THIS IS STILL TOP DRAW
Hard to split bitter rivals in early shoot-out
THE 170th league meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool today is one of the most eagerly awaited matches in the domestic calendar.
United lead their archrivals 67-55 with 47 draws – I think it will be 48 draws after today’s early kick-off. This is the start of a massive week for United. On Tuesday Sevilla are at Old Trafford for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with the tie in the balance at 0-0. Last Monday United were indebted to David De Gea again, before Nemanja Matic’s late winner at Crystal Palace. United hold a two-point lead over Liverpool and that might have an important bearing on how boss Jose Mourinho sets up the hosts. Mourinho has got the better of Klopp just once in eight games – and that 2-0 Champions League semifinal, secondleg success in 2013 was not enough for Real Madrid to qualify for the final. This is a big game for Alexis Sanchez, who hasn’t hit the ground running at Old Trafford. He cannot afford to give the ball away as often as he did at Palace, with Liverpool looking to hit the hosts on the break. United are 17-10 with us and just shade favouritism over Liverpool at 7-4 with the draw at 12-5. No side have scored more away goals than Liverpool (34) in the five big European leagues and I think the Reds will net in what promises to be a feisty, entertaining clash.
Mo Salah is 17-4 to open the scoring and he is 7-4 to win the Golden Boot, with Harry Kane 8-11.
The pair are three clear of Sergio Aguero on 24 goals with Romelu Lukaku back on 14.
Lukaku is 23-20 to score today, with Sanchez 15-8.
The recommendation is Liverpool Draw No Bet at 37-40 with BetVictor.
Spurs go to Bournemouth tomorrow needing to move on quickly from exiting the Champions League.
They still have much to play for this season and are 8-15 to beat a Cherries side who have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league games. Harry Kane scored a hattrick on his only previous visit to the Vitality Stadium. He is 14-5 to score two or more against the Cherries and 12-1 to help himself to a hat-trick.
This is an improved Bournemouth team to the one Kane faced in 2015 when he got his treble but this is also a better Spurs side. The recommendation and bet of the weekend is Spurs to win and both teams to score at 15-8.