UNEARTHS SOME WEEKEND STONKERS... AND STINKERS Luk’s height of value at Old Trafford
IT’S shaping up for an unforgettable Manchester derby.
I can’t remember the last time United were 12/5 to win a game at Old Trafford – though let’s not read too much into that. I struggled to recall the name of ‘Mick Jagger’s band’ the other day.
Mind you it helped pass the time while I was trying to find the car.
Jose Mourinho never forgets. Every success and every slight, stored away in that big old heed. And there’s an extra special box marked ‘Pep’.
Jose will have been busy rummaging in there, muttering to himself, since the fixture list came out.
But the absence of Paul Pogba, and potential absence of Vincent Kompany, reminds us, as the poet said, that the best laid schemes o’ mice and men are... erm... something or other. Roamin’ in the gloamin’?
The popular forecast today is that Mourinho will build his forward thinking around exploiting United’s perceived set-piece height advantage, particularly if Kompany is out. As ‘big ideas’ go it’s quite a small one. But with the game’s ‘anytime scorer’ prices weighted heavily towards City edging a tight affair, there could be a bit of wriggle room for the value hunter.
United have plenty of big lads to choose I PROMISED Mother I’d never back Arsenal at odds-on away. So thank goodness the Gunners have drifted for the trip to Southampton (12pm).
I make it just four clean sheets all season for the Saints — Swansea, Huddersfield, Palace and West Brom. Arsenal are different gravy to that lot.
Even the firmest Wenger Out knows the old chap (left) has ’em fired-up. Punt the Arsenal WIN at 21/20 (Hills) and Alexis Sanchez ‘anytime’ at 8/5 (Paddy). WHY don’t the big clubs hire an English manager? writes a Mr B S Allardyce c/o the Premier Inn, Ormskirk Road, AIntree. Why indeed, Mr Allardyce, and while we’re at it, why doesn’t the Sultan of Brunei drive a 2010 Skoda Octavia, with its spacious boot, solid economy and bulletproof residuals? I reckon it’s mostly showing off, don’t you? Liverpool have got something special to flaunt in the Merseyside derby (2.15pm).
Catch him while you can, but dazzling Philippe Coutinho could still play second fiddle to mighty Mo Salah (left) this afternoon. With goals in 14 of his 23 Reds appearances this season, the blisteringly quick Salah ‘anytime’ at 5/6 (Coral) is worth running to the shop for.