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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Chelsea Can Be Top Dogs In London Derby 

It’s not too many weeks ago that today’s televised fixture between the home team in Arsenal and Chelsea would be virtually a playoff match for the fourth Champions League place. While Chelsea are unbeaten in four fixtures Arsenal have lost two of their last three matches in the Premier League. 

The Gunners are now only level on points with Manchester United who have come from well off the pace with five wins on the bounce. Today’s London derby has almost become a match Arsenal cannot afford to lose but that could be the outcome. United play Brighton at Old Trafford and they must be home bankers. 

Arsenal have only lost one league fixture at the Emirates and losing to Chelsea at home would be a huge blow for the new regime. The early season optimism of the Unai Emery era has taken some blows and another defeat would get the fans twitching. CHELSEA are the bet to pick up three points at 7/5 with Betfair.  

Wolves’ home fixture against Leicester is already looking like a relatively meaningless fixture. Both clubs are becalmed in mid-table safety, unlikely to be dragged into the relegation mire and too far off the pace to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League. Bookings are generally low in matches of this nature. 

The Midlands outfits are in the second tier comfort zone so motivation will be key. On recent form Leicester have an edge and the sixth best away record in the Premier League. However, Wolves are the epitome of average at home and Leicester are on average team on league placings. In the best spirit of sitting on the fence the recommendation is betting on the DRAW at 21/10 with Paddy Power.     

In racing Altior is the star of the show but only money buyers will be interested in backing the horse beat two rivals at Ascot. The Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock is far more competitive and 12 horses have been declared for the handicap chase over three miles and one and a half furlongs at 3.15. The field includes One For Arthur, the 2017 Grand National winner but WAKANDA is the tip at 13/2 with Coral. 

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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The Manchester United OLEGEND Lives On

The race for the top four in the Premier league and automatic qualification for the Champions League will have many twists and turns over the rest of the season. Arsenal and Manchester United are now six points off the pace but Arsenal are in decline. United have won their last five league games so are the form team of the division and the only side not to drop any points in that run. UNITED are 9/4 with Coral to finish in the top 4 and qualify for the Champions League.

The transformation under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been amazing. The players are now enjoying their football after the joyless Jose Mourinho era. United beat Tottenham at Wembley yesterday so Solskjaer passed his biggest test and is making a strong case to get the manager’s job on a permanent basis. Solskjaer is in the role for now and UNITED are 25/1 with Paddy Power to not lose again in the Premier League this season. That outcome would clinch the job for the Norwegian.

Manchester City have scored 16 goals in their two Cup matches against Rotherham and Burton. They would probably swap a couple of those to beat Wolves in the Premier League at the Etihad this evening. Wolves have recorded decent results against all the top six elite clubs, including a 1-1 draw on their own ground against the champions. The visitors have let in just 10 goals on their travels and only three of the elite clubs have a better defensive away record. City’s recent scoring average won’t continue so a ONE-NIL SCORE will suffice and that result is 7/1 with Coral.

It’s the first week of the Australian Open which could involve Andy Murray’s last match. The hip gives him too much pain to compete and the Grand Slam in Melbourne could be his career swan song. His demise is reflected in the fact that MURRAY is 7/2 with Paddy Power to beat Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.

Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot could be a cracker because Altior is in the early ante post betting. Waiting Patiently was brought down in the King George when travelling well and could also run. You should never be afraid of one horse and WAITING PATIENTLY is 16/1 with Paddy Power to prevail. Today’s Punchestown (2.45) nap on form and ratings is BRITISH ART at 4/1 with Coral.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Tottenham Are On The Way To Wembley 

Despite Tottenham’s improvement into a top four outfit under Mauricio Pochettino the club have not won a trophy since the League Cup in 2008. However, they still have four chances this season and their best bet is in the same competition. Tottenham were edging closer to Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League before losing at home to Wolves which has left them six points off the pace. They are in the last 16 of the Champions League and fourth round of the FA Cup but in terms of lifting a trophy TOTTENHAM at 4/1 with Betfair to win the EFL Cup is the bet. 

They are one tie away from a Wembley final and the relatively rare experience of playing at the national stadium! If things had gone to plan tonight’s home semi-final first leg against Chelsea would be being played at the new White Hart Lane. The move has been delayed which means Tottenham’s home fixtures are still being played at Wembley but home advantage is negated because it is basically a neutral ground. Tottenham are one place and four points ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League and the two teams are evenly matched. The DRAW at 12/5 with Ladbrokes leaves everything to play for in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. 

Michael van Gerwen is the darts world champion who is not playing in the darts world championship. The vagaries of the sport are such that there are two organizations and two championships of the world. The PDC version has all the glamour and the backing of Sky Sports and Barry Hearn. The BDO try to put on a show and the betting suggests GLEN DURANT is the most likely winner of their tournament at 11/10 with Ladbrokes. 

There is a decent handicap at the All-Weather meeting at Newcastle (5.15) over five furlongs. Turning one of the best turf tracks into an artificial surface did not go down well in some quarters but the north needed a sand track. The size of the fields are nothing special but there are 10 runners in this race. On form and ratings ATLETICO is the horse to back at 10/1 with Betfair.

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott 

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Wolves Are Tipped To Beat Liverpool In The FA Cup 

The 32nd and final tie of the third round of the FA Cup takes place tonight and the fixture between the home club in Wolves and Liverpool could go against form and current league standings. Wolves are becalmed in mid-table safety, too good to get involved in relegation issues and unlikely to break into the top six and contend for a place in the Champions League. 

Liverpool have set their heart on being the champions of England for the first time since 1990 and would love to be the top dogs in Europe for the sixth time. Team selection and motivation will be key but it’s worth noting that Liverpool have won just three of 10 FA Cup ties with Jurgen Klopp in charge. However, he did lead Borussia Dortmund to the league and Cup double in Germany in the 2011/12 season. 

However, the pressure to deliver a first Premier League title for Liverpool could lead to some second string players starting against Wolves. Newport showed that a hungry outfit can outplay an under strength Premier League side in beating Leicester in the Cup. WOLVES could be hungrier tigers than Liverpool and can be backed at 29/10 with William Hill to win the tie in 90 minutes. 

The Premier League reconvenes next weekend and the match of the schedule is Tottenham’s home match with Manchester United. The transformation in style and points gathering is such that United could win the match at Wembley. Three points would take them closer to Champions League qualification and MANCHESTER UNITED are now 7/2 with Paddy Power to finish in the top four. 

There are early season tournaments on the US PGA and European tours in golf and minor tennis events outdoors on hard courts in the Southern Hemisphere. These tournaments are prep events for the Australian Open which begins in three weeks. NOVAK DJOKOVIC is 5/4 with bet365 to win the first Grand Slam of the season. NAOMI OSAKA is 8/1 with bet365 to win the women’s event. 

There are no major handicaps or Cheltenham trials this weekend so the next key race is the Clarence House Chase at Ascot a week on Saturday. ALTIOR is an intended runner but only the money buyers will be interested in backing the horse at 1/3 with William Hill. The conditions stakes race at Wolverhampton on the All-Weather at 6.45 is the richest race of the day and HATHAL is the nap at 11/8 with Coral.   

Wolves Could A Cup Upset At Home To Liverpool – By Ian Hudson

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The football season in England moves on from the biggest match in the Premier League seamlessly to the third round of the FA Cup. Teams are playing 10 matches in about a month at the end of December and early in January and the biggest clubs are playing in up to four competitions. Manchester City and Liverpool meet on Thursday night and regardless of the outcome both clubs are competing in the most famous Cup competition in the world this weekend. Winning the FA Cup will not compensate for missing out on the Premier League but that could transpire for City.   

There will be some upsets in the round that the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the fray. However, the cream rises to the top. The average finishing position in the Premier League of the Cup winners is fourth. The average finishing position of the losing finalists is eighth. Despite the so called romance of the Cup one of the elite clubs who usually qualify for the Champions League wins the FA Cup. Despite falling off the pace in the league City are the best equipped. Manchester United have the profile of runners-up so there could be an all-Manchester final. 

The Saturday of the third round of the FA Cup was traditionally one of the most exciting days of the season. In the pre-Premier League era all 32 ties started at 3pm and there were no live matches. The only live coverage was for the final and even the semi-finals could only be viewed in highlights on the evening of the matches or the following day. Flexible scheduling and the demands of television mean only 10 third round ties begin at 3pm on Saturday. The live televised football bubble is unlikely to burst and TV funds the modern stadia and best players so call the tune. 

Six fixtures have been rearranged for live television and the only all-Premier League tie is Wolves home match against Liverpool on Monday night. Team selection will be key and the priorities for both clubs could be a clue to the outcome. Even if they lose to Manchester City Liverpool will be the league leaders when the match is played and they are in the last 16 of the Champions League. The FA Cup would be third on their wish list but it is Wolves’ best chance of winning a trophy. The home team are tipped to progress to the next round. 

Whenever Manchester United are drawn at home against a team from a lower division the match is shown live. Reading visit Old Trafford on Saturday and this tie loks like being one of the home bankers. Reading are 23rd in the Championship and have not won in five matches. The tie has been chosen for coverage for its giant-killing potential but even if the home team play the second string the starting 11 will include international players. United can beat Reading by more than two goals. 

The other four live matches feature Premier League teams on the road against opponents from a lower division. Here are the positions in the league pyramid of each club:

Tranmere 77 v Tottenham 2 

Blackpool 54 v Arsenal  5 

Woking 94 v Watford 9 

Newport County 80 v Leicester 7 

The gap in wealth between clubs in the Premier League and the rest of the professional game means even in one-off matches the richer clubs should prevail. Managers now respect the competition more so the Premier League clubs are unlikely to field the reserves. Bookmakers generally like accumulators but there is no logic to not backing the higher ranked clubs to win in 90 minutes in a fourfold at 11/10.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Leicester Can Win Tie Of Two Cities

Manchester City are the favourites to win the Champions League after drawing Schalke in the last 16. The Premier League champions have never been the champions of Europe but they have won the League Cup three times in the last five seasons. That suggests the club takes the competition seriously but team selection could be key to the outcome of their quarter-final tonight at Leicester. 

City are a price to win the tie in 90 minutes that they would be to win a Premier League meeting playing the first string. However, injuries and the inclusion of some fringe players make them too short to back. Leicester’s motivation could be at a higher level as the League Cup is their best chance of winning a trophy. At the relative odds LEICESTER are the team to back at 8/1 with Ladbrokes.  

The tie of the first knockout round in the Champions League is Liverpool against Bayern Munich. As manager of Borussia Dotrmund Jurgen Klopp took on Bayern and came out on top on several occasions. Clubs from the same league and group opponents can’t be drawn together in the last 16 which means the four Premier League clubs have been kept apart and they could all qualify for the quarter-finals. 

Tottenham are slight favourites to eliminate Borussia Dortmund but Manchester United are not fancied to get past the champions of France, PSG. It’s 16/1 with bet365 that the FOUR EPL teams advance to the next round. Last season two from four clubs won their ties at this stage. ENGLAND are 13/8 to be the nationality of the winner of the Champions League. Spain have three teams competing in the last 16 and are second favourites having won this market in the past five seasons followed by Italy, France and Germany.  

On a moderate day for racing ahead of the Christmas festival meetings at Kempton and Leopardstown in Ireland Catterick stages a five-runner handicap chase over almost two miles at 2.40. On ratings there’s about three lengths separating the field and nine pounds in the handicap. MIDNIGHT CHILL is the marginal preference in a tight contest and the horse can be backed at 11/8 with Coral. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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England Favourites To Be Champions League Winning Nationality 

All four Premier League teams have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and Manchester City are favourites of that quarter to progress furthest in the competition, By hook or by crook Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United made the draw for the first knockout round which takes place next February. 

City won their group so are seeded to play runners-up in the next round while the other three EPL clubs came second so will play group winners in the last 16. ENGLAND is the favourite to be the nationality of the winner of the Champions League at 15/8. The last English club to win the Champions League was Chelsea in 2011-12 and Spain have won this market in the last five seasons. 

Sheffield United have lost just once in their last nine matches at home and won five of those fixtures at Bramhall Road. The home team in tonight’s Championship fixture against West Brom are third in the table but have won only two of the eight meetings with other teams from the top 10. 

West Brom are unbeaten in five matches but their form has been nothing special. They are two places and one point behind their opponents in Sheffield. However, the west Midlands outfit have a superior goal difference of four. WEST BROM would leapfrog United with a win on the road tonight and that outcome is 21/10 with William Hill. 

There are more matches in the first round of the PDC world darts from Alexandra Palace. The 32 seeds based on the PDC rankings get a bye to round two so for the next few days players from the second tier of the sport are in action. Michael van Gerwen has won 19 titles this season but not one of the last four tournaments which have been his bread and butter in the past. So as we pointed out yesterday MICHAEL SMITH is a viable alternative to MVG at 14/1 with Ladbrokes.

Today’s meeting at Cheltenham has produced 15 winners at the Festival the following March over the last 10 years. The handicap on the cross-country course is run over the same distance as a similar race four weeks ago. The winner that day was JOSIES ORDERS who can handle a three pounds rise in the weight and win this race for a second time at 7/2 with bet365. 

Two Big Liverpool And Manchester Showdowns – By Ian Hudson

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Liverpool are now the only unbeaten team in the Premier League and the last match in which they want to lose that record is at home to Manchester United. The great north-west rivals meet at Anfield on Sunday and there could be an upset. Liverpool beat Everton at home with a freak goal in the 96th minute but were far from convincing. Even in the days when Liverpool won the First Division year after year United had a good record on their ground. The wheel has come full circle because Liverpool are the league leaders and United are 16 points off the pace.  

Liverpool were the champions of England six times in the 1980’s while United were in the middle of a run of 26 seasons in which they did not win the league. There were 25 meetings during that decade and United won 10, lost just four and there were 11 draws. There were 10 Division One fixtures at Anfield and Liverpool beat United just once. The visitors prevailed four times and there were five draws. In those matches Liverpool scored eight goals and conceded 11. Liverpool won the 1985 League Cup final but United won the semi-final tie in the FA Cup after a replay and beat Liverpool in the Charity Shield in 1983. 

The two northern superpowers are the most successful clubs in the history of English football. It is probably one of the most toxic sporting rivalries in the world. The two cities are only 35 miles apart. Economically Liverpool was the more prosperous city until the Manchester Ship Canal linked Manchester with the coast. It became more viable to trade with Manchester and Liverpool went into decline. Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho may not be aware of the history but they realise what this match means to the fans. United can be the top dogs on Sunday.   

The Merseyside/Manchester rivalry is not so prevalent when Manchester City and Everton meet. For many years the clubs were the poor relations of the bigger clubs in their cities. The dynamic has changed in Manchester and City have won the Premier League twice since United’s last title winning season. However, Everton are still behind Liverpool in wealth and results on the field. Moving to a new stadium at an unused dock will give them a chance to catch up but beating Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday looks beyond them and a home win is on the cards.

City lost their unbeaten Premier League record in the bear pit that was Stamford Bridge last Saturday. They had a meaningless Champions League match against Hoffenheim on Wednesday having already qualified for the last 16. For the first time in 18 months Pep Guardiola is having a rough ride with injuries with several key players on the sidelines. City’s strength in depth should see them beat Everton in a match in which both teams should score. 

There are six London teams in the Premier League which means there are 30 fixtures that bring together clubs located in the capital. Fulham’s home match against West Ham is one of the least passionate and confidence could be the key. West Ham are becalmed in mid-table safety while Fulham are at the bottom of the league. The Hammers have won their last three Premier League matches while their hosts have lost three of the last five so an away win is the prediction. 

Southampton have a new manager but lost at Cardiff last Saturday in a relegation six-pointer. Arsenal are unbeaten in 14 Premier League matches but have not led at the break this season. Arsenal do the damage and score most goals in the second half so a draw at half time and an away win is the most likely outcome of this match. Meanwhile, Manchester should get the better of Liverpool over the weekend.   

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

English Clubs Are Favourites To Win The Europa League

If it’s Thursday in a European football week it must be Europa League night and there are 24 fixtures all over the continent. The competition is the poor relation of the Champions League but it does provide a route into the more prestigious tournament. Chelsea and Arsenal are odds-on to win their matches tonight and are doing well in the Europa League. However, they could qualify for the Champions League with a top four finish in the Premier League. Team selection and motivation are key so there could be some upsets tonight but the London clubs should prevail. 

The four English clubs have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and avoided finishing third in their group which qualifies them for the last 32 of the Europa League. In the Champions League teams from the same league cannot meet in the first knockout round and group winners will play group runners-up.  The combined price for Chelsea and Arsenal to win the Europa League means ENGLAND is about 10/3 with Ladbrokes to be the winning nationality. 

There are two darts world championships and it’s the first day of the PDC version at the Alexandra Palace. A year ago Michael Van Gerwen was 4/6 to win the title but he can be backed at 13/8 this time. The 96 players in the draw are playing for a prize fund of £2.5 million and the winner picks up half a million quid. Some glorified pub game! The top 32 seeds based on the PDC rankings get a bye into the second round so it’s a few days before the big guns (or arrows) are on the ochre. Apparently it’s a lopsided draw and MICHAEL SMITH at 14/1 with William Hill is a viable alternative to MVG. Game on!

It’s a day of ordinary racing but there is a decent Class 3 handicap chase over two miles and two furlongs at Taunton (3.15). On ratings six of the nine runners are within five pounds of each other in the handicap. Lillington has the advantage of a 10 pounds claimer which makes the horse the pick at these weights. However, a jockey gets that concession for a reason which is inexperience at this level. CAPELAND is ridden by a more established jockey and is the nap at 2/1 with Betfair.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Dead Rubbers For City And United 

Manchester City and Manchester United have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League ahead of tonight’s fixtures on match day six. Both their opponents cannot finish in the top two so in theory the matches at home to Hoffenheim and at Valencia are dead rubbers. Liverpool and Tottenham qualified last night so all four teams from the Premier League will be playing in the knockout stages. 

There is nothing to be gained from winning the group rather than finishing second so City and United have very little to play for other than pride. Valencia can only finish third so are already heading for the Europa League and there is only a small chance of Hoffenheim overhauling Shakhtar in third place. The double on two DRAWS pays 22/1 with Ladbrokes. 

Last weekend’s Premier League match at Chelsea did not go well for City. They lost for the first time this season and the atmosphere was toxic. Abuse of any type is still prevalent in English football and there is a line between passionately supporting your team and acting like a brat. City have a long injury list and being competitive at home against Everton is the priority. In the meeting with Hoffenheim UNDER 2.5 GOALS is 13/5 with Paddy Power. 

In the last 20 Valencia matches in La Liga and the Champions League only three have produced more than two goals. The reverse fixture at Old Trafford was a goalless draw. Jose Mourinho’s squad suggests the match is an inconvenience ahead of the away match with Liverpool in the league on Sunday. Team selection and motivation will be key but the circumstances point to BOTH TEAMS NOT TO SCORE at 11/10 with Betfair.     

The racing is more than ordinary with no standout race that is worth three figures to the winner. The nap of the day is running in the maiden hurdle at Leicester (1.30) over just less than two miles. There are only two winners in the 12 runner field and Cardigan Bay has something to find with the favourite. That horse is EBONY GALE who won a bumper last season and is 6/4 with William Hill to win this race today

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Tottenham Can Take Care Of Business In Barcelona 

Southport play Tranmere at home in a FA Cup second round replay next Monday and if they win the tie will welcome Tottenham to their small ground in the third round. The rules now state that FA Cup matches have to be played in line with the draw and as Southport came out of the hat first the fixture must be played at Haig Avenue. That means Tottenham could be visiting a stadium with a capacity of about 5,000 so tonight’s trip to the Nou Camp in the Champions League will be a good prep match. 

Tottenham must match or better Inter Milan’s result at home to PSV at Barcelona to progress to the last 16. If they don’t rest Harry Kane and Deli Alli so they are ready for a potential trip to Southport and Barca, assured of top spot, do play the second string, TOTTENHAM should be backed at 29/10 with Betfair. Barcelona are odds-against to win a home match which suggests the bookmakers have got wind or heard rumours of team selection. 

The objective for Liverpool is to beat Napoli in their crunch Champions League match at Anfield. A 1-0 win or win by two clear goals will be enough to get out of the group but if Liverpool win by one goal and Napoli score they are out. If PSG can’t beat Red Star in Belgrade any victory for Liverpool will suffice.  However, they must take care of business assuming PSG win. 

Napoli have not lost any of the five group matches they have played so far and are the highest scorers in Serie A, averaging more than two goals per match. There are a number of permutations that would suit either side but one event could keep the final outcome in the melting pot. You can back BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at 4/7 with Ladbrokes.    

One of the bets of the day is in a race that has attracted just three runners at Fontwell. The handicap chase over three miles and two furlongs (2.10) could see no horses finish and a void race if there are three mishaps because these days jockeys are not aloud to remount after falls or unseats. If the horse has a clear round SCOOP THE POT is the nap at 11/10 with Paddy Power.