A player scoring the winning goal for his new team against his former club is a formula which has made headlines for years in football. On Sunday Fernando Torres will line up in the blue of Chelsea, rather than the red of Liverpool, when his former club come to Stamford Bridge and it seems written in the stars the Spaniard will score. We take a look at Chelsea v Liverpool, as well as West Ham against Birmingham in our preview of Sunday’s Premier League matches.
Chelsea v Liverpool
All roads lead to west London this weekend and the word on everyone’s lips is Torres. Having completed a dramatic £50million switch to the Blues on transfer deadline day on Monday, it seems fitting the first club he would face is Liverpool. The 26-year-old is 10/3 to score anytime against the Reds and it seems inevitable he will end up on the scoresheet.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is undecided as to whether to start Torres but, after splashing out £50million, owner Roman Abramovich will want to see his latest acquisition on show. The reigning Premier League champions are odds on to beat Liverpool given their recent revival. However, anyone who has watched Chelsea recently will know they are nowhere near the side that won the title last season.
Liverpool have won just twice on the road all season and, Sunderland’s shock win at Stamford Bridge aside, Chelsea have been as strong as ever at home. Chelsea have to win to keep pace with league leaders Manchester United or risk falling further than ten points behind. On the flip side its just as important the Reds win to close the gap on the last Champions League qualification spot, currently held by Chelsea.
The Reds have one of their replacements for Torres ready to make his first start in the form of Luis Suarez and he has already opened his account, coming off the bench to score against Stoke in midweek. If you fancy both Suarez and Torres to score then Tote are offering that special at 6/1.
Its tough to look beyond Chelsea this weekend and with little value in the 90 minutes market, a best bet could be Torres to score and Chelsea to win at 13/8.
Birmingham v West Ham
Sunday’s first game at Upton Park has been overshadowed somewhat by proceedings at Stamford Bridge but is no less important for two sides battling to beat the drop. Its been just 11 days since the two clubs last went head-to-head as Blues managed to turn around a two goal deficit to beat the Hammers in the semi-final of the Carling Cup.
Hammers fans will be hoping the players can use their bitter defeat to Birmingham as motivation to gain revenge and leapfrog the St Andrew’s outfit out of the relegation zone. Both teams are on 24 points after the midweek matches, picking up valuable results. West Ham’s win at Blackpool was a rare away success for Avram Grant’s side on the road and they look as though they are beginning to turn things around.
The signing of Robbie Keane on loan could prove to be a stroke of genius if he keeps them up. The Republic of Ireland skipper is 9/2 to score first and you wouldn’t bet against him getting his first home goal after his strike on Wednesday.
While West Ham look as though they have plenty of goals in them, Birmingham have struggled to hit the target on a regular basis and their fans will fear that this weakness could cost them their place in the top flight.
Blues are 5/2 to win at Upton Park but it looks beyond them and the Hammers to repeat their Carling Cup first leg win of 2-1 at 15/2 could be the bet to go for in this one.
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