Exclusive:
Our betting expert with tips for Anfield, Fulham against Ipswich, and Sunderland-Portsmouth in the second tier PLUS a Serie A angle
A new year, but there are no ‘new starts’ in football – as Ruben Amorim is finding out.
The past always feels present when Liverpool host Manchester United (4.30pm) in one of the great old fixtures.
After losing three home games on the trot, United will just be glad to swap Old Trafford for Anfield, where it’s only two defeats in three.
The 0-0 here a little over 12 months ago was a fighting display that got heralded at the time as light at the end of the tunnel for Erik ten Hag.
It’s someone else’s tunnel now, though the darkness is eerily familiar.
Arne Slot is getting a very bright tune out of the Kop squad gifted to him. That would change if contract-countdown trio Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold get counted out the door.
For now, Salah is on track for his greatest goals and assists season ever, at the age of 32. Punt him ‘anytime scorer’ at 5/6 and ‘anytime assist’ at 11/5 (Lads).
Ipswich’s 2-0 home defeat of Chelsea last time out was the sort of result that makes a bookmaker glad to be alive. It was also arguably the FIFTH coupon-buster the Tracter Boys have dug out this season. Stay up or not, they’ve left their mark on Premier League punters if nothing else.
Hosts Fulham (3pm) have taken big scalps, but the 4/7 today looks a bit thin on top. If Ipswich have a punter-pleasing worldie in them, Omari Hutchinson could provide it. The 22/1 (Bet365) Hutchinson ‘scores from outside box’ is a fit.
Antonee Robinson ‘OVER 0.5 assists’ is pick of the home bargains at 22/5 (BetVic).
In the Championship, Sunderland appeared to shake off their scoring issues last month, but have rode their luck a bit – and at 2/5 for the WIN at home to Portsmouth (3pm) they are not a very exciting proposition.
The Fratt Pack do travel more in hope than expectation, so some sort of Black Cats punt is still in order – step forward Jobe Bellingham. The 15/4 ‘anytime scorer’ and 18/1 ‘scores from outside box’ are two Bet365 prices that make sense.
Over in Italy, the Rome derby (7.45pm) between Roma and Lazio is full of recent scores to settle – take OVER 6.5 cards at a bob-on Evens (BetVic).
Last week: Winners at 11/10 and 12/5
