Liverpool to begin their climb back up the table
LIVERPOOL vs TOTTENHAM
SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS
LIVERPOOL put in another lacklustre display when they were outplayed by struggling Reading in the FA Cup last weekend and things are still not right at Anfield. However, they notched back-to-back Premier League successes for the first time since September when they won at Villa Park over Christmas which will give their fans hope that the tide is beginning to turn.
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham are having an excellent season and are currently four points clear of Liverpool. They are on a decent run with 10 points from their last 12 and they beat the Reds at White Hart Lane in August, but you have to go back to 1993 for the last time they won at Anfield. In fact, Spurs’ record away at the Big Four is nothing short of atrocious. That victory at Anfield was their last three points at the Big Four and their winless streak now stretches to 65 games.
Since 2006/07, the North London side’s record at Big Four teams in the league is W0-D3-L11 with seven of those defeats coming by at least two goals. They also haven’t done particularly well at current top-half sides this season, losing two and drawing two of their four games. It should be pointed out that Liverpool’s record at Anfield against current top half-sides isn’t much better – going W1-D1-L2, but they generally do well here against Spurs.
Reds supremacy buyers at 0.6 with Sporting Index should be aware that 12 of Liverpool’s last 13 home wins have come by at least a two-goal margin, which may well interest goal buyers as well. Anfield has been the place to be for high scoring games this season with eight of the 10 games featuring a minimum of three goals. The both teams to score market is as short as 4/6 with Hills which may be due to Liverpool finding the net in all 10 and conceding in eight.
There has been an average of 3.7 goals per game at Anfield this season with no game seeing less than two and goals buyers will also be pleased to hear that seven of Spurs’ 10 away games have produced at least three.
For those of you looking for some extra top quality betting analysis make sure you log-on to the recently launched thebettingchannel.tv from 9-11am Monday-Saturday. Former Sky Sports presenter Alan Bentley and co-host Simone Thomas discuss the daily betting opportunities with panelists such as Mark ‘Couch’ Winstanley, Perry Groves and Alan Brazil.
POINTERS…
Liverpool to win at 10/11 with Boylesports
Buy total match goals at 2.8 with Sporting Index
HULL vs CHELSEA
TOMORROW – 12.45PM SKY SPORTS
HULL have had a few tough games recently and it doesn’t look like getting any easier with Chelsea and Tottenham next. They were comprehensively beaten by Wigan in the FA Cup last weekend and although that may prove a blessing in disguise, they look doomed to me. We backed them to be relegated at 4/7 on Betdaq pre-Christmas and they are now as short as 2/5 which will surely get even shorter in the next few weeks.
Chelsea haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders recently and have drawn three of their last five league games, but they are traditionally very strong against bottom six sides. Prior to this season they had won all of their last 19 away at such opposition and although they have lost at Wigan and drawn at West Ham, they should be much too good for Phil Brown’s men.
The Tigers have lost all five home games against the Big Four since they were promoted, all of them by the HT / FT result and four by at least two goals. They have also lost 59 per cent of their 27 games home and away since April 2009, 13 by the HT / FT result and 10 by two or more goals. In the past four games across all competitions, Hull have shed 12 goals, while Chelsea have scored seven goals and conceded none in their two trips to the KC Stadium since 2007.
Carlo Ancelotti will have highlighted the next few weeks as absolutely vital in his team’s quest for the Premier League title and will be eager to make a positive start. They have two home games after this one and a comfortable win here will give them the momentum to kick on. Sporting Index quote Chelsea supremacy at 1.7-1.9 and I’d be happy to buy at that figure.
POINTERS…
Chelsea HT / FT at EVS on Betdaq
Buy Chelsea supremacy at 1.9 with Sporting Index
MANCHESTER CITY vs BLACKBURN
MONDAY – 8.00PM ESPN
IT has to be debatable whether this match, along with a number of other weekend fixtures, will even get the go-ahead, but if it does Roberto Mancini will be confident he can continue his 100 per cent start with Manchester City. His side are playing with the confidence they had at the beginning of the season and are unbeaten in their nine games at Eastlands, winning six and five of those coming by the HT / FT result.
Since the start of last season City have an excellent record at home against bottom-half sides winning 11 of 14 and 10 of those coming by the HT / FT result. They have won their last three home league games and top-half teams with the same three-game record have won 24 of 41 home contests against bottom-half sides (W24-D12-L5) since 2004/05.
Blackburn haven’t won in their last eight Premier League encounters and have lost seven of their 10 away games this season. They have also lost 10 of their last 11 trips to top-half sides and seven by the HT / FT result in their last eight such meetings.
Rovers have drawn five of their last seven in the league so it won’t be a surprise to see Sam Allardyce set out a defensive formation to try to frustrate City. I can’t really see this one being a thriller, but Mancini’s side should have too much strength for a Rovers side who look destined for an almighty relegation scrap.
POINTER…
Man City HT / FT at 11/10 on Betdaq