Liverpool full-backs can deliver in City clash
Alexander-arnold and Robertson will cause problems for Guardiola’s weakened visitors
Liverpool can go some way towards sealing the Premier League title by maintaining their 100 per cent home record tomorrow. Jurgen Klopp’s side could have a nine-point lead if they beat nearest pursuers Manchester City at Anfield and, although they let a 10-point December lead slip last year, City are in a far weaker state than then.
With injuries to City goalkeeper Ederson, centre-back Aymeric Laporte and full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko threatening to seriously weaken their defence, manager Pep Guardiola was forced to give a full debut to young Spanish defender Angelino against Southampton last week. A potential rearguard featuring Claudio Bravo in goal, Angelino and John Stones would have Liverpool’s potent attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane salivating as the teams prepare for kick-off.
Liverpool have usurped City as favourites for the title and it is surprising that they can still be backed at odds as big as 4/5.
They are unbeaten in the league since losing away to City at the beginning of January and to say they have turned their home into a fortress under Klopp is an understatement – they have not tasted defeat in the league at
Liverpool to beat Man City
Andy Robertson to score any time
Trent Alexanderarnold to score any time
Daniil Medvedev to win ATP tour finals
Anfield since April 2017. Given those statistics, and the form of the teams, it is somewhat surprising that the sides are similarly priced for tomorrow’s match, with Liverpool at 31/20 and City at 8/5. So, if you put £1 to win on Liverpool you would get back a total of £2.55, including your stake, if they were successful. A City win would bring £2.60 for a £1 stake.
At those prices, the best bet is surely Liverpool to come out on top, given their awesome home record. Their full-backs, in particular, are expected to provide plenty of problems, and Trent Alexander-arnold is attractive at 7/1 to score at any time, as is Andy Robertson at 18/1.
The chance to end the year as tennis’s world No1 is up for grabs in the eight-man ATP tour finals, which take place in London starting this weekend.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have the opportunity to hold top spot, with the Spaniard needing to win all his group matches and make the final to be ranked the best in the world. However, were he to lose a match in the group stage, Djokovic would finish 2019 as the world leader if winning every game.
And, given the injury cloud surrounding Nadal, who was forced to withdraw from the Paris Masters ahead of his semi-final last week, it is Djokovic who must be fancied to claim the crown.
Djokovic has the easier group, being drawn with Roger Federer and the two outsiders of the field in Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini, and should make the final with some ease, but there could be value in backing Daniil Medvedev to battle his way out of Nadal’s group and make a charge for the final.
Medvedev showed his class during the summer, reaching the US Open final, and he is unbeaten against group rival Stefanos Tsitsipas. He also thrashed the remaining member of his group, defending champion Alexander Zverev, in the Shanghai Masters final this year and looks value to capture the crown at 4/1.