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Today’s Sports Betting Preview & BONUS Tips – By Rick Elliott

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All English Clubs Champions League Final?  

If at the start of this season’s Champions League campaign you had suggested that Liverpool, Tottenham and Ajax would be the last three men standing you would have been laughed out of court. Even at 8pm yesterday it would have been fanciful to predict that Liverpool would still be in the competition as they were 18/1 to qualify against Barcelona before the stunning 4-0 win at Anfield. 

The home team were better in all departments and caught out some of the most experienced defenders in the world with the corner routine that clinched the winning goal. Tottenham or Ajax will have their say but the momentum from stunning Barca makes LIVERPOOL the bet to be the champions of Europe for the sixth time at 4/9 with Ladbrokes. The final is being played in Madrid on June 1st. 

Ajax have been the surprise package and were still big outsiders at the start of the knockout round. They have won all three away ties and eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus. Ajax beat Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals and the return match is in Amsterdam tonight. Only one team out of 17 have qualified for the final after losing at home in the first meeting in the last four. 

Tottenham certainly have their backs against the wall but have come through matches and ties when the odds were stacked against them. The dynamic for Ajax is different in that they are defending a lead at home rather than needing to win on the road. There could be an all-Premier League final and TOTTENHAM are 5/2 with Coral to qualify for a showdown with Liverpool in Madrid.  

It’s the first day of the Chester May meeting which brings out the Cheshire set to the course. The track is in the middle of the town and has one of the shortest circuits in the sport. Low numbers have a draw advantage but that is often written into the odds. 

Aidan O’Brien uses the meeting to test his best three-year-olds’ Classic credentials and he has three runners in the Chester Vase (3.35). On two-year-old form ARTHUR KITT could stall the O’Brien bandwagon at 12/1 with Ladbrokes. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Chelsea Are Moving In The Right Direction

There are no matches in England or European competitions this evening after the midweek fixtures in the Premier League. It is now a two horse race for the title but its any two from four for the remaining Champions League qualification places. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United won their matches but Tottenham were the odd men out after suffering a defeat against Chelsea which does not bode well for their chances of finishing third. The momentum is with the three other teams chasing that place.

Harry Kane seemed too fired up and there was a bizarre own goal. Two damaging defeats mean Tottenham can not win the Premier League which is now between Liverpool and Manchester City. CHELSEA have come through a crisis and the manager has asserted his authority so they look a good bet at Evens with bet365 to finish in the top four. TOTTENHAM are 7/2 to finish fifth or worse. 

If Salford played St Helens in football it would be a fixture involving two non-league sides in the north west of England. In rugby league it’s a top flight match in the hotbed of the sport. Most traditional rugby league teams are in Lancashire and Yorkshire despite enclaves in the south of England and Spain. 

Salford would be big favourites in football but St Helens are one of the superpowers of the 13 man game.  The Saints have won their first three matches, scoring 73 points and conceding 52. That’s an average winning margin of 7 points but when you take home advantage into consideration the bet is SALFORD +8 at 11/10 with Coral. 

Ludlow is the epitome of a countryside track and it is in farming community. The racing never takes place on market day as the pubs would be too packed. The catering facilities at the track are modest but you can get a pie and pint for less than a diver. Ludlow has put on a decent handicap chase over three miles at 3.35. Uhlan Bute has solid form claims and finished second over the course and distance off the same weight last week. However, TOMMY SILVER from the Paul Nicholls stable has better prospects and is preferred at 9/4 with Ladbrokes.   

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Liverpool Fans Will Be Rooting For Everton Tonight 

If you were brought up supporting Liverpool there were two teams you were told to love to hate but using that word in the context of football takes rivalry too far. Everton and Manchester United were on your wish list of rivals to lose every match. We have a strange dynamic tonight in that Liverpool supporters will be hoping their neighbours beat Manchester City at Goodison Park.  

However, the Premier League is no longer a two horse race and TOTTENHAM are right in the mix and are 18/1 with Betfair to be the champions of England for the first time since 1961. Pep Guardiola thinks even United are still in the running to be the top dogs again but that’s taking diplomacy a little too far. 

If Manchester City beat Everton tonight they will go back to the top of the table on goal difference but Liverpool will have a game in hand. City have matches in four competitions during the rest of February and are 8/1 to win NO TROPHIES. After such huge investment there is pressure on Guardiola to deliver the league title or Premier League and the Cups are just the cherry on the cake. 

Everton have scored in 15 of their 16 home matches this season and City have conceded at least one goal in all but two of their last 12 league fixtures. Over two goals is running at 66% for matches involving these teams. The visitors have the form to win this match but the bet is BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at 4/5 with bet365. 

This fixture is not live on television but the FA Cup fourth round replay between the home team West Brom and Brighton will be broadcast as it happens on BBC1. In beating Middlesbrough last night Newport showed that a motivated team from lower down the hierarchy can beat superior opposition with the right attitude. However, West Brom are battling to get into the Premier League so on this occasion BRIGHTON can beat the Championship side in 90 minutes at 29/20 with Betfair. 

Ludlow is the epitome of a rural course and is something from an earlier era but the racing is often decent for the grade of the track. The Class 3 handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs at 3.15 is a competitive race and offers a good prize. WESTERN MILLER is racing of a manageable mark and can reward his backers at 7/1 with bet365 by winning for the first time in 10 starts in chases.   

Trump Could Get Close To The Rocket

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Ronnie O’Sullivan is the favourite to beat Judd Trump in the final of the Masters which he has won for a record seven times. Trump won their last meeting 9-7 in the final of the 2018 Northern Ireland Open and lost by the odds frame in 11 in the previous encounter. O’Sullivan can justify favouritism but it could be a close match so the bet has to be TRUMP +2.5 at Evens with Coral.  

Huddersfield are desperate for points because they are bottom of the Premier League and 10 points away from safety. They have already lost eight league matches at home and have the worst record on their own ground. In such circumstances the last team you want to host is Manchester City who must win their game in hand over Liverpool to stay in touch with the league leaders. There is no clever angle in this match so the bet is CITY -2 at 11/10 with Coral. 

It was not too long ago that Tottenham were booked for third place at least but things have changed in the last few weeks. Chelsea are breathing down their neck, Arsenal are just four points adrift and Manchester United can’t stop winning. It looks like Harry Kane will be missing due to injury for two months. Today they visit Fulham who have won just three of 10 home league fixtures this season. TOTTENHAM can get their season by on track with a win which can be backed at 8/11 with bet365.   

Seven horses have been declared to run in the Grade 2 novice chase over two miles, four furlongs and 118 yards at Thurles (2.40) which is the richest race of the day in Britain and Ireland. Meri Devie looks a progressive horse and can win races in this class. Ellie Mac is a decent chaser who was found out in a better race at Leopardstown over Christmas. On form and ratings CAMELIA DA COTTE who has won two races at this level is the selection and can be backed at 8/11 with bet365.  

The OGS Run Could End At Wembley 

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces his first big test as the caretaker manager of Manchester United. He takes his side to London on the back of five straight wins and a record of scoring 16 goals and conceding three. There is a subplot to the Premier League fixture against Tottenham at Wembley. 

MAURICIO POCHETTINO is the favourite at 7/4 with Betfair to be the next permanent Manchester United manager and SOLSKJAER is the second favourite at 4/1 with Betfair. The combined odds of the two market leaders are 10/11 which means one of the two contenders are more likely to get the job than not. It will be interesting to see how the betting market reacts if United beat Tottenham. 

As a United fan who will always be in debt to Ole for scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final there is a heart over head scenario. However, it would be remiss of me not to examine the facts logically and the conclusion is that the run under Solskjaer will come to an end at Wembley. United’s wins have come against much weaker opponents. 

Tottenham have won 15 of their 18 fixtures this season and have not conceded in five of their last eight matches. Tottenham are 10 points ahead of United and can still be backed at a decent price to win a home match. TOTTENHAM will be playing at Wembley until March at least but their recent record means they must be backed at Evens with Paddy Power to beat United.

Bournemouth and Everton have both won 27 points from 21 matches but on home and away scoring stats Bournemouth are about a half goal favourite. Only one team has conceded more goals on the road than Bournemouth but they are playing Everton at home. They are the seventh highest scorers on their own ground and Everton are not prolific scorers on the road. BOURNEMOUTH -0.5 is 17/5 with bet365. 

The Grade 2 novice hurdle over two miles at Punchestown (2.50) has a history of producing leading contenders for the Supreme Novice Hurdle which is the Cheltenham Festival openor. Willie Mullins usually runs one of his best young horses with the potential to win at the highest level. HARRIE fits the bill in today’s race so is the selection at 7/2 with Paddy Power. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Tottenham Can Get Back On Track At Cardiff

There is a full programme of fixtures in the Premier League this week culminating in the showdown at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool. The chasing pack just behind the teams in first and second place in the table are hoping the match ends in a draw. That includes Tottenham who are away at Cardiff in the early evening live fixture on the back of losing to Wolves at home. . 

They have played every team in the bottom half this season and won all 10 of those fixtures and have the best away statistics in the Premier League. Cardiff have lost all their meetings with the elite six clubs and let in 22 goals in those matches. Despite playing 11 matches in 35 days TOTTENHAM can get their season back on track by beating Cardiff, a result that can be backed at 1/2 with Ladbrokes.  

Everton are at home to Leicester City in the first Premier League match of 2019 and the outcome is difficult to call. This should be a straightforward home win but Everton are on an inconsistent run. They were beaten 6-2 by Tottenham in their last home match, scored five goals in beating Burnley on the road and lost at Brighton without scoring a goal. Everton have conceded in their last seven league matches. 

There have been 14 goals in the last five matches against Leicester who have beaten Manchester City and Chelsea and lost to Cardiff in December. There have been more than two goals 8 times in 10 meetings but the goals tally could be higher today. Leicester have managed just one clean sheet in seven fixtures. Form suggests OVER 3.5 GOALS is the bet at 12/5 with William Hill.  

The biggest match in darts takes place on the first day of the year. Michael van Gerwen should beat Michael Smith in the final of the PDC World Championship but the odds will only attract the money buyers. Set handicap betting comes into it’s own when there is a big favourite and underdog in a two-way contest. It’s the best of 13 sets or first to seven and MVG -2.5 SETS is 4/6 with Coral.  

Cheltenham stages its traditional New Year’s Day fixture with top class jumps action. The Grade 3 handicap chase over two and a half miles and a bit is the richest race of the day (2.00). On ratings Give Me A Copper is a leading contender for the in-form Paul Nicholls. However, the bottom weight is on a decent mark and is ridden by a seven pounds claimer so DUSTIN DES MOTTES is the tip at 7/1 with bet365. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Can Tottenham Win The Premier League For The First Time?

There are no meaningful football matches in the Premier League or Champions League today which could be a good thing for Manchester City. It looked like only a question of time before they pulled away from Liverpool at the top of the table but they are now seven points adrift of the leaders after three defeats in four matches and are not even in second place. 

Tottenham are now the nearest pursuers of the team that have not been top dogs in England since 1990. Liverpool are unbeaten after 19 matches but TOTTENHAM have scored 11 goals in their last two fixtures and can still be backed at 9/1 with Betfair to win the league. Liverpool are now the favourites for the first time. 

There are six matches in the PDC World Championship today and the closest based on the odds are the clash between on two unseeded players and the last 16 meeting between Jamie Lewis and Dave Chisnall. Nathan Aspinall is the favourite to beat Devon Petersen and progress to the last eight as a non-seed while CHISNALL is the tip to qualify for the quarter-finals at 4/7 with bet365. He leads his opponent 6-0 in career meetings and can improve on that record tonight.   

It’s the third day of the Leopardstwon Christmas Festival in Ireland and the highlight is the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle over three miles at 1.50. The six-runner field includes two former winners of the Champion Hurdle who are now racing over a longer trip. Apple’s Jade gets the mares allowance of seven pounds and will be difficult to beat with that advantage. FAUGHEEN has become inconsistent but course and distance conditions suit the horse who is 11/4 with Paddy Power. 

SOMEWHERE TO BE Is The Win And Place Bet At 8/1

Leicester is the most lucrative of two jumps and one All-Weather meeting in Britain but there is only one race worth more than £10,000 to the winner. The Class 3 handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs at 1.55 has attracted nine runners which is a good number for each way betting. Bookmakers settle each way bets for three places so one third of the field. SOMEWHERE TO BE is the win and place bet at 8/1 with William Hill who go one fifth the odds for making the frame.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Tottenham Could Be On The Way To Wembley 

I think the EFL Cup is in fact the old League Cup but I’m not entirely sure. Whatever the competition is it must be the most pointless trophy in English football. The final is played at Wembley but the big boys only get interested around the quarter-finals stage. The early rounds clog up the schedules and there are 22 meaningless ties tonight. However, the cream usually rises to the top and in the last five years the winners have been Manchester City (3 times), Manchester United and Chelsea. TOTTENHAM can build on World Cup success for many of their players to take a step forward and win the trophy and that outcome is 8/1 with Ladbrokes.

The televised EFL Cup fixture is AFC Wimbledon’s home meeting with West Ham who have lost their first three matches in the Premier League. Team selection is important but not critical because West Ham have the squad to beat the League One side with some of their fringe players starting the match.  The Premier League outfit are managed by Manuel Pellegrini who won the trophy twice in three seasons at Manchester City. With league points a priority he may not start with the first 11 but he has respected the competition in the past. WEST HAM have the strength in depth to beat Wimbledon in 90 minutes and you can back that result at 7/10 with Coral.

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis championship of the season and is played in New York. Matches sometimes go on late into the night and the atmosphere gets raucous. You can back Novak Djokovic at 1/50 to beat Marton Fucsovis or American FRANCES TIAFOE to beat Adrian Mannarino in the evening match on the Grandstand court at 8/15 with bet365. The fans should be well refreshed by the start of the match and there could be some loud partisan support.

The racing is ordinary today with very little to get excited about but there is a trappy handicap over six furlongs at Epsom (3.15). The form horse and favourite is Desert Frost who has been placed in five races this season without winning one. The horse might not like passing other runners and the herd instinct could be holding him back when it matters most. HIGHLAND ACLAIM is a course and distance winner and is the horse to back at 4/1 with Betfair.

Tottenham Can Lead The Premier League 

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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

Apologies for being parochial but Manchester United are top of the Premier League but that won’t last long. They were second best for much of the 2-1 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday night. It took a questionable penalty and goal from Luke Shaw to win the points despite a late consolation goal from the visitors. Jose Mourinho’s fears look justified and United could struggle to finish in the top four. The bet to take out of the fixture is LEICESTER CITY at 6/1 to finish highest in the league without the top six.

United could lose top spot to Tottenham who have a winnable match at Newcastle in the early televised fixture. The away side would lead the table with a win by two goals or more and that is feasible. Tottenham have scored in 24 of their last 25 matches against Newcastle and that run can continue today. Newcastle and Tottenham have not splashed the cash this summer so form from last season is pertinent. TOTTENHAM earned 33 more points and can win today at 21/20 with Ladbrokes.

Great things are being expected of Wolves this season and a return to the Championship is not expected. The key for a club promoted to the top division is spending money to make the side fit for purpose. Wolves have the financial backing of wealthy owners and links with a well-connected agent. However, today’s opponents Everton do not have the wolves at the door and have spent a few quid during the close season so the bet is the DRAW at 23/10 with Betfair.

It’s the Shergar Cup at Ascot today, the team event that doesn’t quite work as racing does not lend itself to a Ryder Cup style format. The best jockey in the world can’t win on a donkey and it’s the quality of the allocated horses that will determine who wins the Cup. Meanwhile the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock (3.05pm) is a Group 3 contest over one mile, two furlongs and a bit. Horses aged three get an eight pounds allowance and that can help ZAAKI win the race at 9/4 with bet365.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Goals Galore At Wembley Today

Tottenham and Arsenal have not had a fixture at Wembley since the stadium was transformed from an antiquated relic to a modern arena. The Twin Towers were replaced by the Arc and now Tottenham have replaced Arsenal as the top dogs in north London. The clubs are going in opposite directions and while Mauricio Pochettino is in demand Arsenal Wenger could be signing on at the unemployment office at the end of the season. The outcome of today’s fixture will go a long way to determining his fate and it doesn’t look too good for the longest-serving manager in the Premier League. Today his nine lives could run out.

Derby matches are not exact sciences and form can go out of the window but this is a meeting that the higher-placed team in the table should win. Tottenham are one place and four points ahead of their opponents in this fixture. They are unbeaten in six starts in the Premier League while Arsenal have lost two of their last four matches. However, regardless of relative league positions Arsenal often score in this derby. They have found the net in 44 of the last 46 meetings with Tottenham who have scored 51 goals in 26 Premier League matches as have Arsenal. The logical bet is TOTTENHAM to win and BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at 9/4 with Ladbrokes.

Worth An Each-Way Dabble At 33/1

The principle race meeting today is over the jumps at Newbury which stages two important trials for the Cheltenham Festival and the richest handicap hurdle in Britain. The Betfair under several titles was first run in 1963 and only two horses have won it and then prevailed in the Champion Hurdle the following month. The winner has been aged five or six every year since 2005 and over the last eight years no winner has carried more than 11 stone two pounds. MOON RACER is a past winner of the Champion Bumper and could be a blot on the handicap so is worth an each-way dabble at 33/1 with William Hill.