KLOPP’S COMING BACK FOR SECONDS
YET ODDS SURPRISINGLY CLOSE FOR CUP CLASH
TOMORROW’S big Fa Cup clash at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Liverpool could not be more beautifully set up.
Jurgen Klopp is one trophy in to a possible four-trophy haul and wouldn’t United and their fans just love to be the partypoopers who end that possibility.
To be honest, the German might prefer to be concentrating on just Europe and the league at this stage – but he’ll not want to come away from Manchester defeated.
United haven’t been in the worst of form coming in to this but home performances are a real issue for Erik ten Hag, which is reflected in the odds.
Still, I can’t believe that in the 90-minute odds, Liverpool are 5-6 and United 16-5.
The difference is not that much and even though Liverpool had as easy a Thursday run out as possible, that is still in their legs, so a quid on United must be had.
A more lucrative scenario might be that this game goes all the way.
For some reason it is 14-1 for both sides to win this on penalties and that has to be worth an outlay of two Euro at least, especially given the venue and what it means to both sides - even if the FA Cup itself as a prize is an afterthought.
Flimsy
Chelsea are also in action tomorrow and will be thankful that it is Leicester coming to Stamford Bridge, but given the Blues flimsy displays at home, the Championship title chasers are no easy-beats.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though, have little to play for but this cup encounter, and while that will bring pressure of its own, they have the class to get over the line.
A bet on Chelsea to win and both 14-1
10-11 9-4 teams toasscore at 15-8 is advised.
Today’s games see Wolves host Coventry, and the Old Gold should win that, while Manchester City should do likewise at home to Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side have overcome a mid-season wobble as squad depth was stretched, but there will be no repeat of their Champions League qualification this season.
City might just power through this one so a bit on them winning 4-0 and 4-1 is worth a go at odds of 11-1 and 14-1 respectively.
There are four Premier League games on with Spurs and Aston Villa continuing their chase for the Champions League.
Spurs go to Fulham and I will take narrow wins of 2-0 (14-1) and 2-1 (9-1).
Tomorrow, Villa face a really tough test at West Ham, who will be as buoyant as Villa with their European exploits on Thursday.
I fully expect
MIKE’S TOP TIPS FA CUP
15-8
11-1
PREMIER LEAGUE 9-1 SPURS to beat Fulham 8-5 VILLA to beat West Ham
Liverpool v Man Utd to go to penalties CHELSEA to beat Leicester MAN CITY 4-0 Newcastle
SIX NATIONS Ireland v Scotland 48.5pt+ ITALY to beat Wales GAA 2-1 MAYO to beat Derry
Villa to bounce back from their thumping by Spurs, though and 8-5 is actually a pretty nice price for an away win.
Blew
Ireland blew the chance of a Grand Slam when they lost in London last week, but fair play to England for getting way closer than any other team had.
However, the worrymongers who think that Ireland are going to choke and throw away the Six Nations championship can be quiet.
The points difference in the table proves Ireland’s dominance.
Ireland are +80, whereas the English in second place are -3. Scotland and France are both a mere +4.
The Scots might have beaten England, and Steve Borthwick’s men beat Ireland, but there will be no Scottish success at the Aviva this afternoon.
Andy Farrell will look for a response to last week’s singlepoint loss to England and he will get it and then some.
Scotland just seem to have an inferiority complex when they take on the boys in green.
I think that will strike again and added to Ireland’s bouncebackability that only leads to a solid home win, but I will take Scotland at +15.5 pm the handicap at 10-11.
I’ll also have a wager at Over 48.5 points at the same 10-11. Scotland have the ability to score three tries against anyone and this could be quite a highscoring affair.
Earlier Wales look to avoid a whitewash and wooden spoon when they play Italy in Cardiff.
I don’t think the Welsh have been as bad a four defeats out of four suggests but at the same time 9-4 about this Azzurri team that is flying is too big to ignore.
France seemed to find their mojo late in the game against Wales last week and back at home against England in the late match, they will want to finish on a high, regardless of whether or not the title is on the line.
Les Bleus should have too much for a team that raised its game once against Ireland, but has not shown the pure ability to do that in consecutive weeks.
You can get 5-4 about France at -9 on the handicap and I will take that.
Double
It is another double week in the GAA but I just can’t get into the hurling at the moment so their League is better off watched with a view to the Championship.
The football on the other hand, is fair game and we have a packed programme today, with most games on today ahead of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In Division Two the big game sees Armagh host Cavan. It’s only about 70 kilometres ground to ground but the journey probably takes about four hours on those roads.
Anyway, although the Orchard County are hot favourites, I fancy Cavan to give them all they can handle, so the away side at 10-11 and +4 on the handicap is my bet.
In the top flight, tomorrow’s battle of third and first sees Mayo welcome Derry. This could be a cracker and after defeat by Dublin, Derry will want to halt any slide with Dublin, Kerry and Mayo all only two points back.
It has to be Mayo for me at 2-1. I was impressed with them when I watched them play Kerry earlier in the campaign and if they are a bit more clinical then they can win.