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Huge Fixtures For United And City Of Manchester

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On Wednesday night Liverpool fans were supporting Manchester United and today their allegiances are with Burnley. Manchester City are playing at Turf Moor and if they drop points Liverpool would be massive favourites for the Premier League title and being the champions of England for the first time in 29 years. Burnley are becalmed in middle to bottom safety, free of relegation issues and nothing much at stake. City have scored 157 goals in all competitions this season and can advance that total today. MANCHESTER CITY -2 is the bet at 11/8 with Paddy Power.

There is a huge match at Old Trafford in the context of the race for third and fourth place. Manchester United play Chelsea and a win would be huge. Tottenham lost yesterday and Arsenal have a tough match at Leicester. The fixture at United almost becomes a playoff for qualification for the Champions League next season. Chelsea can still earn a place by winning the Europa League but its all or nothing, or playing in the Europa League, for the home team. MANCHESTER UNITED can repair the damage of two defeats by winning this match and that outcome is 8/5 with Coral.

The jumps season is over for another year and the next one starts on Saturday when all the prize money and win totals are set back to zero. Irish racing yet again shows the way with two lucrative cards with most prize money on offer at Navan. The richest race is the Group contest over one mile and six furlongs at 4.15. On form and ratings the horse to back is CAPRI at 11/8 with Paddy Power.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Palace Can Defy The FA Cup Trends 

It’s the last 16 of the FA Cup this weekend and there are seven clubs from the Premier League left in the competition. Despite some shocks in the earlier rounds the cream usually rises to the top. There is one tie bringing together teams from the top division which could have six representatives in the last eight. However, with Chelsea hosting Manchester United only two of those at most will be from the top six. 

The average finishing position of the Cup winners is fourth in the Premier League but this year could see a different outcome. CRYSTAL PALACE play at Doncaster in the fifth round and look a decent bet at 10/1 with bet365 to be running around Wembley with the trophy in May. The favourites, Manchester City, have other fish to fry. One of Chelsea or Manchester United will not be in the last eight. 

Five ties this weekend are between teams from the Premier League and the Championship. Seven of 13 Premier League outfits that are out were eliminated by clubs from a lower division. There have been a lower than average number of fixtures involving two teams from the top flight and there is only one in the fifth round. QPR host Watford tonight in a meeting of teams from the highest two divisions. 

The home team are 18th in the Championship and have lost five league matches on the bounce. Their opponents are 8th in the Premier League so safe from relegation. The higher ranked team have not conceded in four of their last five matches but may field a weakened team.  However, the strength of each squad means the bet is WATFORD TO WIN TO NIL at 2/1 with bet365.  

Kalashnikov won the Betfair Hurdle last season. The horse graduated from the handicap company that contested the race in 2018 being run again on Saturday to finish second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was immediately sent novice chasing and has a prep race today in that division for the Arkle Chase at the Festival. KALASHNIKOV has the form and ratings to win the Grade 2 novice chase at Sandown (1,50pm) at 1/2 with Coral. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Today’s Nap Is At Naas In Ireland Where The Show Goes On

A leading Grand National winning trainer has used the word ‘overreaction’ while the headline on the back page of a high circulation daily national newspaper is ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ The reality might be somewhere in the middle but equine flu has put racing on hold in the UK for at least until next Wednesday which means Newbury today is lost. The meeting was due to stage the richest handicap hurdle of the season ands a prep race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. NATIVE RIVER was scheduled to run and last year’s winner is 11/2 with Betfair to win the Gold Cup if it takes place. 

Racing continues in Ireland but with no horses trained in Britain allowed to take part. ITV4 show five races from Naas and it will be interesting to see how the channel covers the equine flu. There will need to be a balance between scaremongering and presenting an accurate picture of the potential damage to the sport. The richest race on the card is the mares chase over two miles at 2.10 which features an odds-on favourite. Pravalaguna is the obvious winner but on ratings SYNOPSIS is not far behind the favourite and can be backed at 5/1 with Coral to prevail.   

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over Manchester United have won five consecutive matches on the road. The relatively easy run of fixtures for the caretaker manager continues with today’s Premier League fixture at Fulham. If United win this match they will be in the top four at least until other teams play their fixtures this weekend. The visitors have won nine and draw two of their last 11 meetings with Fulham. The team at 19th in the table are weakened by injuries so MANCHESTER UNITD -1 on the3 handicap is the bet at 7/4 with Betfair. 

Brighton and Burnley are teams just above the drop zone who could be dragged into the mire with a poor run of results. Every point counts and both sides can pick up one in Brighton today. The last three meetings have produced just one goal and hence two goalless stalemates. The obvious bet is the DRAW at 21/10 with Coral

Big Day For Soccer And Football (The US Version)

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The biggest sports event in the United States is tonight’s Super Bowl which follows two live Premier League fixtures. Nobody saw Manchester City’s loss at Newcastle coming but the Premier League defending champions can get their season back on track by beating Arsenal at the Etihad. City have won 14 of their last 15 fixtures at home and Arsenal are an inconsistent side. 

The Gunners beat Chelsea in the league but were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United. The visitors have several players missing due to injury and others who are doubtful to make the side today. City average more than two goals a game at home but are not watertight at the back. Therefore, BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE is the bet at 8/11 with Betfair. 

Leicester were impressive against Liverpool in midweek and it would not have been against the run of play if they had left Anfield with three points. Manchester United failed to win under Old Gunnar Solskjaer for the first time when two late goals secured a draw against Burnley at Old Trafford. The teams meet today in the East Midlands where the DRAW looks on the cards at 12/5 with Ladbrokes. Leicester are known as the Foxes and tonight we like the LA RAMS to win the Super Bowl at 23/20 with Betfair. 

The main racing action is the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown but yet again there is no turf racing in Britain so we go to Southwell for the tip. The sprint handicap art 2.45pm is actually over four furlongs and 214 yards so it is even more a test of speed. Ornate is a course and distance winner who was second in a similar race at Newcastle 12 days ago. Uncle Jerry ticks most of the boxes and Foolaad has won four times at the track and minimum distance. However, on form and ratings we should be backing ORNATE at 2/1 with Ladbrokes.  

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. 

Premier League TV Fixtures To Go To Form – By Ian Hudson

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Liverpool are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League but Manchester City have the superior goal difference by eight. The league leaders deserve respect for not losing any of their first 17 matches. Liverpool have conceded just seven goals in those fixtures and the forwards are now showing the form they produced last season. They are aiming to be the champions of England for the first time since 1990. The club can stay on track with a win at Wolves on Friday night.

The home side can expect to earn more points after Christmas than during the first half of the season. In fact Wolves have the potential to break into the top six. They have won their last three matches in the Premier League and are now in seventh place, just one point and one position behind Manchester United. Wolves have underachieved based on statistics but avoiding defeat against Liverpool even at home looks beyond them. 

Arsenal lost to Southampton in their last league match after an unbeaten run of 14 fixtures. However, they have conceded 23 goals which is the highest total of the top five by seven goals. Arsenal also have the worst goal difference of the quintet of teams at the top of the table. The club has new energy under Unai Emery but Arsenal could be in a slightly false position but are 8 points ahead of Manchester United in sixth place. Burnley are at the Emirates on Saturday. 

Burnley overachieved last season based on wealth and their wage bill and playing in the Europa League at the start of the season did not help. The weekly cycle of playing on Thursday and Sunday set the club back at the start of the season. Burnley are now in the bottom three and a match at Arsenal is unlikely to bring any points. However, they are slowly turning things around and losing to Arsenal on the road would be expected of a team further up the table. 

Cardiff have limited resources but two wins in four fixtures have taken them into 16th place ahead of the home match against Manchester United. However, only one of their 14 points has been won away from home and they have already played six of the bottom nine at home. Cardiff have the least financial clout in the Premier League which means other clubs can afford to spend more money during the transfer window. 

Finishing in the top four looks out of reach but United still have the quality to pick up three points in South Wales. 

Tottenham are third in the Premier League despite a difficult start to the season. Nine of their squad were involved in the World Cup semi-finals. The club did not invest in players during the summer and there is the ongoing issue of the new stadium. Nobody really knows if Mauricio Pochettino will have his head turned by overtures from Manchester United. Tottenham visit Everton on Sunday afternoon.

 

The home team are still in the top half of the table despite no wins in four fixtures. Losing at Manchester City is no disgrace and they were within a fluke goal at Liverpool in the 96th minutes from drawing the Merseyside derby. Everton look destined for mid-table safety, with little chance of qualifying for the Champions League and free of relegation issues. A draw at home to Tottenham would fit that scenario which means there should be no shocks in the live TV matches.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

The Baby Faced Assassin Is Back At Old Trafford 

Three words are engrained in the heart and mind of Manchester United fans: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, otherwise known as the baby faced assassin. The clubs new caretaker manager scored the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the final of the 1998-99 Champions League in Barcelona. He has been plucked from the mediocrity of Norwegian football to take over at one of the biggest football clubs in the world.  

The United cult hero is unproven in management at this level and his only Premier League experience was a disaster at Cardiff City in 2014. Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to be in charge at Old Trafford at the start of next season while SOLSKJAER is 3/1 with William Hill to be the permanent appointment. 

There are eight second round matches in the PDC World Championship today, starting from 12:40 until about 10pm. The closest match according to the betting is Mervyn King against Jan Dekker. The former is the marginal favourite and should have enough to beat an opponent who has had a poor season. KING is 20/23 with Betfair to progress to the third round of the world darts. 

There are two huge jumps festivals over Christmas in Britain and Ireland, both starting on Boxing Day. Kempton over two days and Leoparsdtown over four stage several mid-season championship races that could have implications for similar contests at the Cheltenham Festival. The King George V1 Chase and Christmas Hurdle are the features at Kempton but there are eight Grade 1 races at Leoparsdtown 

The best trainers and jockeys come to the fore at the Irish track at this time of the year. Six days ahead of the meeting APPLE’S JADE is the banker at 4/5 with Paddy Power to win Ireland’s Christmas Hurdle. The race and the other 27 races over four days will be covered by our Leopardstown Christmas Festival special.  

Chelmsford should be applauded for putting up over £100,000 in prize money at tonight’s All-Weather fixture. The feature race is the Class 2 handicap over one mile and six furlongs at 8pm. On ratings there is very little to choose between most of the field but one horse is progressive and stands out at the weights. AIRCRAFT CARRIER is well treated and is the nap of the day at 15/8 with Coral.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Wins For The Manchester Clubs Tonight

I know from personal experience that Lyon are the only team to beat Manchester City this season. The Premier League leaders were the fifth team in a fivefold and the other four teams won. City were added to the bet at 1/5 to boost the profit by 20%. Lyon won the fixture at the Etihad on matchday 1 in the Champions League. It’s the reverse fixture in France tonight and City can come out on top. Since that acca buster City have won 12 of 13 fixtures and drew against Liverpool at Anfield after missing a late penalty. Lyon’s four matches in the Champions League this season have produced 17 goals and both teams have scored on each occasion. MANCHESTER CITY AND BTTS is the bet at 6/4. 

I can also talk from experience when saying Manchester United were rubbish against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford last Saturday. A great day out in Manchester during which the highlight was a visit to a George Best tribute bar in the city centre was spoiled by the 90 minutes of football. The lack of passion on the pitch and in the stands was telling and the match had 0-0 written all over it from the start. Jose Mourinho’s next match in charge is basically a home knockout tie against Young Boys in the Champions League. Mourinho knows the league title is not a viable target so qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League is a must. His team can do more than enough tonight and MANCHESTER UNITED -1 is 4/5 with Paddy Power.     

If United get that result Valencia will have to beat Juventus in Italy to stay in the hunt for a top two finish with one match to go. That fixture is at home to the English club and maximum points are required tonight. Juventus beat Valencia 2-0 in Spain, have amassed the highest point’s total in Serie A history at this stage and are (virtually) unbeatable at home. JUVENTUS WIN TO NIL can be backed at 5/4. 

Tuesdays are like Saturday in Sedgefield because it’s a regular race day at the town’s small racetrack. Granted there isn’t a massive influx of stag and hen parties but some horses visit from other parts of the world. Donald McCain the younger has brought some horses to race today and he could go back to Cheshire with a winner. The nap of the day at Sedgefield is McCain’s runner in the handicap hurdle at 12.50. PROMISE OF PEACE is the selection at 7/4 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.    

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Is Mourinho Drinking In The Last Chance Saloon? 

For many football fans the first time we got to see Joe Mourinho was when he ran down the touchline at Old Trafford. His Porto side had just scored a late goal to knock Manchester United out of the Champions League in the season they won it in 2003-04. Mourinho has won titles in England, Italy and Spain but the Champions League is his Holy Grail. It would be ironic if his last match as the United boss was in the Champions League at Old Trafford. A home defeat tonight against Valencia in the competition could be the end for Mourinho in the job he craved most. RYAN GIGGS is 25/1 with Betfair to be the next manager of Manchester United. 

Valencia are not prolific scorers and 11 of their last 13 matches have produced less than three goals. The pressure on United to win this match will be huge and it’s a massive challenge for the manager.  Mourinho just can’t afford to lose this match and/or the Premier League home meeting with Newcastle. In the past he has often found a way to win the big matches with just one goal. UNITED ONE-NIL is the best bet at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. 

Manchester City lost to Lyon at home on match day 1 in the Champions League. There is room for error in the format whereby two of the four teams qualify from the group. A win in Germany against Hoffenheim is not critical but City have the players to get the job done. The home side are weakened by injuries in defence and both teams have scored in all 8 matches of their matches this season.  CITY AND BTTS is 7/5 with Coral. 

No race at five meetings in Britain and Ireland is worth £10,000 or more today so it’s about quantity rather than quality. The Arc and Champions Day take place this month but there is some ordinary sport this week. The Class 3 handicap at Ayr (4.20) over seven furlongs is the standout race and that says it all. EXPLAIN is the form pick and the horse can be backed at 8/1 with William Hill to win at Ayr today.   

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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All Premier League Champions League Final?

The last and only time two Premier League clubs met in the final of the Champions League was at the end of the 2007/08 season when Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties. If they are kept apart in the draw both Liverpool and Manchester City can go all the way and meet in the final in Madrid next May. Manchester United and Tottenham also begin their Champions League campaign this week and but MANCHESTER CITY are 9/2 favourites with bet365 to be champions of Europe.

Southampton and Brighton have never played in the Champions League but there Premier League fixture tonight is as big as any fixture in Europe. The south coast derby in Southampton doesn’t look like producing a feast of goals. In 12 of 15 Brighton’s last away matches there have been less than three goals. In a low scoring match SOUTHAMPTON can prevail and a home win is 11/10 with Betfair.

It’s the finale of the US PGA season this week with the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup and $10 million bonus up for the grabs. Justin Rose is the world number one, Olympic champion and major winner so it would be appropriate if he was top dog in the States. You can back ROSE at 8/1 with Ladbrokes for the Tour Championship and a win would clinch the FedEx Cup.

The Ayr Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious handicaps of the season and the six furlongs contest is being run at Scotland’s premier track on Saturday. Only one horse has won the race more than once since 1980. (Funfair Wane in 2002 and 2004). Only one favourite has won the race this century and the current market leader is URBAN BEAT at 10/1 with Coral. Today’s nap is THEO who is 6/5 with William Hill to win the 3.20 race at Worcester.

Anthony Joshua meets Alexander Povetkin in the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight title fight Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. The Russian is no mug and JOSHUA is 7/2 to win by a decision or technical decision.