Monthly Archives: January 2011

Can Carroll fire Liverpool?

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Liverpool have enjoyed a productive January transfer window as the Anfield side attempt to salvage their season and there have been plenty of changes in the red half of Merseyside (Match Betting – Stoke 3/5, draw 11/4, Stoke 5/1).

Key man Fernando Torres may well be on his way to Chelsea before the window slams shut at 11pm today, Monday, but the Reds have secured a ready-made replacement in the shape of Andy Carroll from Newcastle.

The Magpies rejected two offers from Liverpool before “reluctantly” agreeing to a transfer after Carroll handed in a transfer request at St James’ Park and Newcastle then accepted a £35million offer from the Reds.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has already snapped up Uruguay international Luis Suarez in January and the club legend will be hoping his new-look strike-force can help push the Reds up the Premier League table and possibly even challenge the likes of Chelsea and Spurs for the fourth spot (Liverpool 20/1 to secure a top four finish).

On paper Torres certainly has a better pedigree than Carroll, having played at the top level of football in both Spain and England for a number of years and with a fantastic goalscoring record, while Liverpool fans may question the player’s price-tag after just half a season in the Premier League, albeit a highly impressive one.

However, it is worth noting that the current campaign has been a fairly disappointing one for Torres in comparison to his previous exploits and after the striker handed in a transfer request it seemed inevitable he would leave before the window closed.

Torres’ switch to Stamford Bridge has not yet been finalised but following Carroll’s arrival on Merseyside it seems almost certain he will be a Chelsea player before 11pm today.

Liverpool currently trail fourth placed Chelsea by nine points in the Premier League table but the arrival of Carroll and Suarez could prove vital in their hunt for Champions League football next season.

The Reds remain massive outsiders to secure a spot in Europe’s top competition but if they can go on an unbeaten run things can change quickly – as has already been perfectly demonstrated by Chelsea this season after they relinquished a five-point lead at the top of the table, their own title hunt is now in tatters according to most pundits.

Carroll has not played since December 28 with a thigh injury but should return to action soon and if he can pick up where he left off he could well be the crucial man for Liverpool in their hunt for European football, while Suarez also has a prolific strike record and if he can adapt to life in England quickly he could prove another shrewd bit of business.

Torres may have struggled at Liverpool this season but there is no denying his talent and many pundits had suggested he is no longer happy at Anfield long before he announced his desire to move on.

The fact Torres has been unsettled could well account for his lacklustre displays and a move to Chelsea could see the Spanish star return to form, having shown glimpses in recent weeks, while the chance to link up with the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge will have been hard to resist.

With Anelka, Torres and Drogba leading the line the Chelsea squad will receive a much needed boost following their unprecedented slump and they could yet challenge for the title at the end of the campaign, although it will take a massive effort with Manchester United currently 10 points clear of Carlo Ancelotti’s men (Chelsea 7/1 to win the Premier League).

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Championship selections

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There is a full Championship programme on Tuesday evening with all the top sides in action. Can Premier League-hopefuls QPR extend their lead or will the chasing pack close on the top spot (Championship outright and match  betting)?

Queens Park Rangers v Portsmouth

Neil Warnock has revitalised the former Premier League club and they look destined to return to the top flight for the first time since 1996. But they have stumbled in recent times with just one win and six points from their past five games. Goals have been hard to come but they are still top of the standings by five points and take on Pompey outfit fighting for survival at the wrong end of the table. The south coast club have lost four of their last five and will surely return from Loftus Road empty handed on Tuesday evening.

Odds: QPR to win 8/13

Value bet: QPR to win 2-0 11/2

Norwich v Millwall

The Canaries sit in second place in the table having taken eight points from a possible 15 in recent times with a tricky clash against the Lions on the horizon. The south Londoners have taken 10 points from a possible 15 and are in decent nick at present, as they battle it out for a place in the play-offs. Norwich are looking to close the gap on leaders QPR but a draw is tipped for this one, with both clubs unlikely to give too much away at Carrow Road.

Odds: Draw 12/5

Value bet: 1-1 11/2

Cardiff v Reading

Cardiff are just one point behind Norwich with a game in hand and so every match is vital as they look to avoid having to go through the lottery of the play-offs. The Bluebirds’ form has been mixed of late and they have lost two of their past five encounters while winning two and drawing the other match. The Royals’ form has been similar but they also have the FA Cup to contend with having advanced to round five with victory over Stevenage at the weekend. This is a difficult match to call but, with home advantage, the Welshmen are tipped to shade a tight encounter at  Cardiff City Stadium.

Odds: Cardiff 21/20 to win

Value bet: Cardiff to win 2-1 7/1

Bristol City v Swansea

The Swans will need to bounce back from their FA Cup defeat to League One Leyton Orient but the loss may be a blessing in disguise with promotion to the Premier League the real goal this season. And they have shown decent form of late in the Championship with three wins,a draw and just one defeat from their previous five encounters. City are just five points above the drop zone and have one just one from five, with a disappointing 4-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough just a couple of weeks ago. The west country outfit do have home advantage but Swansea should have enough ammunition to take the spoils here.

Odds: Swansea 6/5 to win

Value bet: Swansea to win 1-0 13/2

Coventry City v Nottingham Forest

Fifth-place Forest have been boosted by the loan signing of Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky and were already full of confidence having taken 13 points from a possible 15. Coventry have not won in eight games and, despite home advantage, will struggle to contain a Forest side who believe they can regain their Premier League status this term. Coventry are safely in mid-table at present and Billy Davies’ men have much more to play for in this fixture – and that could be crucial.

Odds: Forest 11/8 to win

Value bet: Forest to be winning at half and full time 3/1

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Last minute movers’n’shakers

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With the January transfer window coming to a close on Monday at 11pm, and so many players with their futures unclear, which clubs will look to make some last minute moves?

The end of the window has been an exciting time in terms of transfers in the past, with some big deals such as Andrey Arshavin moving to Arsenal from Zenit St Petersburg with just minutes to go.

This year there are a number of players who look set to make last minute moves either on permanent or loan deals.

The biggest name floating about is that of Spanish World Cup winner Fernando Torres.

Chelsea (7/1 to win the Premier League) have already had a £35m deal turned down by Liverpool for their star striker, which prompted the 26-year-old to hand in a transfer request.

The Reds turned down the request, however the latest news is that the Merseyside club would be willing to sell the player to the Blues but for no less that £50m.

If Roman Abramovich has the money in the coffers, Torres could make the sensational move to Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Former Chelsea winger and England international Shaun Wright-Phillips is another player who could be on the move before the window closes.

His current club Manchester City (12/1 to win the Premier League) have apparently turned down a transfer request from the player but are willing to send him out on loan till the end of the season.

Newcastle United and Fulham have been linked with the midfielder but it looks like Bolton are the front-runners to gain the player’s services for the rest of season, with Owen Coyle keen on signing the 29-year-old.

Former Magpies striker Obafemi Martins could be set for a return to the Premier League if he can complete his move to Birmingham City in time. The 26-year-old is on the verge of a deal that would see him move from Rubin Kazan to St Andrews.

One of the most exciting prospects from League One could be lapped up by one of the Premier League giants Manchester United or Arsenal.

Southampton’s Alex Chamberlain, who has been described as the next Theo Walcott, is the exciting 17-year-old who has been linked with a transfer up to the Premier League.

With Arsenal’s record of developing and playing youngster such as Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, they will be favourites to snap up the midfielder who has scored six goals for Southampton (17/10 to win League One) this season.

The final day should be full of movement with team’s desperate to freshen up their squads before the window closes.

Watch this space.

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FA Cup fifth round ties

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Crawley Town have been handed the dream draw in the FA Cup fifth round as they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Blue Square Bet Premier side beat Torquay on Saturday to make it through to the last 16 for the first time. Another fourth round giant-killing side, Leyton Orient, will be at home to Arsenal, while Notts County would face Aston Villa at home if they get past Manchester City in their replay.

Here’s how the fifth round is shaping up:

West Ham v Burnley

The Hammers have shown their cup pedigree with a run through to the Carling Cup semi-finals, where they were beaten by Birmingham last week (West Ham 25/1 outright).

Boss Avram Grant will probably be thinking, privately, that the last thing he wants is another extended cup run when his real priority is a) keeping his job and b) keeping the Hammers in the Premier League.

However, the Hammers have good strength in depth and will probably look to use their fringe players against the Claret, while hoping that the Upton Park faithful will spur them onto the last eight. West Ham beat Burnley 5-3 in the Premier League at Upton Park last season.

Burnley boss Eddie Howe is likely to regard the fifth round draw with mixed feelings. On the one hand, with West Ham’s struggles this season, it is a chance for a cup upset. On the other, Burnley don’t want to be side-tracked from their main target which is reaching the play-offs (Burnley 80/1 outright).

The Turf Moor side are just five points behind sixth-placed Leeds, with a game in hand. They are unbeaten in their last two away games, drawing 0-0 at Scunthorpe then beating Portsmouth 2-1 at Fratton Park.

Notts County/Manchester City v Aston Villa

Notts County will obviously feel that their one big chance of causing an upset came and went at Meadow Lane on Sunday (County 600/1 outright).

The League One outfit were just 10 minutes away from recording an historic cup upset when Edin Dzeko scored an equaliser, and now the trip to Eastlands will be very tricky for County.

It will be a chance for Lee Hughes, who has played at the highest level, to show that he can still outwit Premier League defences. But City should have the quality to come through and face Villa.

It will be an interesting match-up between a City team who have at long last laid down a title challenge versus a side who are still at the wrong end of the table.

City have already beaten Villa at home in the Premier League, Mario Balotelli scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win, so Villa will know the size of the task that awaits them (Man City 6/1 outright).

But after a torrid first half of the season, Villa have begun to spark into life and they beat City in the return fixture at Villa Park, when Marcus Bent scored on his debut earlier this month. The fact that this tie will be at Eastlands should give Roberto Mancini’s men the edge (Villa 18/1 outright).

Stoke City v Brighton

Stoke did not field their strongest side away to Wolves on Sunday but were still the better side and deserved their 1-0 win (Stoke 20/1 outright).

They reached the fifth round last season, beating Manchester City and Arsenal, but were then handed the dubious honour of travelling to Chelsea and got knocked out.

Manager Tony Pulis has made it clear that he does not regard the FA Cup as a priority this season – he wants his side to reach 40 points as quickly as possible to secure a fourth consecutive Premier League season.

However, Stoke have already reached the 30-point mark and are big outsiders in the relegation market. They have not excelled at home this season, losing to the likes of Fulham and Blackpool, but they should draw a reasonable crowd to this tie and the home crowd are capable of lifting them.

Brighton produced a cup upset by winning 1-0 at Watford on Saturday courtesy of Ashley Barnes’ 17th minute goal (Brighton 150/1 outright).

Brighton fans well remember how an extended cup run can ruin a league season – they reached the FA Cup final in 1983 but were relegated from the top flight. And Gus Poyet would much rather his side stay top of League One until the end of the season than earn a sixth round place.

The Seagulls are likely to give it a good go, but will not be devastated if they lose at the Britannia Stadium.

Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday

The Blues are in the Carling Cup final courtesy of their aggregate semi-final win over West Ham last week. And certainly they are more of a cup side this season than a Premier League success, unlike last term when they were terrifically hard to beat at St Andrews (Birmingham 16/1 outright).

This season, they have only been beaten by Everton and Arsenal at home in the league, but have drawn six of their 11 home games.

The Blues managed an excellent FA Cup run last season, only going out to eventual finalists Portsmouth in the sixth round.

It’s hard to see Wednesday making the League One playoffs this season – they are in 12th place with plenty of decent sides above them. However, their FA Cup progress has kept the fans, who had expected an immediate promotion back to the Championship, fairly happy (Wednesday 150/1 outright).

Wednesday have been big scorers in the FA Cup this season, winning 5-2 at Southport in the first round then putting three goals past Northampton and Bristol City to reach the fourth round. They had to come from behind against Hereford on Saturday but did so in style with Clinton Morrison getting two goals as they won 4-1.

The Owls have been hit and miss for the last few weeks – they thrashed Bristol Rovers 6-2 in mid-December then were humbled 5-1 at Exeter next time out.

Wednesday have goals in their side, especially from Neil Mellor, who has scored 13. But they are likely to find this tie a step too far.

Leyton Orient v Arsenal

Leyton Orient rode their luck to beat Swansea 2-1 on Saturday. The Welsh side dominated the game but Orient keeper Jamie Jones performed heroics and the game looked to be heading for a replay (Leyton Orient 1000/1 outright).

Two minutes from time, Swansea captain Alan Tate sliced into his own net to give the League One outfit a place in the fifth round.

Orient have only lost one of their last nine league games, while their FA Cup exploits have been impressive as they put out Norwich in the fourth round and had won 8-2 after extra time in their third round replay against Droylsden.

Scott McGleish and Alex Revell are their goal merchants, with 13 apiece in all competitions, and they will fancy a crack at the Gunners.

Arsenal were lucky to get past Huddersfield at the first attempt on Sunday, needing a late winner from Cesc Fabregas. But in the circumstances they will be happy to have gone through, having played with 10 men for more than half the game (Arsenal 7/2 outright).

The Gunners are the only team who can win all four major trophies this season, as they are in the last 16 of the Champions League as well as the Carling Cup final. They should be good enough to breeze past their London rivals.

Everton/Chelsea v Reading

Chelsea will be glad to have brought Everton back to Stamford Bridge for a replay after the teams drew 1-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday (Chelsea 5/1 outright).

Salomon Kalou scored after coming off the bench as Chelsea kept on course to become the first team to win three successive FA Cup titles since Blackburn in the 1880s.

With their Premier League defence now looking highly unlikely, the Blues will very much be targeting an FA Cup triumph in May and should see off Everton in the replay (Everton 20/1 outright).

Reading won 2-1 at Stevenage in the fourth round on Saturday, but only thanks to Shane Long’s winner two minutes from time (Reading 100/1 outright).

The victory is not to be taken lightly, given what happened to Newcastle at Stevenage in the previous round, but Reading are one of a number of clubs who would much prefer league success to a lengthy FA Cup run this season.

The Royals are only four points off the play-offs, with a game in hand over sixth-placed Leeds.

They have plenty of quality players, such as Long, skipper Ivar Ingimarsson, Jobie McAnuff and keeper Adam Federici. But it’s likely Federici will be picking the ball out of the net at least a couple of times as Reading go out at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United v Crawley Town

United are not a team likely to slip on any FA Cup banana skins, though their defeat to Leeds in last season’s competition shows it is just about possible (United 5/2 outright).

Leeds were on their way to promotion from League One, however, whereas Crawley are hoping just to break into the Football League.

United have so many quality players they can bring in that even if Sir Alex Ferguson decides to make wholesale changes from his regular Premier League team they will be formidable. They showed in beating Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday that they are good enough and fit enough to run lesser teams ragged in the final third of the game.

It might be a cliché to say it, but this will be Crawley’s FA Cup final. They were united, after beating Torquay on Saturday, in saying they wanted to be drawn against a big club away from home (Crawley 1000/1 outright).

The gate receipts will boost Crawley’s promotion bid, so they cannot really lose. They stand second in the league, two points behind leaders AFC Wimbledon but with four games in hand.

They will be in dreamland just to run out onto the Old Trafford Pitch, but in reality they are surely heading for a heavy defeat.

Fulham v Bolton/Wigan

This is the only tie guaranteed to be an all-Premier League affair, though it may not get the pulses of the neutral racing.
Fulham played superbly to knock out Spurs on Sunday, so they will go into the fifth round tie full of confidence (Fulham 22/1 outright).

The Cottagers are on a run of just one defeat in the last five Premier League games, though they know they have to improve their home record which has seen them draw five of their nine fixtures at Craven Cottage.

Mark Hughes’ side are still too close to the relegation zone for comfort, but know all about how a cup run can lift the club after last season’s Europa League adventure.

Bolton have performed wonders this season under Owen Coyle, though their away form has suffered recently and they currently find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League (Bolton 33/1 outright).

It’s five away defeats in a row for the Trotters at the moment, so they will not relish another away date.

Wigan, if they get through the replay, know how tough Fulham are at home as they lost 2-0 at Craven Cottage in October (Wigan 50/1 outright).

The Latics have only won once in the league in 11 matches and staying up is not just the main priority for the club, it’s the only thing that matters.

Fulham will start as heavy favourites for this tie, whoever they face.

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Top five European games on Sunday

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Bet on footballThe FA Cup has taken centre-stage in England this weekend but the battle for supremacy goes on across the European leagues.

Here are the top five games on Sunday.

Inter Milan v Palermo (2pm)

Inter will be hoping their rivals and Serie A leaders AC Milan slip up on Saturday evening when they travel to face Catania as they bid to make up more ground on them in the race for the Scudetto (Inter 11/4 Serie A Outright).

Leonardo’s side have won four league games on the bounce to move to fourth in Serie A and are nine points behind AC with a game in hand.

New striker Giampaolo Pazzini could start if he overcomes an ankle injury, while Inter will be without Sunderland-bound Sulley Muntari. Cristian Chivu, Dejan Stankovic and Ivan Cordoba will all serve one-match bans while Julio Cesar, Milito and Wesley Sneijder are all injured.

Palermo will be no pushovers having moved up to seventh in the table with a 1-0 win against Brescia, but Inter should have too much at the San Siro.

Prediction: Inter To Win 2-1 @ 7/1

Osasuna v Real Madrid (6pm)

Jose Mourinho’s men could be seven points behind Spanish Primera Liga leaders Barcelona by the time this game gets underway should the Catalan giants see off Hercules on Saturday evening.

Madrid have struggled of late after drawing at lowly Almeria and scraping past Mallorca 1-0 on home soil last weekend. Therefore a win at struggling Osasuna could be imperative on Sunday evening.

Karim Benzema (9/2 2 Or More Goals) will look to make it as difficult as possible for new signing Emmanuel Adebayor to secure a regular starting place after he joined from Manchester City this week.

Osasuna are just a point clear of the bottom three at the time of typing and could do with some points for survival purposes.

However, with the heat well and truly on Real Madrid, surely they must win this one.

Prediction: Real To Win 2-0 @ 5/1

Espanyol v Villarreal (8pm)

These two sides have enjoyed successful La Liga seasons in their own right as they head into this match at the Cornella well placed in fifth and third position respectively.

Espanyol have been hit by the sale of full-back Didac Vila to AC Milan, while central defender Victor Ruiz joined Napoli earlier this week.

How this will impact on the home team remains to be seen given that they have won all but one of their home games so far this term.

Villarreal (21/20 La Liga W/O Barcelona & Real Madrid) have won their last two fixtures and will be brimming with confidence going into this one.

Prediction: Draw @ 12/5

Monaco v Marseille (8pm)

Defending champions Marseille (12/5 French Ligue 1 Outright) travel to the Stade Louis II boosted by their first win in six to see off Bordeaux last time out. This put them in fifth position and six points behind current leaders Lille.

On paper, it looks a banker away-win given that Monaco are struggling in second-bottom position with just three wins from their 20 Ligue 1 games this season.

However, the hosts will hope Mahamadou Diarra’s arrival from Real Madrid and the loan signing of Gregory Lacombe from Montpellier will start to pay off immediately.

Prediction: 1-1 Draw @ 5/1

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (4.30pm)

The action in Germany’s Bundesliga on Sunday centres around the battle to avoid relegation as bottom club Borussia Monchengladbach travel to mid-table Frankfurt aiming to stay in touch with the teams immediately above them.

The game takes on extra significance as Michael Fink could make his Borussia debut against his former club after arriving at the Bundesliga strugglers from Turkish side Besiktas.

And he will be desperately hoping to get his career with the basement boys off to a flying start on his old stamping ground.

Borussia’s problems have been at home this season, where they have yet to register a win, while they have picked up maximum points three times on the road.

Frankfurt have lost four at home so it would not be a surprise if an away win popped up in this fixture.

Prediction: Draw/B Monchengladbach @ 15/2

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Town looking to upset Gunners

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Bet on the FA CupHuddersfield Town are the next West Yorkshire club set for an FA Cup clash with Arsenal as the League One side head to the Emirates on Sunday (Arsenal 1/7, draw 13/2, Huddersfield 18/1).

Local rivals Leeds United were seconds away from pulling off a famous victory in north London in the third round of the competition but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

However, the Gunners were clinical in the replay at Elland Road and showed the reason why they are challenging at the top of the Premier League as they ran out 3-1 winners.

Huddersfield are currently third in League One and will be looking to cause an upset at the Emirates.

Like most sides who travel to face the Gunners, they will have to ride their luck but if they can keep out Arsenal for the first half they may be able to frustrate them.

Arsene Wenger’s side have been in a rich vein of form and look like they are enjoying the cup competitions this season.

The Gunners have already booked a date at Wembley as they beat Ipswich Town to secure a place in the Carling Cup final in midweek.

Arsenal should come out on top in this one as their strength in depth is likely to be too strong for Town.

In an all Premier League affair, Tottenham Hotspur make the short trip across the capital to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage (Fulham 2/1, draw 12/5, Spurs 13/10).

Mark Hughes’s side have managed to create a four point gap between themselves and the teams in the relegation zone as the Cottagers have picked up recent wins against Stoke City and West Brom.

However, Spurs are 10 places higher than Fulham in the Premier League and will be confident of progressing through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The north London club have beaten Fulham in their last three meetings and they should come out on top once again in this meeting.

In Sunday’s other all Premier League clash, Wolves host Stoke City in a West Midlands derby.

Wolves have welcomed the distraction of the FA Cup as they have struggled to pick up points in the Premier League.

Mick McCarthy’s side are level on points with bottom club West Ham United as they have only picked up one win in their last four outings in the top flight.

Stoke are enjoying arguably their best season in the Premier League as they look comfortable in 10th place.

Tony Pulis and his Potters players should be able to take advantage of the fact that Wolves will have their priorities set on avoiding relegation from the top flight this season.

Finally, Premier League big spenders Manchester City travel to take on Notts County at Meadow Lane (County 13/2, draw 18/5 City 2/5).

County have made headlines in recent years with talk of takeovers and big money signings, much like their opponents on Sunday.

However, the Magpies have not seen much of an improvement on the pitch as they sit four points above the relegation zone in League One.

With City’s star studded squad, which is blessed with riches, they should comfortably beat County.

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Top five bets for the weekend

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With the weekend fast approaching you might be thinking about what your plans are to occupy those days off before the dreaded return to work on Monday morning. As usual, sport will more than likely form a big part of the weekend and we have picked out what we feel are the top five bets to hopefully increase your beer funds over the next two days.

1) Murray to break Grand Slam duck

Every year seems to have been Andy Murray’s year for as long as he has been on the tennis scene for him to win his first grand slam title. Normally most people roll their eyes and claim he won’t get the better of Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Up until now that has been the case in the majors but with those two already out of the Australian Open, maybe this is finally Murray’s time.

The Scot goes head-to-head at Melbourne Park with Novak Djokovic looking to go one step further than he did 12 months ago when he lost to Federer in the final. The Serb has been on fire recently and is rightly the favourite to claim his second Grand Slam title. However, Murray has had a fairly ease ride to Sunday’s final and should be fresh for the challenge that the world number three will pose.

At 11/10 in a two-horse race Murray is worth a punt, not only to line your pockets but for patriotic support as well.

2) West Ham to get lost in the Forest

Everyone loves an FA Cup upset and in the last round we were treated to a few as Newcastle and Sunderland fell victim to giant killers Stevenage and Notts County. Now it could be West Ham’s turn to get egg on their face when they play Championship side Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday.

Billy Davies’ side have been flying in the league of late, winning seven of their last eight matches. Last season it was their away form which cost them a chance at automatic promotion. However, they look to have got that monkey off their back and Upton Park could be in for another dark day in what has already been a dreary season.

With West Ham having played extra-time in the Carling Cup 5/2 for Forest to win seems too good to ignore.

3) Molinari brothers present double trouble

At the start of the week, the name seemingly on everyone’s lips was Molinari when it came to discussing the inaugural Volvo Golf Championship. The course was brand new and it was anyone’s guess who would come out on top in Bahrain.

However, after two days of the tournament those smart enough to tip up either Francesco or Edoardo Molinari look as though they could be proved right. Edoardo enjoyed a remarkable second round, carding 65 to leave him joint top of the leaderboard. His brother Francesco is just a shot back on ten-under-par and both look to have taken to the course well.

Edoardo and Francesco are both 8/1 to win the Volvo Championship outright and it’s worth having a look at one or both of the Italians.

4) Everton to derail Chelsea comeback

The talk on Tuesday in the world of football was centred around how Chelsea were over their slump following a 4-0 win at Bolton. However, those who watched that game will know had it not been for a couple of gifts from the Trotters, it could have been another difficult night for the Blues.

They now face another difficult away game at Goodison Park against an Everton side who have caused Chelsea problems in recent years. The Toffees have lost just one of the last six to the west London outfit and expect Carlo Ancelotti to be thrown under the spotlight again if the Blues fall at Goodison Park.

Everton have been up for the big games this season and it doesn’t get much bigger in the cup than facing the holders at home. Everton are 5/2 at home to beat Chelsea and expect them to lift the gloom on their league season by mounting another cup run.

5) England to continue ODI comeback

Just when you thought England would blow what has been nearly the perfect winter in the ODI series with Australia they pull their fingers out and keep the best-of-seven-contest alive. The 21-run win in Adelaide showed England’s fighting spirit in not giving up and expect that to continue in Brisbane on Sunday.

We already know the Gabba has a fantastic batting track and it will be a case of who has the more penetrative bowlers as to who comes out on top. All winter England have had the bowlers capable of taking wickets at crucial times and if they can get past Shane Watson expect them to take the series to 3-2.

England and Australia are both 9/10 on to win the match so if you are looking for more value maybe look at the top England batsman odds. Jonathan Trott has been exceptional with the bat in the last two games and made 135 not out in the Test match at the Gabba in November. The Warwickshire batsmen is 7/2 to topscorer for England again.

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Eagles can soar past Canaries

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dougie freedmanDespite much of the focus being on the FA Cup this weekend, there are some crucial games taking place in the Championship with fixtures affecting both the top and bottom of the table. Crystal Palace could be the big winners, as they look to move out of the bottom three…

Crystal Palace v Norwich (Sat 3pm)

The Eagles may be struggling to maintain their Championship status, but they have shown signs of improvement under Dougie Freedman and the return of James Vaughan will be crucial. The Everton striker has return to Selhurst Park on loan, and having scored five goals in his previous stint this season, could prove the difference between survival and relegation.

Although their away record is poor, Palace have not lost at home since October – a run of six games – and they will be desperate to derail Norwich’s promotion hopes. The Canaries have surprised many this season, with late goals crucial for them in recent games. But Palace beat them 2-1 at Carrow Road earlier in the season and could be a good bet to do the double.

Match Bet: Palace to win @ 9/5

Hull City v QPR (Sat 3pm)

QPR still look the strongest team in the league, helped by a couple of useful additions during the transfer window ? Wayne Routledge and Danny Shittu. The R’s will be further tested though by a Hull City side, who has lost just one of their last 12 league games.

The Tigers have the second best defensive home record in Championship – conceding just six goals all season – and the goal-scoring threat of Matty Fryatt makes them serious play-off contenders. QPR have lost just twice away from Loftus Road and this looks like being a stalemate, which would be a decent result for both teams.

Match Bet: Draw @ 23/10

Millwall v Barnsley (Fri 7:45pm)

With just three places and two points separating the two teams, this clash at the New Den is a tough one to call. The Tykes have responded really well to losing their star man Adam Hammill to wolves ? picking up four points from a possible six since the winger’s departure, and their 2-0 win at Doncaster in midweek was impressive.
Millwall have lost just three of their 13 home games to date and have won their last four home league games, conceding just one goal in that run.

Match Bet: Steve Morison to score at anytime@ Evens

Scunthorpe v Preston (Sat 3pm)

These two teams are staring League One in the face, but both will remain hopeful of pulling off the great escape – three points here for either team could be crucial. Scunthorpe have the added pressure of being at home, where they  have gained just one win all season.

Preston meanwhile, will be buoyed by two back-to-back draws since Phil Brown took charge, thanks to two late goals. North End could go one better at Glanford Park this weekend.

Match Bet: Preston to win @ 7/4.

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Five FA Cup Predictions

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Bet on the FA CupThe FA Cup returns this weekend with 11 ties to get your teeth into on Saturday. And with it being the oldest cup competition in the world, shocks are guaranteed. But where will they come?

Everton v Chelsea

Chelsea have bounced back into some sort of form with wins over Bolton, Blackburn and Ipswich but could their first blip in five games come at Goodison Park?

The Merseyside Blues secured a 1-1 draw in the Premier League down at Stamford Bridge in December and while the Londoners have been no great shakes on the road, Everton have managed just three home wins in the league so it will be a big ask.

A more sensible approach might be to back the draw in this one which would take it to a replay at the Bridge.

Draw – 23/10

Bolton v Wigan

These two have enjoyed contrasting seasons so far and the derby meeting in the FA Cup could be the Latics’ chance to distract themselves from the fight against relegation.

Bolton have not won in the league since Boxing Day and although the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw on January 5, it is not out of the question for Roberto Martinez’s side to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Wigan to win – 4/1

Birmingham v Coventry

Blues are through to the Carling Cup final after a tremendous come-from-behind win over West Ham on Wednesday night but this could work against them in this Midlands derby.

The Hammers win is sure to have taken a lot out of the players and Coventry, who looked decent when losing at QPR in the Championship last weekend, boast arguably a better keeper than Robert Green in Keiren Westwood.

Coventry to win – 22/5

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Rovers have risen to eighth place in the Premier League under Steve Kean but they encounter a Villa side which seems to have turned the corner and now have Darren Bent on board.

The Lancastrians have not been any great shakes on the road this term but Bent is cup-tied and this could give them the edge.

Blackburn to win – 16/5

Southampton v Manchester United

Manchester United are looking to extend their record of 11 FA Cups to 12 and this trip to the South Coast should be nothing more than a formality.

All eyes will be on Saints youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who has been strongly linked with a couple of Premier League clubs including the Red Devils.

United Half-Time/Full-Time – 10/11

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Deadline day on the horizon

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The transfer window closes in five days and clubs up and down the Premier League must move fast to get their business done. There will be moves happening right up until the final seconds of the window so let’s assess which late deals could be on the cards, and how they will help teams over the remainder of the season.

Chelsea (7/1 to win Premier League title) have been linked with a £52m double bid for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero and defender Diego Godin, though the club have been quick to dismiss reports. The other big transfer gossip surrounding Carlo Ancelotti’s side is they had a £17m bid for Benfica defender David Luiz turned down, but the Blues are confident of pushing through a deal.

If Chelsea hold out any hope of catching Manchester United, a club who have already stated they do not intend to bring anyone in, a new defender would be crucial to their hopes as their back four have looked more susceptible than in many years. A new top striker like Aguero would also make a massive difference as Anelka and Drogba are not getting any younger and have gone off the boil in recent months.

Arsene Wenger has been linked with a number of targets during the window, but what has to be his top priority is a central defender as Arsenal (13/5 to win title) are wafer-thin for centre-backs. It would be a massive surprise if Wenger moved for Jonathan Woodgate, as reports suggest, but it seems the boss might not be willing to splash the cash despite Lille midfielder Eden Hazard and Southampton’s teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being heavily linked with the Emirates. Many Gunners fans will be disappointed to hear Wenger ruling out bringing in new faces, leaving the Carling Cup as possibly Arsenal’s best chance of ending their wait for silverware this summer.

One transfer link that has refused to go away all January is Liverpool (28/1 to finish in top four) moving for Luis Suarez. There is no doubting the addition of the Uruguayan striker would improve Liverpool drastically, but with both clubs struggling to agree on a price it would not be a shock if no deal were done before the window closes. The same can be said of Liverpool’s interest in Charlie Adam as Kenny Dalglish seeks to improve a struggling Reds side for the second half of the season. New players are needed to inspire Liverpool so Dalglish could be busy right up to the closing moments of the deadline.

Sunderland have money to burn following the sale of Darren Bent, which despite the inflated price could be the smartest deal of the window as Aston Villa needed a goalscorer and that is exactly what Bent (20/1 to be top Premier League goal scorer) is, and so there are likely to be incomings in addition to the capture of Ricardo Fuller. Freddie Piquionne has been linked with a £3.5 million move, but he is not a patch on the goal-scoring talent of Bent, while Sulley Muntari seems to be on his way from Inter Milan. Sunderland have had a great season to sit in sixth, but unless they get a truly quality replacement for Bent they are likely to drop down the table.

Villa have done the second-biggest deal of the window with the capture of Bent, with Manchester City’s £27 million signing of Edin Dzeko looking likely to ensure they are United’s biggest threats for the title (City 12/1 to win Premier League), and Gerard Houllier could still be a busy man. He has been linked with Spurs’ forgotten midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who would offer a good attacking threat through the middle, and he would replace the under-performing Stephen Ireland – who seems likely to head out on loan, possibly to Newcastle. There is no doubting Ireland’s ability and if he got his head back in line then his talent would be a great addition to compliment Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton in Alan Pardew’s side.

The Robbie Keane saga continues to rumble on and there is no conclusion about where he is going to end up. A move to Birmingham failed to materialise, the likes of Wolves, Newcastle and Sunderland have all been linked, and now West Ham (4/7 to be relegated) are the latest suitors for the Spurs star. With seemingly half the Premier League interested in him it might be a case of just picking a name out of the hat, but it continues to look nailed on he will be wearing a new shirt by the end of the month.

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