Rangers to make Reds work hard for three points
LAST year’s second-place finish in the Premier League seems a distant memory for Liverpool, who have comprehensively failed to replace the goals and all-round impact of Luis Suarez.
It’s a sign of how far the Reds’ stock has fallen that they are available to back at what appear decent odds of 8/13 to triumph away to bottom-of-the-table Queens Park Rangers – a side that has shipped 15 goals already this season, while scoring just four.
Harry Redknapp is as short as 1/2 to be the next manager to leave his post and his team is trading at 32-35 on Sporting Index’s 60 Relegation Index – Burnley are the only side trading higher.
While Redknapp has had the best part of two weeks with most of his squad to prepare for this clash, Brendan Rodgers has been involved in a spat with England boss Roy Hodgson over the handling of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling on international duty.
But both men could play a role on Sunday and the importance of three points won’t be lost on Rodgers and his team, with a top-four finish now rated a 5/4 chance from 4/9 at the start of the campaign.
I do expect Liverpool to win, but only narrowly. Selling total goals with Sporting Index at 2.9 looks a good bet and the 8/1 available for a 1-0 away win is also worth a wager.
■ Pointers…
Sell total goals at 2.9 with Sporting Index
Back Liverpool to win 1-0 at 8/1 (general)