Liverpool set for slog on the Tyne
BEN CLEMINSON WITH HIS BEST FOOTBALL BETS AND BILL ESDAILE CASTS HIS EYE OVER THE JUMPS
THE PATTERN of unpredictability in the top flight might be pleasing to watch but it is burning a big hole in punters’ pockets.
From Arsenal’s home defeat to Aston Villa on the opening weekend, to West Ham winning 3-0 at White Hart Lane last time out, the bookies have enjoyed one coupon buster after another.
We’ve also seen West Brom win at Old Trafford, one of a hat-trick of league defeats for Manchester United, and Manchester City clock up losses to Villa and Cardiff. Another surprise has been Liverpool’s strong form.
Brendan Rodgers’ boys sit second, level on points with early pace setters Arsenal, and the Reds are white hot favourites, at 10/11 with Coral, to record win number six when they face Newcastle at St James’s Park in tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off.
It’s easy to see why. Liverpool have won their last two fixtures 3-1, at home to Crystal Palace and away at Sunderland. They also are unbeaten on the road, while the Magpies, a model of volatility, suffered a 3-2 reverse to Hull the last time they stepped out in front of their own fans.
They were hit for six in this game last term and the Geordie faithful will fear another hiding.
But Liverpool are far from the finished article – and certainly not the banker their odds indicate.
It always takes at least 10 games for the league to bed down so let’s not get carried away with how either team has begun the campaign. If Newcastle win they will be just three points behind Liverpool and they are simply too big a price to ignore at 10/3 with Coral.
Tottenham’s setback against West Ham before the international break saw them slump from second to sixth but they should bounce back at Villa on Sunday.
Andre Villas-Boas will be bullish about the prospect of notching a second west Midlands triumph in less than a month after dispatching Paul Lambert’s side 4-0 in the Capital One Cup in September. Spurs also won by that margin on their last league visit and haven’t lost this contest for five years.
After the 1-0 north London derby loss, Spurs responded by winning five of their next six games in all competitions and drawing the other with Chelsea. Expect another positive reaction.
Despite their impressive results against Arsenal and City, Villa are inconsistent and have found it tough without injured star man Christian Benteke. Lambert is confident the Belgium striker will play some part, but he won’t be match fit after a month out.
There are no such injury concerns for Spurs star Andros Townsend, who looks to have cemented his place in England’s starting XI after two superb performances in the recent World Cup qualifiers. He’ll be itching to continue from where he left off.
The 10/11 with Coral is a fair price for a Spurs victory.
Pointers…
Newcastle to beat Liverpool at 10/3 with Coral
Tottenham to beat Aston Villa at 10/11 with Coral