There are two Premier League matches (totesport coupon) on Tuesday and both, on paper, look like mid-table affairs without too much hinging on them. But, at a closer look, there’s plenty of intriguing side-stories as Liverpool prepare for the FA Cup final and also look for a win against Fulham as they bid to finish above Merseyside rivals Everton, who themselves go to Stoke, in the table.
Liverpool v Fulham (7.45pm)
The Reds (4/7 – 90 minutes) will certainly have one eye on Wembley as they welcome the Cottagers (11/2) to Anfield and boss Kenny Dalglish could even play a shadow side as he guards against injuries and suspensions for the important Cup Final date with Chelsea.
However, on the other hand, Liverpool will want to build on their 3-0 win at Norwich on Saturday so they can approach the weekend with momentum and in better form than they have generally been in over the past few months.
Andy Carroll missed the win at Carrow Road as a precaution so he could start, but hat-trick hero Luis Suarez, skipper Steven Gerrard and key defenders Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger are all likely to be among several first-choice players rested.
The likes of Dirk Kuyt (13/2 first goalscorer), Craig Bellamy, Maxi Rodriguez and Jonjo Shelvey, then, are set to carry the attacking threat while relatively inexperienced trio Martin Kelly, Jon Flanagan and Sebastian Coates could earn starts in defence.
With this in mind, Fulham may just fancy their chances of becoming the latest side to frustrate the Reds at Anfield and come away with a positive result.
The Cottagers were well beaten on Merseyside on Saturday when they lost 4-0 at Everton and, after what has been a decent season overall for Martin Jol’s side, they are likely to put on a better performance than that on Tuesday.
Moussa Dembele, Andy Johnson and Pavel Pogrebynak can cause Dalglish’s side problems, while the impressive Clint Dempsey, who scored the winner in Fulham’s 1-0 win over the Reds at home earlier in the campaign, is good value to open the scoring at 15/2.
All things considered, then, with Liverpool set to field largely a second-string side, Fulham can profit and claim at least a draw from this, on offer at a tasty 3/1 with totesport.
Prediction: 1-1 (13/2 – correct score).
Stoke v Everton (7.45pm)
These two have just about satisfied pre-season expectations and look like ending the season being comfortable in mid-table, although the Toffees (13/8 – 90 minutes) will hope to push on in the final league games to try and make up for the heartbreaking Cup semi-final defeat against Liverpool by finishing above the Reds in the standings.
David Moyes’s side, apart from that Wembley loss, have been in superb form of late and followed up the impressive, and deserved, 4-4 draw at Manchester United with that 4-0 mauling of Fulham at Goodison on Saturday.
Nikica Jelavic has been nothing short of a revelation since he joined from Rangers and he added two more goals to his Blues account against the Cottagers so is worth backing to continue that form at the Britannia Stadium (11/8 to score anytime).
Add to that the excellent recent form of Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and the returning Tim Cahill, and the Potters have plenty to fear ahead of this clash.
Stoke, priced at 7/4 (90 minutes), have faltered somewhat in recent weeks but got a decent point against third-placed Arsenal on Saturday and are always a real handful for anyone at home.
Both sides are likely to make changes with this game coming just three days after the weekend so it could be a tight encounter with little to choose between the two sides overall.
Stoke may just have the edge, though, with home advantage proving key and a narrow win for the Potters is predicted to move them up level with West Brom in 10th with two games to go.
Prediction: Stoke 2-1 Everton (10/1 – correct score).
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