Revenge motivates Chelsea
TAB’s soccer bets have again paid out millions in the last couple of weeks, most notably a R1,485,306 dividend for a R64 ticket. With red-hot Premier League action expected this week, the payouts could be even hotter.
Liverpool were always going to be up against it in the battle for the Premier League title, as it is difficult to see Manchester City slipping up in the final stages of the current campaign.
Yet City imploded badly against Real Madrid last week in the UEFA Champions League, thereby opening the door to doubt, only to comprehensively slam it shut again at home to Newcastle United on Sunday.
With Liverpool being held to a draw at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the gap at the top is now no longer a point but three, with City also ahead on a goal difference of +68 to Liverpool’s +64.
This week, City play away at Wolves tomorrow and then go to West Ham on Sunday. Two away games offer some hope to Liverpool supporters – banking on the hosts upsetting City – but realistically it is exceedingly hard to see Pep Guardiola’s team throwing their crown away, especially now that their focus has been sharpened on the league after their Champions League exit.
Liverpool have a game at Aston Villa tonight and then have got the distraction of the FA Cup final on Saturday.
They meet Chelsea at Wembley for a second time this year, having a narrowly edged the Blues on penalties in the League Cup final at the end of February. That game ended in a thrilling penalty shootout where it came down to the kicks taken by the goalkeepers to settle the outcome.
Chelsea go into the final with a new owner, and by the look of things, the issue of the sale of the club by Roman Abramovich looks to have weighed heavily on them, even if manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted it has not.
They have won only one of their past five games since beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final.
Chelsea also have a midweek game before the final, against Leeds United tomorrow which gives them less recovery time than Liverpool.
But that is not likely to be a major factor in Saturday’s game where Chelsea are my pick to exact revenge. Tuchel can always be relied upon to come up with an innovative plan.
Tomorrow night also sees the Coppa Italia decided. With AC Milan still on course for the Serie A title, this is a chance for a consolation prize for Inter Milan or Juventus. They meet in neutral Rome to decide where the trophy will stand for the next 12 months.