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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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A Must Must Win Match For Mourinho

Manchester United were well organised at the back and showed some commitment in the goalless draw against Valencia in the Champions League at Old Trafford. If you look back at some of the big European nights at the ground in the past during the Sir Alex Ferguson era the football under him and Jose Mourinho was like chalk and cheese. The current boss needs a win at home against Newcastle today but will he go against type and instruct his players to gamble and Attack, Attack, Attack? MOURINHO is the favourite in the sack race at 1/5 with Betfair.

If he could have chosen a must-win game it could have been Newcastle on United’s home patch. Losing 3-1 at West Ham was not a disaster but the manner of the defeat was and a similar effort and result today could be the end for the Special One. His long term prospects in the job he craved most are not good but Mourinho can extend his reign through the international break with a win. Newcastle do not have the quality to take advantage of the dire state of the opposition so a win for MANCHESTER UNITED TO NIL is the bet at 11/10 with Ladbrokes.  

There are five matches in the Premier League today that kick-off at the traditional time of 3pm. That means half the fixtures now start at different times at the behest of television. The broadcasters put huge amounts of money into the Premier League so get to call the shots. Only Wolves at Crystal Palace are favourites to win on the road and the nap is BURNLEY to beat Huddersfield at home at 13/10 with bet365.  

Tomorrow’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the richest race in Europe. The draw has worked out well for Enable and the filly can win the race again. However, despite a high draw the each-way value is KEW GARDENS at 10/1 with William Hill. There is Group 1 action at Newmarket today in a race over one mile for fillies and mares (3.15). WIND CHIMES on form and ratings is the selection at 2/1 with Coral. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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West Ham Can Beat Brighton Tonight 

Whether you like it or not Friday night Premier League football is here to stay and there is even talk of live matches on Sunday evenings. The amount of televised action has surely reached saturation point but the broadcasters would say they are supplying live fixtures to meet demand. He who pays the piper plays the tune and the Premier League is awash with television money but the next rights deal could see a drop in income for the first time. It will be interesting to see the viewing figures for tonight’s match at Brighton when West Ham are the opposition. Brighton have not conceded in just two of their last 24 matches in the Premier League and WEST HAM are on a good run of form. An away win can be backed at 19/10 with Betfair.

Wigan host Castleford in the semi-final of the Super League with a place against Warrington in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on the line. After the Super 8s the home team had five more points than the visitors but a superior point’s difference of 138. Over 30 matches the average ascendancy is 4.6 points and home advantage is worth 6. That means the handicap should be 11 points but the line has been set at 4. Wigan have just recorded eight wins in a row and all six semi-finals under the current format have been won by the team playing at home. The average winning advantage has been 8 points. The obvious conclusion is that the bet for tonight’s fixture is WIGAN -4 at Evens with Ladbrokes.

The Class 1 Noel Murless Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot (3.35) is the richest race of the day. It’s a bit of an hor d’oeuvre before a decent Saturday card and the Arc the following day at Longchamp. The draw for Europe’s richest race has done no favours for second favourite Sea Of Class. Enable has a great chance to win the race again from stall six and is now a bigger favourite. Today’s Ascot feature  can see the progressive GHOSTWATCH graduate from handicap company to win the listed race and that result can be backed at 2/1 with William Hill.  

Liverpool Can Beat Manchester City In Blockbuster – By Ian Hudson

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There are a number of defining matches in the Premier League that stand out from the rest of the fixtures. Liverpool’s home match against Manchester City is one of the key meetings of the schedule that involves 380 matches over the course of the season. Liverpool and City dominate the betting for the title and the winner of this fixture would take a huge step towards being the champions of England. Liverpool would put a significant marker down by beating Manchester City on Sunday.

After seven sets of fixtures three teams remain unbeaten. City and Liverpool have dropped just two points while Chelsea have won five matches and drawn the other two. City have the best goal difference, have scored most goals and have the joint meanest defence with Liverpool. It looks like a three horse race for the Premier League and at the current odds Chelsea are the value option. However, the two sides above them have more quality and settled management. 

Liverpool and City are playing for the manager and have bought into the plan. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have a connection with their players who are playing as a team. Meanwhile, there seems to be something badly wrong at Manchester United where Jose Mourinho’s days could be numbered. Everybody is singing from the same hymn sheet by saying his job is not under threat but defeat to Newcastle at home live on television on Saturday would be a huge blow.          

In the context of the winners of the Premier League the fixture is not important because Liverpool and City are on a different planet to United. It’s galling for fans that their two closest rivals are being successful playing attractive football. Something has been lost at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. If Mourinho is fired its time to give one of Fergie’s protégées a chance. There is only one job that would tempt Ryan Giggs to quit as the manager of Wales and he could be the right man to be the next manager of Manchester United.   

 

Newcastle are good opponents when you are desperate for three points. They have lost four of their last five Premier League matches and look destined for the drop. The owner refuses to put his hand in his pocket and the manager, Rafa Benitez, will soon get totally fed up and could be gone. United lacked confidence and created very little in the goalless home draw against Valencia in the Champions League. It won’t be pretty but United can secure a narrow win over Newcastle. 

If Liverpool and City fight out a draw Chelsea could leapfrog them and sit at the top of the table after the weekend. However, to reach the summit a home win by eight goals or more against Southampton on the road is required. Southampton are two places above the relegation zone after just one win in seven matches. They have not won a home fixture from three this season and beating Chelsea looks beyond them. The visitors have the quality to win this match by at least one goal but not eight.  

Brighton host West Ham in the Friday night match but will struggle to secure a home win. Brighton’s home form kept them in the Premier League last season and so far they have won, drawn and lost a fixture at the Amex. West Ham have picked up seven points in three Premier League matches and scored eight against Macclesfield in the League Cup. The Hammers are a team in form so can beat Brighton in this match.

Arsenal are the only team with a perfect record over the last five matches. The season started with two defeats but the opponents were Manchester City and Chelsea. Fulham have won just one of their first seven matches in the Premier League so beating the form team at home on Saturday may be beyond them. However, the far more significant match is at Anfield where Liverpool can beat Manchester City.    

Liverpool Can Win Six-Pointer Against Chelsea – By Ian Hudson

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It’s rare when the majority of fixtures in the Premier League kick-off at the traditional time of 3pm on Saturday. There were no Europa League matches involving English clubs on Thursday night which causes matches to be put back and the Cardiff against Burnley meeting is the only live match on Sunday. Its more about quality than quantity with one of the blockbuster fixtures of the season when Liverpool play Chelsea at Anfield in the second live match on Saturday. 

The teams met in the third round of the EFL Cup at the same ground on Wednesday night. The managers may play the second strings because picking up three points is much more important than progressing to the next round of the League Cup. Ahead of the Cup game Chelsea had scored exactly one goal in the last nine meetings with Liverpool. Both sides won their first five matches in the Premier League but Chelsea have now dropped points and Liverpool have not. 

This is a fixture that doesn’t often involve many goals. Before Wednesday night’s match only two of the last nine meetings produced three goals or more. However, under the current managers both sides are more attack minded and both teams should score on Saturday. The match truly is a six-pointer and the gap between the teams at the end of 90 minutes could be between five points in Liverpool’s favour or one point in favour of Chelsea. A home win is the most likely outcome.

The days of Anfield being a fortress are back and Liverpool are tough to beat at home. Last season they won 12 and drew 7 of 19 home EFL matches so went unbeaten, scoring 45 goals and conceding 10. Only Manchester United let in fewer goals at home and only Manchester City had a better positive home goal difference.  Chelsea lost six league matches on the road last season. Liverpool were the biggest spenders over the summer and the outlay can be justified with three points from this match. 

The early match sees Manchester United meet West Ham at the London Stadium. The deal to play where the Olympics took place was attractive but its debatable whether the positives outweigh the negatives. The advantage of playing at Upton Park may be more urban myth than a reality and United have a good recent record when they visit the East End. West Ham looked a decent outfit in beating Everton on the road and then took a point from Chelsea at home but United should win this one. 

At the start of the season Cardiff were most people’s pick for relegation and an immediate return to the Championship. There has been some huffing and puffing but a 5-0 home defeat to Manchester City says it all. A few teams will be soundly beaten by the champions this season but the manner of the defeat suggests Cardiff are out of their depth. Burnley are free of the distraction of the Europa League and beat Bournemouth 4-0 at home last weekend. The good form can be maintained with an away victory in South Wales on Sunday.

Bournemouth will be looking to get their season back on track the following night when Crystal Palace visit their south coast. Palace lost three on the bounce but have since picked up four points from two matches. However, the opposition was not strong and the manager of Bournemouth knows if they stop Wilfried Zaha they stop Palace. The players can achieve that objective and earn three points against Palace.    

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Chelsea Can Maintain Perfect Start

Manchester City and Liverpool both won their matches to nil yesterday and dominate the Premier League outright betting. However, Chelsea have not dropped a point in five matches and are a big price to be the champions of England. Chelsea were late back from playing in the Europa League in Greece on Thursday. Today’s opponents on the road, West Ham, had an impressive win at Everton last weekend. West Ham have scored in their last seven matches against CHELSEA but the visitors are the team to back at 6/10 with Coral.

Everton were soundly beaten by West Ham and seemed to find the basic skills of football difficult to achieve like passing the ball to a team mate. Jordan Pickford was affected by the malaise and a wayward pass by the England keeper handed the Hammers their second goal. Arsenal have conceded at least one goal in seven of their last eight home matches and the hosts have been involved in a number of high-scoring matches this season. Arsenal should secure another home win but the best bet is BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at 8/13 with Betfair.

There is some decent prize money up for grabs for a Sunday meeting at Uttoxeter today. Sunday racing was introduced to add some quality racing to the weekend schedule but the sport is generally moderate. In Ireland and France major races take place on the seventh day of the week but in Britain it’s more bread and butter fare. The handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs (3.50) is the richest race on the Uttoxeter card. On ratings Valadom is the each way value but MIDNIGHT SHOT is the horse to back at 10/1 with BetVictor.

Is There A Crisis At Tottenham? – By Ian Hudson

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Who would have thought there would be crisis talk so early in the season at one of the best managed clubs in the Premier League? Tottenham have now lost three matches in succession for the first time during the Mauricio Pochettino era. Losing to Liverpool is no disgrace but the manner of defeats against Watford in the Premier League and Inter Milan in the Champions League suggests all is not well. Tottenham have a large contingent of players who reached at least the semi-finals at the World Cup so motivation could be an issue.

Brighton should win enough matches at home to stay in the Premier League and the battling point at Southampton on Monday suggests they are prepared to fight for points on the road. Albion finished 15th last season with 40 points but had the eighth best home record with seven wins and 29 points. A win and draw in two home fixtures this season to date suggests points won at the Amex Stadium will be crucial. Brighton can pick up at least one point when Tottenham visit on Saturday.

Fulham have been outside the Premier League for four seasons but their wealthy owner has invested in some players to prevent an immediate return to the second tier. The club’s benefactor is the same businessman who is trying to buy Wembley Stadium so you would have thought he has deep pockets. However, three defeats in the Premier League has left the club lurking just above the relegation places.

Watford won their first four matches but had a reality check when losing at home to Manchester United last weekend. For the last three seasons Watford have stayed in the Premier League without doing anything special. There were no notable signings in the summer so they may find their true level this season and losing away from home against Fulham is probably more representative than beating Tottenham at home.

The clever clogs deal to play at the Olympic Stadium counted for nothing as West Ham lost their first four matches in the Premier League. Where the impressive win at Everton came from last Saturday is anybody’s guess. Everton were poor and lacked the basic skill of passing the ball to a team mate. However, West Ham produced a competent away performance and can take confidence into the home fixture with Chelsea who have won all five league matches so far.

Eden Hazard also played seven matches in the World Cup but there appears to be no hangover. He said the three week break was enough and he looks sharp. The new Chelsea manager appreciates his qualities in attacking areas and can forgive him not tracking back because he is so effective in the final third. Hazard can provide the quality to help Chelsea win this London derby against West Ham. Another defeat puts the Hammers back in the relegation mire.

There was always going to be a period of adjustment at Arsenal after the departure of Arsene Wenger. The signs were not looking good after two defeats but Arsenal have now won maximum points from three matches in the Premier League. Everton visit the Emirates on Sunday on the back of that abysmal defeat at home against West Ham. Current form suggests this is the home banker on the schedule. Everton won three matches away from home in the Premier League last season.

They are now going through managers like confetti and the optimism surrounding Marco Silva has diminished after a moderate start. Losing at home to the bottom club in West Ham does not augur well. Arsenal lost two Premier League matches at home last season but can avoid defeat against Everton and secure another three points. If results go their way another win takes them into a Champions League qualifying position and the new man goes a long way to winning over the fans.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Home Wins In The Premier League Today

Everton and West Ham are similar in playing their home matches at traditional stadiums for many years. Goodison Park and Upton Park are in the middle of residential areas and the infrastructure is inadequate for Premier League football. West Ham moved to the London Stadium and Everton will have a spanking new ground in the next few years. However, fans who want the move should be careful what they wish for because West Ham have no points from four matches and are bottom of the league. EVERTON can rub salt into the wound by beating the Hammers at their famous old stadium and that result is 8/11 with William Hill.

Wolves and Burnley have come up from the Championship in the last few years and often teams make a quick return to the second level. However, these two clubs can break that trend and become established in the Premier League. Wolves have invested in a manager and players while Burnley have Sean Dyche in charge. However, Burnley’s Europa League adventure has been unsuccessful and their league form has suffered. They have already played 10 competitive matches and not recorded a win after 90 minutes. WOLVES can also win at home at 8//11 with Coral. The double on Everton at Wolves pays almost 2/1.

It’s the second day of Irish Champions weekend at the Curragh and the card features four Group 1 races. Two of those contests are for horses aged two and another is a sprint over five furlongs. Aidan O’Brien has 10 runners in the three races and should have a winner or two. He also trains the favourite for the Irish St Leger in Flag Of Honour but the horse could be thwarted by a runner trained by his son, Joseph. LATROBE won the Irish Derby and can win this Classic at 5/2 with Ladbrokes.

Goals Expected When Tottenham Play Liverpool At Wembley – By Ian Hudson

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Tottenham hardly spent a penny in the summer while Liverpool were the biggest spenders in the Premier League. Their meeting on Saturday was supposed to be the first fixture in the new stadium but delays to the work means the match will be played at Wembley. In effect it’s a neutral ground but in theory it’s a home game for the team that lagged behind their big-six rivals in the most recent transfer window. No new players started pre-season and many of the squad members were involved in the latter stages of the World Cup. Spurs possess a strong 11 but they were outfought by Watford in their last match before the international break.

Liverpool are one of three teams to have won maximum points from their first four league matches. They have conceded fewest goals and recorded the best goal difference. However, they have yet to play a side in the top 10 in the betting to win the Premier League so the match at Wembley is the first test against a top-six side. Liverpool made some headline purchases in the summer which showed they mean business this season. Wembley is not quite a fortress and Tottenham lost two league fixtures at the stadium last season, scoring 46 goals and conceding 16.  The match outcome is difficult to call but both teams should score in this fixture.

It’s debateable who needed the international break most of the teams involved in the second Saturday TV fixture. Watford were on a massive high after betting Tottenham at home in their last fixture. Manchester United had a comfortable win over Burnley after two damaging defeats in the league. The fans showed their support for Jose Mourinho and a win at Watford would repair much of the damage of those defeats. However, if United are out-battled by Watford and lose the match Mourinho is back to square one and the title could be already out of reach. United have the class to beat a Watford side who are punching above their weight.

Wolves are one of the best sides to be promoted from the Championship and look comfortable at the higher level. The side has a big influence from Portugal because the manager is from that country and he has a connection with an agent who has access to the best players in Portugal. Burnley’s Europa League adventure has done more damage than good. The side that finished seventh in the Premier League last season are languishing in 19th place after three defeats and a draw. The early season form can continue with a home win for Wolves against Burnley.

West Ham might be playing in the bright and wonderful Olympic Stadium but the ground will be half empty if the club drop down into the Championship. West Ham are the only team to have no points after four matches. They have scored just two goals and conceded 10 and even at such an early stage another manager looks under pressure to find a win. Everton look booked for mid-table safety and few teams will beat them at Goodison Park. Home advantage will be key and Everton can win maximum points from this home match against the Hammers.

The south coast derby on Monday night brings together two teams who have won four points from as many matches with a win, draw and defeat.  Brighton have had the slightly tougher schedule over the first month of the season but had the worst record in the Premier League last time. Southampton were beaten eight times at their own ground so recent history and form suggests this match will produce a draw.

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.

Chelsea Can Beat Arsenal In First Major Clash – By Ian Hudson

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The first blockbuster match of the new season could see Chelsea beat Arsenal.

Chelsea made a good start to the new Premier League season with a 3-0 win at Huddersfield but their opponents are one of the favourites for relegation so the value of the form is questionable. The new man in charge, Maurizio Sarri, encourages attacking football so three goals on the road is a good start.

Manchester City will have many more comfortable away wins than the 2-0 victory at Arsenal over the opening weekend. The match marked the start of the post Arsene Wenger era at Arsenal and there were plenty of encouraging signs but ultimately City were the better team and scored two goals without reply. Chelsea can inflict a second defeat so Arsenal will be at the wrong end of the table.

The live TV weekend football programme from the Premier League begins with Cardiff’s home match against Newcastle on Saturday. When 13 football odds compilers were asked which teams they thought would be relegated from the Premier League season not one did not include Cardiff in their projected bottom three. The consensus is that Cardiff are the least equipped of the promoted teams to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

The owner of Newcastle spent £90 million buying the House of Fraser but Mike Ashley has not provided funds for Rafa Benitez to buy players. The manager is fighting a losing battle with Ashely who seems to prioritise expanding his retail empire over improving the Newcastle squad. However, the side should have enough to win maximum points at Cardiff.

The champions are in action for the first time this season and Manchester City should record a comfortable win at home against Huddersfield. City won more than 100 points and scored more than 100 goals and finished 19 points ahead the pack in winning the Premier League last season. The hunger and desire was there in spades in the 2-0 win at Arsenal and City will again be the team to beat.

Huddersfield scrapped and scraped their way to Premier League safety last season but second season syndrome is possible. They had the smallest budget in the top flight by some distance and they have not splashed the cash this time. Some aspects of playing at the top level could be more difficult second time around. Avoiding defeat in Manchester looks beyond them.

Brighton relied on their home form to stay in the Premier League and managed to finish 15th with 40 points. Leicester were the only side not in the top six to earn maximum points at Brighton but only won twice on the road. Manchester United overall were the second best team in the Premier League last season but could not lay a glove on their rivals across town. Jose Mourinho has bemoaned the lack of arrivals but United have a squad that could get closer to City over the full season and take care on Brighton on the road.

Wilfried Zaha is Crystal Palace’s key player and they find it difficult to win in his absence. He did not start in nine matches last season and Palace lost the lot so his influence and contribution is obvious. Liverpool are being touted as the team most likely to give Manchester City a run for their money. They could not have made a better start to the new campaign with a 4-0 home win over West Ham with Mo Salah scoring the first goal again. A win at Palace can consolidate their position at the top of the league.