruce somewhat disingenuously of a side that garnered just one point from a nine-match run that took them to within five points of the drop zone last April. Yet Wes Brown played superbly and Sebastian Larsson marked his Black Cats debut with a superb volley - albeit one he was allowed the freedom of Anfield by John Flanagan to score.

On the basis of this first match Liverpool showed enough to suggest they will legitimately contest for a top four place 2.14. They should have been out of sight by half-time but once Glen Johnson and, more importantly, Steven Gerrard return from injury so the leadership and drive required to see out wins in such matches should be re-instated.

The same cannot be said for Arsenal, whose leader - if you can call him that - is Barcelona-bound. It will be a relief to everyone once Cesc Fabregas - and Samir Nasri - do go, even for Gooners. Unquestionably, the loss of their two best performers will leave a gaping hole in quality, but you cannot force disaffected players to stay on, and the protracted nature of their departure has only had a destabilising effect on the club.

That said, Saturday's goalless draw at St James' Park was a rueful spectacle. Robin van Persie cut a Robinson Crusoe-like figure up front, marooned and shell-shocked in the wake of the storm that had left him bereft of his chief goal providers.

Tomas Rosicky improved in the Fabregas role after the break, but he is a poor imitation (who isn't?) and undermined his performance with a tame shot when well placed to score. Gervinho looked lively enough but lacked the final pass to reward his attacking verve - and then of course he ruined his debut by getting himself sent off.

Never mind the fact that he was actually tripped in the penalty area by Cheik Tioté, or that Joey Barton - whose inclusion in the side was a stroke of genius by Alan Pardew as it achieved the desired result - provoked him as only he can, a professional footballer cannot raise his hands on an opponent and expect to stay on the pitch. Much as he cannot stamp on someone whist they are lying on the ground and expect to get away with it, even if it is Barton.

Once again Arsenal, whose one plus point was the exceptional performance of their back five, are paying the price of immaturity and a lack of leadership. In addition to an inevitable retrospective ban that Alex Song will receive for treading on Barton unbeknownst to the referee, Arsenal's new cause for concern is the alarming lack of quality in the final third, and can you remember the last time we could say that? Suddenly 14.5 for the title looks stingy.


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