Category: Live Sports News

Leicester vs. Man City, All Set for a Thrilling Clash

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

This Saturday sees Leicester welcoming Man City at the King Power. The Champions are in a tailspin of shocking form, seeing them currently at 16th, only four points off the bottom of the table. City comes into the game fresh from their Champions League draw with Celtic on Tuesday, and the bitter defeat to Chelsea last Saturday at the Etihad. Both teams will be desperate for 3 points from this game, and with City all scoring, all conceding machine, it seems like goals are on the menu.

City looking for a fight

City’s last game in the league was a feast of drama; a tight game with some fantastic performances was marred by some truly appalling tackles and an embarrassing brawl. Neutrals all over the country rustled their popcorn furiously as Chelsea made a clear statement of intent, putting the onus firmly on City in the fight for first place. City will need to come back strongly in the next few weeks to keep their London rivals opening up clear daylight at the top of the table. With the Champions League group stage cleared up, they will be fully focused on their Premier League fixtures.

Going into the game, the major concern for City is the suspension of arguably their two most important players, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho. Aguero’s horror challenge on David Luiz has seen him pick up a four-match ban, with Kelechi Iheanacho being touted as a possible replacement. City will certainly suffer without his goal scoring pedigree. Fernandinho is the engine of this City squad, arguably the hardest worker on the pitch for the Blues, and a three-match ban for violent conduct will be almost as big a hole to fill as Aguero. On the bright side, they will be able to welcome Raheem Sterling back into the fold from a knee injury that has seen him out since the 26th of November. Guardiola has the option of bringing in Sterling, Leroy Sané or Nolito on Saturday. In terms of injuries, the Catalan will have to do without captain Vincent Kompany, knee ligaments, and Fabian Delph who is recovering from groin surgery. Nicolas Otamendi is also ruled out due to suspension.

Recent form, the Chelsea game aside, has been fairly solid. What is absolutely worth noting going into the Leicester game is that they have conceded in their last seven straight games in all competitions. City has been scoring and conceding with gusto, coupled with the absence of key defensive and midfield players, all the signs suggest a game with free-scoring potential.

The Champions fighting relegation

How the mighty are falling. Those brave pundits who questioned whether Leicester would be able to regain their superlative form from last season are quickly becoming vindicated. It is increasingly looking like Leicester have been found out; at one point in November they had more points in their Champions League group than in the Prem. Taking one point in the last three games has left some asking the unaskable: can Claudio Ranieri actually be sacked? Even with such great European form, qualifying top of their group with a game in hand, the question will have to be asked if the form doesn’t improve.

Looking at the last three league games, losing 2:1 away to both Sunderland and Watford, and just scraping a 2:2 draw at home to Boro, these are the teams Leicester would be turning over last season, and these are the teams they absolutely have to be beating if they want to stay clear of a relegation battle, alongside a European campaign. One clear difference between this and last season is the absence of goals from star striker Jamie Vardy. If he fails to score against City on Saturday, it will be 11 consecutive games without a goal for the 29-year-old, in a season where he’s only managed four shots on target. It’s not just Vardy falling short, PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez hasn’t been the player he was, with only 3 goals and 1 assist in the league. The loss of N’Golo Kante is another key difference, a player excelling at his new club Chelsea, Leicester hasn’t found a replacement for the intensely hard working player. We wonder, perhaps, whether selling Vardy and keeping Kante might have been the more canny move. Ifs and buts.

Both teams to score

I cannot emphasise enough the BTTS potential of this game. While nothing is certain in football, the stats heavily favour this outcome. 78.6% of City’s games have been BTTS in the league so far this season, and Leicester with 71.4%, these teams are 1st and 4th in the BTTS table. Sun Bets have BTTS at 8/11, while not the best odds, a must have in any weekend acca. Man City to win and BTTS Yes at 11/5 is worth a large stake.

Man Utd vs Tottenham: What Next for Jose Mourinho?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It is only a few short months ago that Jose Mourinho was being hailed as the “saviour” at Old Trafford. The United fans believed that Mourinho would quickly return the Red Devils to their glory days. Boosted by the arrival of Ibrahimovic, Bailly, Mkhitaryan and world record signing Paul Pogba, surely they would now be top four material once again. The stodgy dreary football played under Louis van Gaal would now be well and truly in the past.

The fact of the matter is that United are certainly playing more attractive football under Mourinho. The problem is in getting the results. United are currently sixth in the table, a massive 9pts behind the top four places.

They also trail leaders Chelsea by a colossal 13pts, and surely their title chances have disappeared. United are going to struggle to even qualify for the Champions League, but how much of this is the fault of the previous manager?

Big Players Haven’t Performed

The fact of the matter is that Mourinho has spent a lot of money this season. His excuses for blaming Louis van Gaal and his much talked about “football philosophy” are wearing a little bit thin. If we factor in pre-season, Mourinho has now had five months with most of these players.

They are doing well in the possession stats but their quality in front of goal has been lacking. They face a Tottenham side that has been buoyed by yet another solid season.

It is how United compare against the top sides in the league that will define their season. So far they have failed to beat a top-six team after four attempts. They have drawn against Liverpool and Arsenal, but have been beaten at home to rivals City and then thrashed at Chelsea.

Tottenham will pose a Lot of Problems

Tottenham will pose yet another big test for Mourinho and his team of misfiring stars. United can be backed with Bet365 at odds of 5-4. William Hill quotes 5-2 for the draw and this looks like a much better bet than United at 5-4, seeing as they have yet to beat a top six side this season.

Tottenham is playing well. They thrashed Swansea City 5-0 and then finished their Champions League group with a 3-1 win against CSKA Moscow. You can get odds of 12-5 for a Tottenham victory at Old Trafford.

If we then add the late strikes against West Ham where they won 3-2, Harry Kane and company are clearly scoring goals again. That will be enough to cause Mourinho a big headache. The last thing he needs is another home defeat. If that happens on Sunday then expect the home fans to be booing at the final whistle. The United faithful didn’t expect another season outside of the Champions League, certainly not when they signed one of the most successful managers in world football.

Pettis vs. Holloway: It’s All About the Third Round

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

When it comes to the UFC’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, there’s only one name that stands proud: Conor McGregor. However, with the Irishman seemingly forced to move from the former to the latter (although he claims the UFC have another thing coming), there’s now a race to see who will become the featherweight champion.

Now, before we breakdown the nuances of Anthony Pettis vs. Max Holloway, it’s important to note that Jose Aldo is now the undisputed champion. Despite losing the title to McGregor, the current dynamics have handed him the title which means Pettis and Holloway will now fight for an interim title. In simple speak, that means the winner of UFC 206’s main event will become the number one contender and challenge Aldo for the unified belt.

Will Holloway Continue his Streak?

Naturally, the road from here to there is paved with danger for both fighters, but just who will come out on top. If we look at the current betting line at Sun Bets, the odds makers are siding with the man on a nine-fight win streak, Holloway. With the current line set at 8/15, the betting insiders are clearly confident the Hawaiian can extend his streak on December 11 and prove once and for all that he’s the top contender in the division.

Does that mean Pettis is a write-off at 7/4 with William Hill? Absolutely not. Although his star power has faded in recent fights, we can’t forget that he used to be the lightweight champion. Through a combination of powerful body kicks, slick jiu-jitsu and improved takedown defence, Pettis ran through the lightweight division and took the title. Although he eventually lost the belt, and his lustre, to Rafael dos Anjos, Pettis is still a world-class fighter.

Unfortunately, this one could come down to a battle of confidence. Although Pettis has been making all the right noises in the build up to the fight, his recent record suggests he’s lacking the confidence he once had. A third-round submission against Charles Oliveira marked his debut at featherweight, but prior to that, he endured tough losses at lightweight against Edson Barboza and Eddie Alvarez.

Has Pettis Lost His Mojo?

Now, losing to Barboza and Alvarez is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it’s the way he lost that matters. Despite having six submission wins from 16 fights, Pettis has always been a stand-up fighter, but he faltered against two opponents who are equally comfortable on their feet. This should be seen as a red flag going into the fight against Holloway. Although he’s more unorthodox in his technique, the rangy Hawaiian loves to strike, and if Pettis has lost his mojo in that department, it could be a win for Holloway.

Another factor in this fight could be the weight cut. Pettis has looked drawn-out in the lead up to the fight and if it goes into deep water then he could easily drown. Although he’s big for the weight, Holloway looks more natural at the weigh-ins and that will undoubtedly help his cardio if it reaches the later rounds. In fact, this could be where the fight is decided. Pettis won’t go down early, but if he does it’s likely to be towards the end of the second or the third.

For some real betting value, Holloway to win in round 3 at 16/1 with bet365 could be the bet of the night. A points win is also possible and offers some interest at 6/4, but if you’re looking for the best return for a small stake, a TKO win midway through the third is our pick for this one.

Joshua vs. Molina: One Punch vs. Sustained Power

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

We all know that Anthony Joshua has the power to put anyone away with a single punch, but Eric Molina believes he can upset the odds with his own secret shot. In the final pre-fight press conference between the two fighters, Molina was respectful of Joshua but issued a stern warning to those who have doubted him. Stating explicitly that he’s been training for one specific punch, one perceived weakness in Joshua’s game that he is going to exploit on December 10, Molina says he’s ready to take the IBF heavyweight title home.

For his part, Joshua was calm during the press conference and offered little insight into his own strategy. In fact, as he’s so often done, he explained that he isn’t simply training for the here and now. While Molina may have been laser-focused on one move for Joshua, the man himself is training to become the perfect fighter. Whether it’s now or in five fights time, Joshua has continued to build a complete skill set under trainer Rob McCracken and this time out he may well look like an improved version of his former self.

Not Even a Puncher’s Chance for Molina

So, when it comes to the odds makers, how does the one shot optimism of Molina stack up against the cool, calculated strategy of Joshua? Well, to put it politely, those in charge of the betting lines don’t even think Molina has a puncher’s chance of winning. Regardless of whether he possesses the kryptonite shot or not, the bookies can’t see this one going to the American.

Sun Bets and Coral have similar lines at 3/100 and 1/33 respectively, while Paddy Power is taking an even more pessimistic view of Molina’s chances with a Joshua win price of 1/50. Of course, stranger things have happened in boxing and there’s every chance Molina could cause an upset. In fact, those that are quick to dismiss his chances seem to forget that he’s been in with the man many consider the best heavyweight in the world, Deontay Wilder.

Although he eventually lost the fight, Molina rocked Wilder with a thumping left hook in the third. Not only that, but it took Wilder until the ninth to finally see off his opponent. This sort of resilience not only led Wilder to describe Molina as “willing and determined” enough to give Joshua problems, but it could make him a dark horse in this one.

There’s Some Value in a Molina Gamble

While the chances of a Molina win are slim, an early shot could rattle Joshua. If that’s your call, 14/1 on a Molina win with Paddy Power looks to be the best value out there at the moment. If you want to be a bit more specific, Molina in the third (the same round he rocked Wilder) is currently 100/1 at Sun Bets.

When all is said and done, however, it’s hard to back a man who has admitted he only has one way to win. While that may just be talk ahead of the fight, Molina isn’t known for his bravado. Although we know he has a toolbox full of tricks gathered through years of experience, he is in danger of relying on plan A without having a plan B.

Expect a Mid-Fight Finish

For that reason alone it’s tough to see how Joshua loses this one. Many feel he could put his opponent away early with a few well-placed shots, but it’s likely Joshua knows it will take a bit more to get the job done and leave something back. For those interested in round betting, Coral’s over bet on 4.5 rounds at 11/8 looks to have some value. Beyond that, Joshua to win in Round 6 at 10/1 could be the tastiest bet of the night.

Yes, there’s a very strong chance this fight could be over inside of three, but if Joshua continues to display the maturity he’s shown in recent fights, it will go longer. Can Molina last nine rounds with a power puncher like Joshua as he did against Wilder? Probably not, but there’s no reason he couldn’t still be in there by the sixth. If that’s the case, we can expect a mid-fight finish from Joshua. But, as Molina keeps telling us, we shouldn’t be shocked if things don’t go the way we expect.

Chelsea To Continue Their Good Form With An Entertaining Win

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

CHELSEA put a real marker down on their Premier League title aspirations last weekend with a mightily impressive 3-1 win at the Etihad against one of their main title rivals Manchester City.

This weekend they are expected to continue their excellent run of form with what looks a relatively straight forward three points at home to West Brom.

It’s incredible to think that just two months ago Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was the bookies favourite to become the next Premier League manager to lose his job, but eight Premier League wins for the Italian since then has seen the Londoners’ move to the top of table and installed as the 2.25 favourites to be crowned champions again.

Chelsea is very short for another win at just 1.30 with Stan James, and despite the visitors playing their best football under manager Tony Pulis, they should prove too strong against the Baggies.

West Brom is unbeaten in their last four games and was excellent in the 3-1 win last week at home to Watford, but this really is a massive jump in class to recent wins over Leicester and Burnley, and even at the huge 15.0 it’s very hard to find any case for a West Brom win.

Will They Park the Bus?

In recent years when manager at both West Brom and Stoke, Pulis’ has been guilty of parking the bus at the Premier League top sides and putting 10 men behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate his more illustrious opponents; I don’t think that will be the case at the weekend.

This season West Brom have been the entertainers with eight of their last ten matches seeing both teams scoring and 32 goals scored in that period.

Over 2.5 goals looks a nice bet to me at 1.70 with BetVictor, and despite Chelsea having a fantastic recent defensive record, I can see both teams scoring in this one at the general 2.20 that is with most firms.

Chelsea’s recent form has been mainly due to the return of goals from striker Diego Costa and the Spaniard looks a happy player again, currently topping the Premier League goalscoring charts; I like him to add to his impressive goal total by opening the goalscoring in this one at the general 3.75, with another 3-1 Chelsea win looking very tempting at 13.0 with Bet365.

Watford vs Everton: A Close One Tough to Call

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League features Watford against Everton. While this isn’t one of the stellar Premier League fixtures, it does present a very interesting betting opportunity. Both clubs have had a decent start to the season. Watford under new coach Walter Mazzari have done very well and have 18pts from their first 14 games. If they continue that points per game ratio, that should see them safe with several games to spare.

The problem is that the Premier League isn’t as simple as that. Many smaller clubs have done well in the first half of the season and then really struggled after Christmas. Watford was forced into a managerial change that they didn’t really want to make last season. You have to give some serious credit to Walter Mazzari for steadying what appeared to be a very rocky ship.

The Strength to Survive

Watford clearly has the players to perform in the top league. They achieved a creditable 13th place in their first year back in the top flight last season. Everton too has had a turbulent time. Moving from David Moyes to Roberto Martinez and now to Ronald Koeman in such a short space of time has been difficult. You have to give Everton some credit as well because they haven’t been in serious trouble in any of that time. They currently sit in 8th place on 20pts and are looking at yet another solid season.

Everton travels to Watford this weekend with both clubs experiencing recent mixed results. They have only won once in their previous six combined matches. So both teams need a win, and both managers will know that a bad run of results could be waiting for them just around the corner.

Great Value Bets

This is a really tough game to call. Vicarage Road is not an easy place to go to for any visiting team. So it is surprising to see the bookies quoting 2-1 for a Watford victory. Those are the sort of odds that you would see for a match like this played on a neutral ground. There is value in backing Watford at 2-1 with BetFred, but there isn’t any value at backing Everton at odds of 11-8 with Bet365.

The facts are obvious. Everton has shaky recent form and is facing a tough away trip to a team every bit as strong as them. There may be some value in the draw at 12-5 with PaddyPower. Watford is tough to beat at home and only tend to lose to the top teams. They were beaten at home twice in August by Chelsea and Arsenal but that could be attributed to a slow start to the season. Since then they have only been beaten at Vicarage Road by Stoke City in the Premier League, and only by the odd goal.