STALEMATE IN THE BIG ONE
Draw at Anfield by far the most likely outcome
THE top-of-the-table clash at Anfield tomorrow promises to be a cracker – and has draw written all over it.
It’s highly unusual to be offered odds better than 2-1 on a side that’s top of the table and playing at home – where they’ve been unbeaten all season.
But that’s the case here at Premier League leaders Liverpool host reigning champions Manchester City, who are just a point behind in second spot.
BetMGM are top-price 41-20 on the home side and make Pep Guardiola’s visitors the 32-25 favourites. Betfred have the draw at a very tempting 3-1.
Incredibly, the odds on the Anfield men got bigger yesterday after their ruthless 5-1 win against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
The City favouritism is most likely down to Liverpool’s lengthy injury list but Jurgen Klopp’s depleted squad have continued to hold firm in recent weeks, with clean sheets in their last three domestic fixtures. Their record this season has been phenomenal. Just two domestic defeats, away to Tottenham in September and Arsenal last month – and in the Spurs match they played around half an hour with nine men.
Their home record is the best in the division, with 11 wins and two draws from 13 games.
It’s worth bearing in mind that City have lost three times away from home in the league this term – at Wolves, Arsenal and most recently at Aston Villa back in December.
But those defeats all came before the return from injury of Kevin de Bruyne and since that Villa Park reverse, they’ve been unbeaten with 18 wins and two draws in all competitions.
So with De Bruyne and striker Erling Haaland – seven goals in his last three games – back in the groove, I can’t see City losing this.
That said, I can’t see Liverpool losing it either in front of the Kop.
There are usually a few goals in this fixture so I’d back the 2-2 stalemate at a tasty 11-1 with bet365, although if you want to play safe, take Sky Bet’s 10-3 that it’s a 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 draw.
Sky Bet also offer 7-1 that both teams score in each half and that could prove fruitful.
Darwin Nunez certainly fired a warning shot to City with his two- goal blast in Prague, following his 99th-minute match-winning exploits against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Therefore the Uruguayan, with 16 goals this term, can’t be ignored in the scoring stakes.
He’s 2-1 to score at any time or 13-2 to get the opening goal.
In the Reds’ midfield, Alexis Mac Allister had contributed four assists in the last five games, so I’d take a chance on him doing the same here at Sky Bet’s 5-1.
City, meanwhile, have a multitude of scoring options. For better value, Bernardo Silva is worth a punt at 7-2 to net at any time or 11-1 for the last goal.
The Portuguese has had a lean spell in front of goal since the turn of the year but is always a threat.
I also fancy a punt on Sky Bet’s Request a bet odds of 5-1 that Haaland has two shots on target and Mac Allister is carded – the Argentina midfielder already has five yellows and a red to his name.