9-2 SALAH TO INFLICT MO PAIN ON UNITED
LEAKY RED DEVILS DEFENCE WILL STRUGGLE TO COPE WITH EGYPTIAN
WE all know that the Premier League hype train is unstoppable but if there is one game that needs no massaging, it is Liverpool against Manchester United at Anfield tomorrow.
There is so much intrigue to it - last season’s 7-0 win for Liverpool in the same fixture not the least of it.
United have won three of their last 17 games against Liverpool and they have not won at Anfield since 2016.
There is current form to factor in as well, with Erik ten Hag under constant pressure, despite being fairly well up the table – certainly in top-four contention.
Liverpool started this weekend’s round of matches in top spot and in Europe they had a largely smooth passage to the next round of the Europa League.
While they haven’t clicked fully into gear, there is every reason to assume, that against a United team that has several injuries, Jurgen Klopp’s men will have more than enough to win. But will it be another hammering?
Don’t forget that when United were at their lowest ebb last season, it was Liverpool they beat to get things back on track.
The fact that Liverpool are 1-3 will certainly be a painful sight for anyone connected with United but nobody can really say that it is incorrect.
I don’t think Liverpool will get seven again, but I expect them to win and at 5-6 the handicap at -1 looks like a really good bet.
With United’s defence prone to leaks, Mo Salah will expect to have another solid afternoon. He is 9-2 to get two or more goals and that is well worth an investment.
Pitfalls
Earlier tomorrow, Arsenal host Brighton in a game that they should win but it is one that is full of pitfalls.
The Seagulls are having another super season and have given a good account of themselves in Europe.
Arsenal are doing almost as well as last season. They have a real shot at the title and this will be a good test.
Save for a defeat at Chelsea, Brighton’s recent form is very good and they will not fear a trip to the Emirates.
Arsenal should win but they might only win by the minimum margin so take the Gunners to win by a margin of one goal at 11-4.
Aston Villa have done well coming off the back of European games so far, but a trip to Brentford may not prove the straightforward mission some might be expecting.
Brentford are not exactly in top form lately – they have lost four of their last five – but they have not become a bad team overnight and I reckon they might have a shot here and so the Bees at a whopping 12-5 is the bet.
Switching to today’s offering and there is no early game, so a quartet of 3pm games kick off the day’s action.
Manchester City have slipped up at home to Crystal Palace, but after something of a recent wobble, they have to prove their credentials again.
Having the luxury of resting big names in their last European game will certainly have helped them going in to today but Palace will hope to latch on to the last of City’s shaky spell if they can.
I think City are past it, though and so I expect to see them winning here and I will go for correct scores of 3-0 and 3-1, which are on offer at 13-2 and 11-1 respectively.
Resources
They won’t admit it, but exiting Europe is probably the best thing for Newcastle’s season. They performed admirably is a group with Dortmund, PSG and AC Milan and that will stand too them, but the resources are not there to cope.
Fulham at home is another prospect, though and I expect the Toon Army to bounce back with a win at 5-6.
Newcastle’s squad depth will be further tested by a League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, but it is actually Fulham I am going to back. They go to
Everton and at 11-5 to win I think they are backable. This really should be a real focus for a side that plays attractive football.
In Scotland, they are already at the final of their League Cup, with great rivals Aberdeen and Rangers meeting at Hampden Park tomorrow.
I can’t fathom how Aberdeen – a side that beat Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, albeit in a dead rubber – is 8-1 to win this contest in 90 minutes.
Those with a ticket might get more value for their money - I can see this going all the way to penalties and so a Euro on either side makes sense. The 14-1 for Rangers to win that way is mouthwatering, as is the 18-1 for the Dons.
Skipping away from the soccer now and it is another European week in the rugby union, with Leinster having got a massive win at La Rochelle last weekend.
That should have them buoyant for the task of facing Sale in Dublin today.
Sale, though, had a mighty impressive win themselves against Stade Francais last Sunday.
And they arrive here with the added threat of being top of the English Premiership. On the plus side for Leinster, though, is that when they lose it is usually by a big margin on the road.
With a win in their back pocket already, Sale might just feel better days lie ahead, so I am going with Leinster to win and cover the handicap.
They are 10-11 at -25 on the handicap. I was hoping for a lower figure, but I think Leinster can do it.
Even
Finally, to the NFL and we have a couple of rare Saturday games this week, the first of which sees Minnesota Vikings go to Cincinnati Bengals, both teams having seven wins on the board.
The Vikings are 6-4 to go to Ohio and win and in what I reckon is a pretty even game, that represents a good price.