A DANE-GER TO IRELAND
Eriksen’s the man to stop Snap up odds against as MVG finds his form
PEARSON’S
DENMARK host the Republic of Ireland tonight in the first leg of their World Cup play-off.
The Danes are 8-13 at BetVictor to take a lead home for Tuesday night. But while the Boys in Green aren’t pleasing on the eye, they are unbeaten in their last four against Denmark and know how to grind out a result.
Martin O’Neill’s side will have to pay particular attention to Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen, who scored more goals (eight) in the group stages than any other midfielder.
Eriksen is 13-2 to score the opener and 13-5 with BetVictor to find the back of the net at any time during the 90 minutes in Copenhagen.
Eriksen has scored in his last six internationals and 13-5 looks too big. But I think Ireland – 22-5 to take a lead back to the Aviva – can get a draw (12-5) and set things up nicely for the return leg. I don’t expect to see many goals tonight and 0-0 is a runner at 6-1.
We have Ireland at 5-4 to qualify for Russia, with Denmark 4-7.
The Irish have already pulled one rabbit out of a hat in Cardiff and I think they will be in the finals next summer.
Switzerland were fortunate to get a secondhalf penalty against Northern Ireland in rainy Belfast but there was a huge gulf in class on Thursday.
It is hard to see how the Green and White Army will get the required win (21-4) to turn their playoff around in Basel tomorrow. They have now lost their last three matches and the Swiss look very good value to win the tie at 4-7. DOMESTIC football returns next weekend and Man City have the biggest lead (eight points) in the history of the Premier League after 11 games. With that in mind, we are now betting without City: Man United 2-1; Spurs 2-1; Chelsea 5-2; Liverpool 10-1 and Arsenal 12-1.
It is a fascinating market – United are a different team with Paul Pogba in the starting XI; Spurs have the second best squad; Chelsea showed their class at home against United and Liverpool look to be adding consistency. However, I wouldn’t back Arsenal at double their current odds. Go to BetVictor.com