Exclusive:
Our betting expert with tips for a pivotal Manchester derby, Tottenham’s trip to Fulham, Chelsea against Brentford and Brighton-Palace PLUS a La Liga shout
Heads-up at the Etihad for the also-rans derby.
It’s been many years since Manchester United were in better shape to tilt at the Premier League crown than their neighbours and hosts today (4.30pm).
We’re not there yet, whatever City’s woes.
In midweek William Hill were offering City at the same price for the title as for relegation: 10/1.
Those drop odds are about off-field fixtures, m’lud, though only poor Southampton had a worse five-game points tally than City ahead of yesterday’s games.
Meanwhile, for context, United were 750/1 for the league title.
Even Santa would struggle to get that big an ask down your chimney.
In their past two Prem games, United have conceded four headed goals, three from corners.
City are bossing the Prem’s stats for ‘corners earned’ and ‘accurate corners’ delivered.
Their ‘accurate crosses’ stats aren’t too shabby either – and if cross king Matheus Nunes starts, the 9/2 (Bet365) ‘OVER 0.5 assists’ looks fair value.
Bigger-price fans can happily hunt out the 15/2 (Paddy) that ‘Erling Haaland scores header’.
With the turkey nervously awaiting its annual comeuppance, Southampton and Tottenham’s (7pm) respective Premier League campaigns are looking pretty much stuffed before Christmas.
Yet only Chelsea had scored more Prem goals than Spurs heading into this round of games.
Brennan Johnson is the equal of Erling Haaland for ‘anytime scorer’ pay outs. Punt Johnson ‘anytime’ at a ripe 7/4 (Paddy, Boylesport).
James Maddison ‘scores from outside box’ is fun at 9/1 (Hills) – Saints look vulnerable from range.
Chelsea and Brentford (7pm) are two of the Prem’s most free-scoring sides – and the Bees spread that honey around too, by leaking like an upended crumpet.
Try Cole Palmer ‘anytime’ at 5/6 and 17/2 (Paddy) ‘Nicolas Jackson scores assisted by Jadon Sancho’.
Brighton-Palace (2pm) is ripe for 22/1 (Bet365) that Carlos Baleba ‘scores from outside box’.
Over in La Liga, Barcelona superteen Lamine Yamal looks an ‘OVER 0.5 assists’ steal at 2/1 (Bet365) as Leganes visit (8pm) – his stats say he’s more like an Evens shout