Tag: football betting

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Can Klopps Red Army March On

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Liverpool hasn’t been league champions since 1990. That is far too long for a club of this standing. They have sat back and watched a multitude of teams lift the trophy since then. Teams like Arsenal, Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Manchester City and of course their fierce rivals Manchester United. This season could just see the end of that barren run because Jürgen Klopp is building something special this season.

They reached yet another semi-final this week by beating Leeds United 2-0 in the EFL Cup. Jürgen Klopp would love to win the EFL Cup, but it’s the league title that they all covet. It’s going to be very difficult for any team to win the league this term. The competition is very hot. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are going to be there or thereabouts come May. It is also becoming apparent that Chelsea will come very close too.

Healing the Scars

Steven Gerrard may soon be back at Anfield in a coaching role. His recent retirement marks the end for perhaps the greatest player ever to wear a Liverpool shirt. Gerrard was also at the centre for what was one of the most memorable slips in football history. His slip that let in Chelsea to score, which gifted the title to Manchester City in 2014 will be remembered for years.

It is on a par with John Terrys’ famous penalty shootout slip in the 2008 Champions League final that would have won the cup for Chelsea. The scars from the Chelsea game still haunt the Liverpool fans. If Klopp could end that hurt, then he would surely go down in Anfield folklore. The next leg of their title challenge sees them travel to Bournemouth.

A Tough Place to Visit

The Vitality Stadium is becoming a tough place to visit for any team. Both Everton and Tottenham have gone there this season and failed to score. Eddie Howe has built an impressive team on the south coast. Once again they have made a solid start to the season and have 15pts so far. The bookies have Bournemouth at 4/1 to beat Liverpool with Coral and William Hill quoting those odds.

You can also get 16/5 on the draw with William Hill too, while the best odds for Liverpool are 8/11 with Boyle Sports. It is difficult to oppose Liverpool when they travel to any club in the bottom half of the table. The Premier League is the toughest league in Europe by none. There are no easy fixtures and Sunderland frustrated the Reds for long periods last week before conceding late goals. Liverpool only managed a 0-0 draw against Southampton recently at St Marys, and so the value seems to be either in backing Bournemouth or the draw.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: The Title Decider?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s certainly too early to call this weekends’ showdown between Manchester City and Chelsea a “title decider”. Despite this, we will still be able to gain some important indicators from this match as to who the likely champions will be. We have a lot more data to go on when it comes to predicting the champions than we had back in August. For example, Manchester United will clearly not be champions this season, and we don’t need to wait until it is mathematically certain to see why.

When Statistics Reveal the Answers

Quite often, statistics get to the very heart of the matter and reveal the truth. The league champions usually finish with a total of around 85pts. The points’ totals of City, Chelsea and Liverpool so far clearly indicate that this figure will be reached this season. United have 20pts from 13 games. Clearly, given their current level of performance, they will not amass 65pts from their remaining 25 matches. So what do the statistics reveal for the Manchester City vs Chelsea encounter?

Chelsea made a solid start to the season in August. They won all three of their league games. Looking back on these three games and how they played out revealed that all wasn’t well with the Chelsea system. All three of Chelsea’s opponents were relatively weak and this papered over the cracks. This led to a poor September where Chelsea only took one point from a possible nine. A home defeat to Liverpool and a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal highlighted the shortcomings in the Chelsea team.

The Trend is up

Analysing form in football betting usually means looking at trends. Chelsea had a total of 10pts from six matches after September. Since then they have taken maximum points from seven matches. This includes wins over Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham. Antonio Conte has turned things around very rapidly. They are becoming very difficult to score against and should they win at the Etihad this weekend, they will become serious title challengers and favourites.

The current trend is favouring Chelsea, and Manchester City’s recent form has been patchy. If we take away the great start to the season by City and the mediocre one by Chelsea then the difference in their recent form clearly gives the Blues a significant edge. Manchester City can be backed at 11/10 with Bet365.

Their recent home draws to Southampton, Everton and Middlesbrough seem to indicate that 11/10 is too short. Far too short when you consider that the visitors are possible champions elect. Stan James offers 13/5 on the draw with Betfred quoting 5/2 for a Chelsea win. Both teams may be happy with a point and so the value bet seems to indicate the draw at 13/5.

Manchester United vs West Ham: Two Bosses under Pressure

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Manchester United take on West Ham on Sunday in the Premier League. Both managers are under pressure and need a win. After the successes of last season, Slaven Bilic and the West Ham fans would not have expected to be just one place above the drop zone in November.

In fact, a defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday could see them in the bottom three. A large part of their current situation can be blamed on the move to the new stadium. Their results in the impressive Olympic Stadium have been patchy, to say the least.

Any team in the Premier League is going to struggle if they are continually getting mediocre results at home. West Ham played with such energy and passion last season that you tend to wonder where it has all gone wrong. Injuries to key players haven’t helped. Andy Carroll is still some way off being fully fit, and he has only played once all season. West Ham certainly misses his potent threat up front.

Misfiring Reds

The question needs to be asked if Manchester United’s title chances have already vanished this season. Some people argue that it’s too early to say that. Consider the facts. They trail Chelsea by 9pts, and they are behind three teams that are playing much better than them in Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. All of their big name acquisitions have been misfiring this season. Wayne Rooney has been well below his best.

These are four big reasons why the 9pt gap will likely grow larger rather than contract. You simply cannot underperform for half a season and expect to win the league. The big test for United is to finish in the top four. Jose Mourinho is certainly under pressure, but then again why shouldn’t he be?

United are Still No Better

We can argue about the merits of style but the league position and the stats don’t lie. United are no better off under Mourinho than they were under Moyes and Van Gaal. The bookies now have United at 25/1 for the title. Those odds are not too far short of bookmaker spiel for “no chance”.

As for their game with the Hammers on Sunday, they will start as favourites and rightly so. One negative point for United could be their Europa League tie against Feyenoord on Thursday. What will their energy levels be like against West Ham? Mourinho has openly stated that he is taking the Europa League very seriously this season.

He may need to if they miss out on the top four in the league. Winning the Europa League would then be United’s only chance of playing in the Champions League next season. You can get odds of 1-2 with Stan James for a Man United win. You can also get 7-2 with SkyBet for the draw and a tasty 15-2 with BetFred for a West Ham upset.

Arsenal vs. Bournemouth: Will Wilshere Make the Difference?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Could Jack Wilshere be the missing link on November 27 when Bournemouth travel to Arsenal? The Arsenal midfielder is currently on loan at Bournemouth following a spell of injuries and poor form, but he’ll have to sit this game out under the rules governing players on a temporary contract.

Since moving to Bournemouth, Wilshere has played nine games and looks to be returning to the sort of form that saw him hailed as one of Arsenal’s next great hopes. In fact, with injuries now a distant memory and his link-up plays starting to find their mark, Wilshere recently received an England call-up from Gareth Southgate.

Wilshere In Form but Out of Action

While it might be a little early to hail the “return” of the 24-year-old talent, he’s certainly looked comfortable in a Bournemouth shirt. Unfortunately, with the FA’s rules preventing him from playing, it looks as though Bournemouth will be up against it at the Emirates.

To date, Arsenal has faced Bournemouth three times and haven’t lost on any occasion. To heap more pressure on Eddie Howe, Arsenal has lost just once this season and currently sit fourth in the Premier League, while Bournemouth has lost five. In any other match, Howe would be looking to Wilshere for some inspiration in the middle of the park, but this Sunday he won’t have the luxury.

Fortunately, however, he does have Harry Arter. The feisty midfielder has been a powerhouse in the centre this season and often comes in with a crunch challenge when it really matters. According to the stats, Arter has won 25 tackles this season, which is the fifth-best total in the league so far this season.

Midfield Strength is Bournemouth’s Best Hope

With Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez often dropping deep from the frontline, a crunch battle between these two could define much of the match. If Arter can slow down Sanchez and prevent him from feeding into the likes of Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, then it could stifle Arsenal’s attacks and give Bournemouth a chance to sneak a win.

However, even if Bournemouth can contain Sanchez, Arsenal are still a threat, and more importantly, the Cherries haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders this season. With more conceded (16) than scored (14), Bournemouth is struggling for goals and that could be the deciding factor on Sunday.

The current betting line at Sun Bets has Arsenal as the 2/5 favourites and the visitors way out at 13/2. Although Ladbrokes and Paddy Power are both offering 4/1 on a draw, the market is clearly split between the two opposites of wins and losses. Of course, for a bit more value, Sun Bets will give you 8/1 on the familiar one nil to the Arsenal, but this game looks to have more goals in it.

If There Are Goals, They’ll Probably be Arsenal’s

Bournemouth is vulnerable at the back and Arsenal has netted 25 in 12. That would suggest we’re in for two or more goals from the Gunners, which makes 2-0 at 7/1 and 3-0 at 15/2 look highly attractive. For those that want to take advantage of a timely betting offer, Paddy Power is currently offering an instant payout if your team goes two goals up at any stage in the game.

Valid for all pre-match singles in the Win-Draw-Win market, this offer will see you paid out in full as a winner if your selection nets a two-goal lead. Given Arsenal’s current form and goals-per-game average just over the 2.0 mark, this looks like an offer that’s worth taking advantage of.

That deal aside, Arsenal certainly look like the clear favourites heading into this game and it could well be Wilshere’s absence that’s helped this fact. The Arsenal player might not be contributing to his team’s current run, but he may still end up earning three points when Bournemouth travel to London on Sunday.

Honours To Be Shared On Koeman’s Return

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

SOUTHAMPTON have got to improve massively on their midweek Europa League performance if they are to have any chance of a win when former manager Ronald Koeman returns to St Mary’s on Sunday with Everton.

The Saints were woeful in Prague on Thursday night in their 1-0 Europa League defeat against Sparta and if they perform anywhere like that again, it will be a long afternoon for the home side.

The bookies make Southampton a very short 2.20 favourite for the win which is available with most firms and although they are expected to make wholesale changes from the European defeat, that is still a price that does nothing for me.

After a decent little run of form Claude Puel’s side have now failed to win in their last four Premier League fixtures, and with them up against their former manager, I can’t see them winning this one either.

Acrimony surrounded Koeman’s departure in June and he did a magnificent job for Southampton – but could face a very hostile reception at the weekend.

After a bright start to life on Merseyside, the Dutchman has seen his team also struggle for consistency in recent weeks, and the Toffees’ have come unstuck recently after just one win in their last eight matches. That puts me off having a bet on them even at the tempting 3.75, despite them winning this fixture comfortably last season.

In three of their last six matches, Everton has been held to a draw, and draws have been popular on the south coast as with stalemates in four of their last 11.

We saw last week in the dire 0-0 with Liverpool when a lot of Saints’ old boys returned to St Mary’s, it’s very hard to raise your game at a former club, and the draw looks a decent bet in this one again at 3.50 with BoyleSports and Betfred.

All of those Everton draws have ended 1-1 at the final whistle. With both sides featuring strikers that are bang in form in Charlie Austin and Romelu Lukaku, I like both teams to score “yes” at 1.95 with Betfair Sportsbook in what looks likely to be another 1-1 draw, at 7.00 with William Hills, which was the scoreline when the two teams met last at Goodison Park in April.

London Calling: Chelsea vs. Tottenham Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Take two London clubs, one that’s yet to lose and another sitting top of the Premier League and what have you got? That’s right, you’ve got a recipe for something truly special. Chelsea vs. Tottenham has always been a battle of attrition, but this season’s inaugural derby on November 26 could be so much more.

Spurs are yet to sample the bitter taste of defeat in the Premier League this season; however, despite this unblemished record, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are still sitting fifth in the table after 12 games. In contrast, even with two defeats already under their belts, Chelsea’s finest are now riding high on 28 points.

Drawing the Short Straw

The difference, in this instance, is draws. While Chelsea has drawn just once and won nine times, Tottenham has a 50/50 win/draw split. This ability to shut down teams but simultaneously fail to punish them has made Spurs something of a unique proposition this season. In some respects, they’re the most impressive team in the league thanks to a lack of losses and only eight goals conceded.

However, on the flipside, they’re one of the most disappointing sides in the top five. As impressive as it is to remain unbeaten, the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son haven’t exactly been emphatic up front. With only 18 goals overall, Tottenham appears to lack the firepower necessary to compete with the Premier League’s big boys.

Indeed, if you contrast that strike rate to league leader’s Chelsea, Diego Costa and co have notched up 27 goals. In fact, when you bore down into the individual stats, Tottenham’s leading light, Harry Kane has only scored once this season. Yes, he’s only played 90 minutes and is far from his best, but it’s setbacks like this that have stopped Spurs from becoming an unstoppable force.

Smooth Sailing for Chelsea

For Chelsea, the lack of injury worries and dips in form has seen the blues slip past their rivals and quietly assume control of the league. Fortunately, for those in the south-west of the capital, Antonio Conte won’t have any such worries heading into the Tottenham match. Everyone appears to be present and correct ahead of the clash, and that could be the difference this time around.

According to the odds makers at Sun Bets, Chelsea are the comfortable favourites to take all three points with a betting line currently sitting at 8/11. This confidence is echoed at Coral (7/10) and William Hill (3/4), which would suggest we’ll see Chelsea continue to tighten their grip on the league.

For Tottenham manager Pochettino, injury issues and suspensions will continue to be a problem. Just as Conte has enjoyed a relatively smooth ride this season, Pochettino will have to do without full-back Danny Rose (suspended) and Toby Alderweireld (injury). These missing links could result in a formation change to 3-4-3, which would essentially see Spurs mimicking Chelsea.

Identical Tactics Could Cancel Each Other Out

Now, if Tottenham were firing on all cylinders, going kick-for-kick with Chelsea wouldn’t be a bad idea. However, as we’ve already seen, there has been a distinct lack of attacking prowess from Tottenham and that could be problematic on Sunday. Of course, if you’re in the market for some value or you’re simply a diehard fan of the Lilywhites, Sun Bets will give you 15/4 on a Tottenham win.

For those with an eye on some actual value, the draw could be the most promising betting option for this game. Given Tottenham’s ability to shut down teams but fail to score, 11/4 on a draw with Coral looks to be too good a price to turn down. Naturally, with home advantage, no injury worries and the weight of momentum on their side, Chelsea will be tough to stop. However, if Spurs can dig in and display some flashes of genius as they have at times this season, a draw is more than possible.