Premier League 
/ Feizal Rahman / 05 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Kenny Daglish would love to get one over on his old adversary
"Liverpool look a very tempting [3.0] to pick up the win before the markets go In-Play, with United around [2.7] and the Draw [3.4]."
The two most successful football teams in England go head-to-head this Sunday lunchtime as Liverpool take on Manchester United at Anfield. Feizal Rahman selects the best bets.
Liverpool have enjoyed something of a renaissance under caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish but counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson will expect a return to winning ways for his league leaders, having dropped points at Chelsea in midweek.
Andy Carroll could make his eagerly awaited debut for Liverpool, though defender Martin Kelly has been ruled out. Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Raul Meireles, however, are hopeful of inclusion. United will be without suspended captain Nemanja Vidic and the injured Rio Ferdinand, leaving the relatively inexperienced Chris Smalling at centre-back alongside Wes Brown, who has made just six starts this season.
Match Odds
Following an FA Cup defeat to United two months ago, Liverpool's form drastically improved with five wins and just two defeats from ten matches. But a league upset to bottom side West Ham last Sunday brought the Reds back down to earth, having gone five games without loss. Whilst their away form remains suspect, Liverpool do have seven wins from their most recent ten at Anfield, turned over just once by Wolves.
Having gone 29 games unbeaten, United have now lost two of their last four in the league, both on the road. Although nowhere near as bad as Liverpool on their travels, they have frequently looked susceptible away from Old Trafford this term with only four victories. Yet, Sir Alex Ferguson's side have notched up seven league wins from ten in 2011 and they have not lost two in a row since March 2009.
Liverpool have triumphed over United in the last two league meetings at Anfield but prior to those, the Manchester side held a favourable record with maximum points taken in four of their five previous visits. Intriguingly, there has been just a solitary draw in the last 24 encounters - at any venue - with United slightly ahead on wins with 13.
United's success this term has been predominantly based on a solid defensive unit, marshalled by the ever-present Nemanja Vidic. Without their Serbian captain - and Rio Ferdinand alongside him - vulnerabilities could be exposed by their biggest rivals smelling blood and hungry for a kill. Liverpool look a very tempting [3.0] to pick up the win before the markets go In-Play, with United around [2.7] and the Draw [3.4].
Under/Over 2.5 Goals
Just one of six previous clashes at Anfield have produced three goals or more, with four seeing a single goal at best - each of those a game in which Liverpool failed to score. United have found the net in all bar five of their 18 Premier League visits and have failed to score just three times in their away calendar this season.
Excluding last week's effort at West Ham, Liverpool have greatly improved their defensive resilience under Dalglish, conceding fewer in the Scotsman's first 11 games than under Roy Hodgson's last six. The Reds may not be able to maintain a clean sheet in this game - [3.4] to do so - but they can be taken to score at least once themselves, so backing Over 2.5 Goals at [2.3] may reward.
Other Markets
There have been seven red cards in the previous nine engagements, while a spot kick has been awarded on five occasions in the last five contests. Odds of [3.3] will be available on a Sending Off with [3.6] about a Penalty Taken. Liverpool's designated kicker, Steven Gerrard, can be backed at [11.0] to be First Goalscorer.
Liverpool have not led at half-time in the last eight meetings at Anfield, five of which have been goalless after the first 45 minutes. The half-time draw trades at [2.1] with a 0-0 half time score around [2.8].
Best bet: Back Liverpool to win @ [3.0]
Recommended bets: Back Half Time Draw @ [2.1]; Back Sending Off @ [3.3]
The two most successful football teams in England go head-to-head this Sunday lunchtime as Liverpool take on Manchester United at Anfield. Feizal Rahman selects the best bets....
Wenger left to rue missed chances as Arsenal blow opportunity to close gap. Meanwhile, Hammers happy for second time in a week and Duff leaves Blackburn's safety looking dodgy......
With AC Milan looming in the rear-view mirror, Spurs may not have their eye on the ball here - can Wolves profit? Joe Dyer may have the answers...
No comments:
Post a Comment