Premiership Football Betting Odds And Tips
| Premiership Football Betting Odds And Tips The last thing visiting teams see before running out in front of 45,000 Liverpool fans is an iconic sign which reads 'This is Anfield'. They should probably add a line stating, 'We usually win'. Liverpool have lost just once in 15 home league games this season, the same number of defeats inflicted the whole of last term. Fourth placed Liverpool face Arsenal, the team one point above them in the crucial 3rd automatic qualification spot for next season's Champions League. This key clash is the pick of the weekend's Premiership action. See Latest Betting Odds (will open in new window) Gunners Planning Another Raid on Fortress Anfield Though Anfield is a Premiership fortress, the Gunners recorded two humiliating Cup defeats over four days in January, with a 9-4 aggregate score, which is put in perspective by the fact that the Reds have only conceded four home league goals all season. Arsenal also dished out a humiliating 3-0 victory over the Scousers at the Emirates Stadium so Rafa Benitez will certainly be demanding retribution. His captain, Steven Gerrard, rescued England's blushes with two goals against Andorra on Wednesday, and is likely to be instrumental here. Arsenal's season has gone downhill fast since those inspirational wins here in January. They have been knocked out of all cup competitions, including the Champions League, and must now focus on maintaining third place, for which this game will be critical. The Gunners are definitely without Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott for the remainder of the season, while Robin Van Persie is only expected to return toward the end of April. Though Arsene Wenger has plenty of talented cover, the 1-0 defeat just over the road at Goodison Park in the Londoners most recent Premiership outing, was the fourth loss in their five away games in all competitions, so heads look like they are dropping. PinnacleSports.com see Liverpool as favourites 2.00 (0/scratch & -0.5) with Arsenal 1.926 (0/scratch & +0.5), and the slim Asian Handicap reflects the expectation of close game despite recent form suggesting otherwise. See Latest Betting Odds (will open in new window) Red Devils Sweating on Ronaldo Fitness Alex Ferguson has been in football management for 33 years and his experience will have taught him that to succeed you sometimes need a little piece of good fortune. United have been playing fantastic attacking football this term producing 70 goals, which is 16 more than their nearest rivals Chelsea, and losing just once at Old Trafford, but they have also be lucky to avoid significant injuries - up until now that is. Cristiano Ronaldo is favourite for the Premiership Player of the Year having scored 16 league goals from midfield, and credited with 11 assists, but a heel injury picked up on midweek international duty has made him doubtful for this game, and that could be critical for the Red Devils, starting with their home game against Blackburn on Saturday. United are already short on strikers, with Saha and Solskjaer recovering, so the absence of Ronaldo would create a real problem, particularly with the Champions League on the horizon. Rovers are coached by United legend, Mark Hughes, whose no-nonsense managerial style is modelled on his mentor, Alex Ferguson. Hughes delights in getting one over his old boss in this Lancashire derby, as with last season when Blackburn won 2-1 at the Theatre of Dreams, which followed a draw in the fixture in 2004. Blackburn are in rude form at present losing just one of their last seven games, their last outing at home to struggling West Ham, in which they were robbed by some astonishingly bad refereeing decisions. Man Utd are favoured by Pinnacle Sports on their Asian Handicap 2.23 (-1.5) with Blackburn 1.752 (+1.5) but some punters will be prepared to oppose United on those terms should Ronaldo sit the game out. Chelsea Expected to Swat Hornets Chelsea are maintaining the pressure on United hoping that the Premiership leaders slip up soon. The current Champions have recorded six straight Premiership victories without conceding, their defensive invisibility should be helped by the return to form of John Terry and Peter Cech, while up front Andriy Shevchenko is finally finding his feet in English football opening the scoring in Chelsea's last two wins. The Blues should be expected to pick up another three points at Vicarage Road, where Watford have won just twice this season. The Hornets are bottom of the Premiership, a position they have occupied for virtually the entire season, and were on the end of a 4-0 hammering in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge. Even if Frank Lampard's broken wrist keeps him out of the game, Jose Mourinho has more than enough quality in his squad to win this game, and Pinnacle Sports rate Chelsea 2.11 (-1.5) on their Asian Handicap, with Watford 1.826 (+1.5). See Latest Betting Odds (will open in new window) £500 FREE. For YOU to play with. NO deposit required. WON'T cost you a thing. Sounds TOO good to be true? DECIDE FOR YOURSELF |
