Tag: football bets

Tottenham v Everton Preview: Hedge Your Bets on this One

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

“We’ve had good results against really good teams and that gives everyone the confidence to get a good result on Sunday.” That’s what Everton manager Ronald Koeman recently told the club’s official website when asked about their impending clash with second-place Tottenham.

Reviewing the Toffees’ season-to-date, a season that’s seen them beat Manchester City, Arsenal and pick up a point against Manchester United, Koeman is confident his players have the skills to win on March 5. However, as buoyed by these results as Koeman may be, Mark Lawrenson can’t see Everton maintaining their current streak of nine games unbeaten.

Despite acknowledging the quality of the side, Tottenham’s defensive abilities and their desire to bounce back from a disappointing Europa League exit will be enough to tip the balance according to Lawro.

“Generally Spurs are very good defensively and, at the other end, they just ripped the Potters apart last week – Harry Kane’s hat-trick was top drawer. I know Everton are nine games unbeaten in the league, but going to White Hart Lane and continuing that run is a huge ask,” Lawrenson told BBC sport.

The Battle Between the Physical and the Mental

Ahead of the match, it seems as though one of two factors could decide this game. On the one hand, those in favour of Tottenham can look towards the team’s superior physical skills. With Harry Kane currently banging in goals for fun and leading the Premier League’s top scorer race, there’s no doubt Everton will be under pressure from the off. In fact, when you factor in the loss of defensive midfielder Muhamed Besic due to an injury, Everton may be forced into their shell in a bid to stop Kane from running riot.

On the other hand, Everton supporters could feasibly claim that their players will have the psychological edge heading into the match. As Koeman has pointed out, big results from big games this season bodes well for the upcoming fixture. Add to that the fact Everton picked up a point against Spurs the last time they met on top of a nine-run win streak and supporters have every right to be confident. There’s no doubt the absence of Besic and Yannick Bolasie will hurt, but maybe the team’s mindset can overcome this hurdle.

Indeed, with Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Erik Lamela all looking unlikely, the time may be right for Everton to do a bit better than a point. If the boys in blue can ride this wave of confidence, 9/2 on a win with Sun Bets looks to be a strong price. On the flip side, those with the confidence that physical skills will overcome mental agility can find odds of 4/6 on Tottenham at Coral.

Double Your Bets for a Chance to Win Twice

For those looking to sniff out a bargain, Paddy Power’s weekend “2 Up” offer may be worth taking. If Spurs can bag a couple of quick goals, you’ll be paid out instantly at 8/13 regardless of the end result. Given that we could easily see Everton fight back and earn a point as they did last time out, this could be a great way to hedge your bets. By combining Paddy Power’s offer with Coral’s 3/1 on the draw you to pick up two wins on what looks to be a highly likely outcome.

With both teams playing well and positives on both sides, Tottenham v Everton looks set to be an entertaining but close game. Current league standings would suggest the home side will just edge it. However, if you’re willing to double your bets and use some online offers, the draw could be the wisest move you’ll make this weekend.

Liverpool To Breathe New Life Into The Title Race

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

WHAT a match to welcome back the Premier League this midweek when Liverpool host table toppers Chelsea at Anfield.

It’s been a contrasting few weeks for both of these footballing giants with Liverpool struggling for any form after just one win in their last six matches, and Chelsea pulling NINE points clear at the top of the Premier League table after 13 wins from their last 14 matches.

This is a mini crisis for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his side have to win this to stand any chance of winning their first English title in 25 years; and although their form is shocking at present, their record against the top teams is very good and they can’t be overlooked.

The Reds’ have no problem when they are up against the best, it’s the lower sides that they can’t find a way past as they’ve let odds-on punters down FIVE times now in their last six matches.

Liverpool isn’t odds-on to win this one, which means they stand a good chance; you can get 2.50 on them for the win and in a game where it arguably means more to them than the visitors, that looks a decent bet.

Earlier on in the season Liverpool went to Stamford Bridge and came away with three points in a 2-1 win, and despite Chelsea’s excellent form, the 3.00 on the Blues’ isn’t a price that I would want to take against a side that they’ve had problems beating recently,

Recent History not Good for the Favourites

In the last six meetings between these two rivals, Chelsea has just one win and it will be interesting to see the tactics that Antonio Conte goes with at Anfield, as a point is a good result for the Londoners’ and Liverpool have struggled this season when teams have come to Merseyside to defend.

In six of the last seven meetings, both teams have scored and that will be a popular bet with punters at 1.66, but in a game that means so much for both sides, I am expecting this one to be tight. I would rather swim against the tide and play “no” at 2.25 with BetVictor, and also get involved in the under 2.5 goal market which is 2.00 with William Hill, which has been a regular winner in Liverpool’s recent matches.

I always like to take Liverpool when they are not expected to perform and on big nights like this under the Anfield lights, the “Kop” can inspire them to a slender 1-0 win, which is a general 9.50, to get their title hopes back on track and a result that will be cheered on by all the other title contenders.

Best Bets Ahead of a Premier League Super Sunday

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

WE’VE finally got a real “Super Sunday” in the Premier League this weekend and the first match sees title favourites Manchester City host in-form Southampton at the Etihad.

Manchester City vs. Southampton

Pep Guardiola had a homecoming to forget after his former side Barcelona inflicted a 4-0 Champions League midweek defeat on City; this was the Spaniard’s heaviest loss in management, and in the middle of a difficult time at present he faces a tough challenge again at the weekend.

After a perfect 10 match winning start to the new season, City are just clinging on to top spot after four matches without a success, and they offer little value to win at just 1.55 with Coral.

Southampton’s season is a polar opposite to City’s; The Saints’ failed to win in their opening four matches, but they arrive in the blue half of Manchester flying without a loss in their last seven.

Claude Puel’s side are 7.00 to continue their winning form, and even though that does look very tempting on paper, six successive loses in this fixture is putting me off having a small wager on them.

Sergio Aguero was amazingly rested at the Camp Nou. The Argentinian looks certain to lead the line and he will be up against another in-form striker in Southampton’s Charlie Austin. With those two in excellent goalscoring form, I like both teams to score at 1.80 with BoyleSports for the sixth time in the last seven years in this fixture.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United

ALL eyes will be on the “special one” Jose Mourinho when he returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since being sacked last season, with his new Manchester United to take on Chelsea.

I was staggered when I looked at the prices for this and saw that Chelsea were just 2.10 for the win. Why?

The Blues’ did produce their best performance of the season last time out with a 3-0 win against Leicester. But the Foxes’ were dreadful, and prior to that win, Antonio Conte’s side had only won just once in their last five, and the Italian was backed into odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

Mourinho produced a tactical masterclass to frustrate Liverpool at Anfield on Monday, and I can see him doing the same again, cranking up the mind games in the press conferences before Sunday.

United are in very good form arriving in West London unbeaten in their last five matches, and why they are 3.75 for the win with Betfred is staggering.

I can’t see Mourinho walking away as a loser and if you are not tempted by the price on United to win the match, then 2.50 on them on the draw no bet market also makes a lot of appeal.

Goals might be hard to come by if United’s tactics at Anfield are anything to go by, and in seven of the last eight matches between these two rivals, under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet. At 1.91 again with Betfred, throwing in the “Mourinho” factor as well, that looks an obvious play.

Champions League Betting Preview: Arsenal, Man City and Bayern

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The latest round of UEFA Champions League action is set to get underway on October 19 and this time around there’s not an easy game in sight (unless you’re Arsenal). While it’s fair to say there aren’t many easy games in the Champions League, this week’s selection of showdowns looks particularly tough for the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Celtic.

Arsenal vs. Ludogorets

With so many tough games to pick through, let’s start with opponents that shouldn’t pose much of a threat to the Gunners: Ludogorets. The Bulgarian champions are far from the biggest names in the competition, but that’s not to say they’ll just come in and roll over for Arsenal. Indeed, an early goal against Paris St Germain almost caused an upset, while a point away at Basel will go down as one of the club’s standout performances of the last decade.

On top of Ludogorets’ propensity to make it difficult for teams, Arsenal have been known to squander “easy” points in the competition before. In fact, you only have to cast your minds back to last season’s home defeat to Olympiacos and you’ll remember the anguish on Arsene Wenger’s face when his side almost failed to make it out of the group stages.

This time around, however, Arsenal should secure a home win before taking a further three points on their trip to Bulgaria. A quick look at Sun Bets’ odds sees the home side enter the match as the overwhelming betting favourites at 1/8. On the other side of the coin, Ludogorets are the proverbial underdogs at 18/1. If you do fancy hedging your bets and believe the Bulgarians can replicate their result against Basel, 15/2 on the draw is a bet you certainly shouldn’t dismiss outright.

Barcelona vs. Manchester City

While Arsenal should be enjoying a gentle Champions League stroll on Wednesday October 19, Barcelona and Manchester City will be engaged in what promises to be another high octane showdown. Despite City’s issues with UEFA in recent years, Pep Guardiola is a man on a mission in the Champions League this season.

City’s 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach last month was just the tonic the club needed, and has since inspired the players to even greater things in the Premier League. However, Monchengladbach and Barcelona are two different beasts and no one will know that more acutely than Guardiola. Having taken Barcelona to Champions League success in 2008/2009, the Spaniard not only knows what it’s like to win the competition, but what makes Barcelona tick.

Unfortunately, as if a group stage match against Barcelona wasn’t enough, City will have to travel to the fabled Nou Camp on Wednesday night. To compound that fact, a three-game winless run means the pressure will be on when the tackles start to fly. For analysts and fans alike, the current problem with City seems to be a lack of tactical consistency.

Guardiola doesn’t seem to have found a groove he likes, and despite sitting atop of the Premier League, there’s still work to do if he’s going to mount a serious challenge in the Champions League. In contrast, Barcelona aren’t short of goals at the moment and a 4-0 win over Deportivo last Saturday just goes to prove that (as does September’s 7-0 hammering of Celtic).

Although there have been some bumps in the road of late (i.e. a 2-1 loss to Alaves on September 10), the Spanish side will enjoy a slight advantage heading into the game. Of course, if you’re not quite sure how the land lies before the kickoff, there’s always the option of making an in-play bet. At bet365 this week you can earn a free in-play bet for the Barcelona vs. City game by making a pre-match wager.

As advertised, you can get a free in-play bet by: “placing a bet before kick-off then, once the game starts, place another bet on any In-Play market. If your FIRST In-Play bet loses we will refund this stake, up to the same value as your largest pre-match bet (max refund £50*)”.

As it stands, Barcelona are 8/15 for the win, while City will start the game as the 5/1 underdogs. A draw with bet365 will return you 15/4 on your money and if you want the latest live odds you’ll have to check out the site during the game for the best prices.

Bayern Munich vs. PSV Eindhoven

The other standout fixture in the Champions League this week is Bayern Munich vs. PSV Eindhoven. Two veterans of the competition, the odds would suggest that Munich will come away with a comfortable win, but they certainly can’t take things for granted. PSV haven’t lost in five matches, and while those results have been mainly draws, Phillip Cocu’s side have shown they have a certain amount of resilience on the pitch.

In fact, when you look at Munich’s last five results there’s not much more to get excited about. A 3-0 win against Hertha back in September was then followed by a 1-0 win over Hamburger SV before a loss to Atletico Madrid. Despite a less than stellar string of performances, Munich are currently commanding odds of 2/9 at Ladbrokes while PSV are the 12/1 outsiders. However, if you’re looking for a value bet based on recent form, 11/2 on the draw is more than worth a look. Although Munich are undoubtedly the better side, nothing is ever guaranteed in the Champions League; especially when the opponents are as experienced as PSV.

Liverpool vs. Manchester United: A Pressure Cooker of Potential

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In the football fraternity and in Premier League betting, rivalries don’t come much bigger than the one between Liverpool and Manchester United. Even though the two clubs don’t occupy the same county borders and it’s not technically a derby, there is a competitive streak between them that runs deep.

On Monday, October 17th, the latest installment of the age-old rivalry will take place as the Premier League big boys clash at Anfield. Unsurprisingly, Europe’s leading online bookmakers are firmly on the Premier League betting bandwagon ahead of the clash which means you can fill up on tasty odds before washing it down with some high octane action on Monday night.

Does Paul Merson Know Best?

As ever, Betcirca is here to give a complete breakdown of the best Premier League bets for Liverpool vs. Manchester United and, today, our starting point is Paul Merson. Despite being an Arsenal legend and someone who would have done everything in his power back in the day to defeat Liverpool or United, Merson knows what he’s talking about when it comes to tactics.

Ahead of Monday’s match, Merson has tipped Liverpool for the win. Breaking down the action on SkySports.com, Merson believes the attacking prowess of Jurgen Klopp’s men will be too much for United to handle.

“I don’t think Man Utd will be able to live with Liverpool’s attacking players and if the hosts start quickly they will have too much at Anfield,” said Merson.

Pressure is a Fickle Mistress

Adding to Liverpool’s potential firepower on Monday is the fact United could start the game knowing that their closest rivals are gradually moving away from them. Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham all play before United and, assuming they win as many predict they will, the pressure will be on.

As it stands, United are languishing in sixth place with 13 points while Man City sit atop of the Premier League with 18 points. In years gone by, three+ losses in the Premier League was a veritable death knell for a team’s chances of clinching the title. Although recent years have been slightly more forgiving, United have two negative notches on their stats sheet already.

A loss to Liverpool wouldn’t only cause United to fall further behind in the points race, but it would take them another step closer to a potentially fatal tipping point. That fact is possibly the biggest factor working against United moving forward. Pressure is often the catalyst for failure, and with Liverpool riding a rich vein of form, United could find themselves in trouble.

An Ace in the Hole

Of course, it won’t all be one-way traffic at Anfield even if the pressure is on. Jose Mourinho has a proverbial rabbit in the hat in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimović. Capable of something truly special on his day, Ibrahimović is unlikely to be overwhelmed by the occasion and that could work in United’s favour.

In fact, as well as having the ability turn the tide of a match on his own, Ibrahimović is also proving to be something of an inspiration for his teammates. Marcus Rashford recently told the press that the Swede is helping mentor the less experienced players. Maybe the Midas touch from Ibrahimović will rub off on his teammates against Liverpool, and a freshly invigorated United will go on to dominate the match?

Liverpool vs. Man United Best Bets

Picking a winner in this one certainly isn’t easy, so let’s stop waxing lyrical about both teams and take a look at the Premier League betting odds. Whatever side of the divide you fall on, the following bets from our bookmaking partners represent some serious value and are well worth considering if you’re going to ante-up:

  • Sun Bets: Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 14/5
  • Coral: Total booking points between 21 and 40 @ 5/2
  • William Hill: Daniel Sturridge to score & Liverpool to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 @ 6/1
  • Paddy Power: Manchester United to win @ 5/2
  • Sky Bet: Charlie Nicholas’ Tip, Chris Smalling to score 1st and match to end in a 1-1 draw @ 175/1

Regardless of the predictions and the betting odds, Liverpool vs. Manchester United looks set to be another barnstormer. With neither side wanting to disappoint their fans, we can expect a heady cocktail of passion, aggression and, if things go to plan, some goals.