UNEARTHS SOME WEEKEND STONKERS... AND STINKERS Toon shot’s 10/1 rocket for Klopp
NEWCASTLE have the right stuff to win the space race against Liverpool this afternoon.
The Reds’ ability to make a zonal pig’s ear out of defending set-pieces has been a long-standing delight for TV land’s chalkboard scientists.
You can tell that the old pros reckon theories about ‘marking space’ are basically new-age guff, probably thought up by Gwyneth Paltrow.
One step short of hanging a dreamcatcher from the crossbar, or rubbing yoghurt on your goalkeeper.
Newcastle’s transformation into cutting edge set-piece specialists under Rafa Benitez has hardly been a secret.
But whether or not Jurgen Klopp can do anything much about it today is another matter.
In a game that’s awkward to price up with confidence, there’s a couple of ‘anytime scorer’ tickles that stand out. Split a stake.
Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles (above) is the Toon shot to launch first at the general 10/1 online.
Ciaran Clark ‘anytime’ at 14/1 (Bet365) is the solid alternative — and best of the High Street prices at 12/1 (Fred).
With a noon kick-off against Arsenal at the Emirates, Chris Hughton could be home in plenty of time to watch Countryfile with PHILIPPE COUTINHO is always a serious Man of the Match prospect.
It certainly doesn’t hurt his chance that he wears the Liverpool shirt. The Reds got 26 Man of the Match awards in their 38 Prem games last season. Chelsea, with eight more victories, got 30 awards.
Coutinho (left) got NINE gongs in his 31 run-outs – around a 5/2 shot. Grab the 6/1 (Hills) that he ‘gongs’ again at Newcastle today. IT FEELS like falling down the rabbit hole seeing “K Phillips” in the ‘anytime scorer’ list for Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds (12.15pm). Of course it’s not the everlasting Kevin, who got the day off school for the Coronation, but Leeds’ young Kalvin (left), whose data says 9/1 (Unibet) ‘anytime’ is worth a punt. EVERTON’S midweek Europa struggles with Apollon Limassol, the haemorrhoid cream of champions, has piled on the gloom at Goodison Park. Today’s visit of Burnley is the sort of strain Ronald Koeman could do without right now.
The Clarets have done us a few favours already this season, and any of the tight, drawish betting angles appeal more than the leaky Toffees at 4/6. The DRAW at 11/4 (Paddy) is the pick of the 1X2. Have that.
Some data hints that Burnley are vulnerable to the long-range chancer, and few fit that bill better than Gylfi Sigurdsson (left) — the 9/1 (Skybet) he ‘scores from outside the box’ is not a great price, but fun for longshot hunters.