Tag Archives: Anfield

Goalless Gunners face Anfield test

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Following Saturday’s Premier League action, there are three games to look forward to on Sunday with Arsenal’s visit to Liverpool the highlight at 1.30pm.

Liverpool v Arsenal (1.30pm)
Liverpool (11/10) have come in for criticism for letting Andy Carroll go without, in the end, bringing in a replacement but face an Arsenal (5/2, draw 12/5) side who similarly failed to splash the cash on deadline day.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers made it clear on Thursday and Friday that he wanted at least one more addition to his frontline but, for whatever reason, he failed to land Clint Dempsey from Fulham and now must approach the next three months will very little cover for Fabio Borini and Luis Suarez.

Scoring goals was their biggest problem last season and could well haunt them again this time around as, taking into account their Europa League games against Hearts as well as the two league games so far, missing chances have again been a feature of their early matches.

However, the Reds were impressive last weekend against champions Manchester City and, but for a shocking back-pass from Martin Skrtel, would have got a deserved 2-1 win, so there is optimism they can get three points against the Gunners.

Finding the back of the net has also been a worry for Arsene Wenger as Arsenal have begun slowly with two unimpressive goalless draws against Sunderland and Stoke.

The Frenchman will hope Oliver Giroud, Lukas Podolski and apparent Liverpool target Theo Walcott begin to fire soon, preferably on Sunday, as they look to get a win under their belts.

Despite a lack of goals from both sides, then, this one should be entertaining with Liverpool tipped to win by the odd goal. Go for 2-1 in the correct score market at 9/1.

Newcastle v Aston Villa (4pm)
Newcastle (8/13) host Aston Villa (5/1) after their Europa League success on Thursday and will hope to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Chelsea last time out.

The Magpies began with a 2-1 win over Spurs and many believe they can again battle for a top-six spot after last year’s surprise bid for a top-four place. They host a poor Villa side and this looks nailed on a home win.

Villa have began the campaign dreadfully and last week’s 3-1 reverse against Everton was as bad a performance the home faithful witnessed under old boss Alex McLeish.

The deadline-day signing of Christian Benteke is designed to provide Darren Bent with a decent strike partner but it remains to be seen if a side who many are now tipping for relegation, can be revitalised by Paul Lambert.

Two games in remains very early to judge a side but the signs are not good for Villa and we cannot see anything other than an away defeat on Sunday to leave them point-less after three games.

Southampton v Manchester United (4pm)
United go to top-flight new-boys Saints (5/1) hoping to find a bit more rhythm as Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-chasers have been rusty so far.

A deserved defeat at Everton was followed up by a sloppy 3-2 home victory over Fulham and they will need to be wary of a Southampton side bound to be pumped up for what will undoubtedly be one of the occasions of the season at St Mary’s for the home fans.

Robin van Persie did get off the mark well last week and appears to have hit the ground running in his new surroundings so the Dutchman is worth backing in the first goalscorer market at 4/1.

Expect a tight opening 45 minutes in this one as Nigel Adkins sets his side up with two banks of four but United are eventually tipped to break them down with a narrow away win on the cards (Draw/United – HT/FT – 10/3).

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Toffees can split points at Anfield

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Everton manager David MoyesEverton look overpriced at 4/1 to inflict a second straight home defeat on Liverpool (8/11 to win in 90 Mins) in Tuesday’s 217th Merseyside derby.

But the draw (13/5) still looks like being the most likely result given that all that’s gone before the match -  which takes place one day before Toffees boss David Moyes celebrates ten years in charge.

Moyes underlined why he could be one of the hottest names on the managerial merry-go-round this summer when his Everton side topped Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday – just hours after Liverpool had slumped to a disappointing loss at Sunderland.

The Goodison Park side are now only two points behind their cross city rivals and will be champing at the bit to inflict more misery on Kenny Dalglish’s men by winning at Anfield – something they last did three years before Moyes arrived in 1999.

Liverpool’s home form this year has been the main reason behind their seventh place standing in the Premier League. The Reds have won only four of 13 matches at Anfield – and have drawn eight times.

Four of the last six meetings between the sides have also been draws, including last season’s January encounter which finished 2-2 after Dirk Kuyt’s 68th minute penalty levelled the scores (5/1 Liverpool To Score a penalty, 7/1 Everton).

Kuyt was on spot-kicks then because Steven Gerrard (13/2 First Goalscorer) was injured and the influential Liverpool skipper’s involvement in this fixture greatly improves his side’s chances of winning the match.

Gerrard (7/4 Anytime Goalscorer) scored in the 2009 derby at Anfield, which finished 1-1, but Kuyt also bagged from open play when Liverpool won the 2010 clash.

Kuyt missed a penalty when the two teams met earlier this season at Goodison Park which meant he did not score in his fourth Merseyside derby in a row.

The Dutchman has scored only one Premier League goal this season – a disappointing return from a player who hit 13, nine and 12 in his last three campaigns.

Kuyt has been coming off the bench for Liverpool recently and making an impact – as he did in extra time at the Carling Cup final.

He has scored three goals in his last eight appearances for Liverpool and on two of these occasions, it was the last goal in the match (Kuyt 7/1 Last Goalscorer)

Everton have scored in their last seven Premier League matches, a run in which they are unbeaten – having defeated Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester City during that spell.

Liverpool should hold no fears for Moyes’ men, particularly with their dodgy home record and the price on an Everton comeback victory (20/1 Everton Win from Behind) must be worth some consideration given Liverpool’s recent inability to hold onto leads against Cardiff City and Arsenal.

However, the draw looks the most likely result after 90 minutes and with Everton’s last three Premier League away games having ended 1-1,  a fourth in a row should probably be backed on Tuesday night (6/1 in Correct Score betting).

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RVP can join Anfield club

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Holland hot-shot Robin van Persie simply has to be backed to score the first goal in Saturday’s lunchtime tussle between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.

Totesport’s ‘Double Delight – Hat-trick Heaven‘ offer could see the 4/1 for the dynamic Dutchman to bag first pay out 8/1 if he scores another in the match, or 12/1 if he joins the likes of Andrey Arshavin (2009), Peter Crouch (2007) and Robbie Fowler (1994) in the Anfield hat-trick club.

If your player scores the first goal of the match and goes on to score another, we’ll double your First Goalscorer price. If they go on to score a hat-trick, we’ll treble your First Goalscorer price. Who is your money on to bag the first goal of the match at Anfield?.

Van Persie could have had a hat-trick before half-time in last week’s north London derby demolition of Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners’ spearhead has scored 23 Premier League goals so far this season, bagging in 15 of the 26 matches he has appeared in, and grabbing the all-important first goal on eight occasions.

That represents almost one in every three matches in which he has played and suggests there is good value in taking the 4/1 for him to open the scoring on Saturday, while hoping that he adds to his tally later.

Another player who could be incredible value in this market is Yossi Benayoun (11/1 – First Goalscorer). The irrepressible Israeli was a surprise inclusion in Arsene Wenger’s side for last weekend’s 5-2 win over Spurs, but he did enough to suggest he will keep his place against his former club.

Benayoun, who scored two for Liverpool against Arsenal in that epic 4-4 draw between the clubs in 2009, has always had a tidy goal ratio during his injury-hit time in English football.

He has scored once in three starts for the Gunners this season, once in one start for Chelsea last term and 14 in 40 starts for Liverpool in the previous two campaigns, although there were a handful of substitute appearances in each of those years.

Aside from the goalscorer betting, which manager is likely to be smiling smugly into the camera in the post-match interviews and which one will be sourly shrugging at Sky TV’s microphone man?

Totesport makes Liverpool (Evens) the favourites, but with Daniel Agger definitely out with a cracked rib and Steven Gerrard struggling, the bet has to be Arsenal (11/4) to claim a point at 13/5.

Both dressing rooms will be buoyant after their results last weekend but Liverpool’s Carling Cup victory over Cardiff City was a draining occasion – and still left many observers wondering about Kenny Dalglish’s recent transfer activity.

Dalglish will make changes with Durk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy potentially returning to the starting line-up unless the Anfield boss believes Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson are the men to knock the Gunners out of their stride.

Wenger will feel that his faith in Theo Walcott has been partially vindicated by the will-o’-the-wisp winger’s second-half brace last week, but the fact remains that he does not score enough or do enough with his final ball to justify selection ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League at home this season, although they have won only four of their 12 matches. But seven of the last 12 matches between these two have ended in draws and six of them have finished at one apiece – which makes 1-1 in the Correct Score market at 11/2 another tempting option.

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City set to break Anfield spell

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Attention turns to the all-Premier League Carling Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday as Liverpool look to maintain their slender advantage over big-spending Manchester City, with the two sides having endured mixed fortunes of late.

The Reds of course secured a 1-0 lead through Steven Gerrard’s penalty in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago, which inflicted a second successive home defeat on Roberto Mancini’s men following their FA Cup loss to Manchester United.

The result was perhaps particularly surprising as the Citizens had cruised to a 3-0 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League fixture just before those two Cup shocks.

Mancini’s squad though has recovered and will be going into Wednesday’s fixture after edging to a nervy 1-0 win at Wigan before an injury-time penalty sealed three points against Spurs to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

The way the season has gone, there will be those who believe 13/8 on the country’s big spenders to win away is too big to ignore as they have demonstrated their capabilities on the road this season, winning 5-1 at Spurs and 6-1 at Manchester United.

However, those results were some time ago and City have been beaten at Sunderland as well as being held at West Brom recently, failing to score in both. Furthermore, they are travelling to a venue where they have a particularly poor record.

It has been nine years since City last won at Anfield and although there has been a financial revolution in the blue half of Manchester since then, Mancini’s star-studded line-up was held 1-1 there earlier this season and were trounced 3-0 last term.

Backing Liverpool at 13/8 is certainly taking a chance though, given the Reds’ abject performance at Bolton at the weekend. This led to boss Kenny Dalglish publicly criticising his players – some of which, of course, he brought to the club following his return to the hot seat.

It has to be expected that – whoever is selected – the Reds will not play as badly again but as they do not have to score to book a Wembley appearance, Dalglish may look to be solid at the back first, given the ease with which Bolton were able to score three goals on Saturday (draw 23/10 in the match betting).

There are some key absentees from both sides in this fixture as well, with the Toure brothers missing for City along with captain Vincent Kompany, who serves the last game of his four-match ban.

It has yet to be confirmed whether the Eastlands outfit will contest the FA charge Sunday’s match-winner is facing, although it is debatable whether Mario Balotelli would have displaced either Edin Dzeko or Sergio Aguero (6/1 First/Last Goalscorer) in the starting XI anyway.

Luis Suarez remains unavailable for Liverpool but it says a great deal about Andy Carroll’s lack of form that Reds fans are pining for the Uruguayan’s return as the former Newcastle man has mustered just four goals in all competitions this season.

Liverpool have made Anfield something of a fortress under their new manager as he has tasted defeat just once in 23 games at home, although an unbeaten league record on Merseyside this season masks the fact they have drawn seven of their 11 games.

It is difficult to see a host of goals in this one, despite Stefan Savic’s nervy attempts to fill the void left by Kompany, but City at least look like they can score goals – and they need to. Therefore, they are fancied to sneak through.

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Gerrard key to Anfield hopes

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After the latest international break, the Premier League returns this weekend with a number of fascinating fixtures – none more than clash between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Sparks always fly when the old rivals meet and there have been three sendings off in the last three meetings, so expect more fireworks at Anfield this Saturday.

Liverpool v Man Utd (12:45)

The home side have won the last three meetings at Anfield, including a 3-1 success last year thanks a hat-trick from Dirk Kuyt. Prior to that, United had won 1-0 in the two previous seasons and, as ever, it looks a difficult one to call.

The midfield could be the key to success, in what is likely to be a physical encounter. United’s new set-up in the middle of the park has impressed so far this term, with Anderson taking a staring role.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have frequently shuffled their pack in the midfield, some times with success and at other times, like at Tottenham, they have been over-run.

But the likely return of Steven Gerrard could prove a crucial factor in favour of Kenny Dalglish’s men.

Suggested Bet: Draw H/T / Liverpool F/T @ 5/1

Man City v Aston Villa (3pm)

Two unbeaten teams meet at Eastlands and it seems likely that something will give, as Roberto Mancini’s men look to close the gap on city rivals United.

Carlos Tevez may have returned after his club suspension this week, but his presence is unlikely to have any detrimental effect on City who will be missing Sergio Aguero.

The home side have won all three of their home matches this term and Villa have lost on their last five trips to City – enough said!

Suggested Bet: City to win @ 4/11

Norwich v Swansea (3pm)

Two newly-promoted teams go head-to-head at Carrow Road and both have shown that they are capable of staying up this season.

A win here for either team could prove crucial, even at this early stage, for their hopes.

The Canaries have won one, drawn one, lost one on home soil this term, while Swansea have lost all three of their away games.

Those fixtures were though at Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City and they are good enough to get something from this game.

Norwich won this game 2-0 last season, but Brendan Rodgers’ squad is a stronger unit now.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ 9/4

QPR v Blackburn (3pm)

Neil Warnock’s side have already proven to be the most unpredictable team in the top flight so far, while Blackburn have, at times, looked the weakest.

Sandwiched inbetween a 4-0 home defeat to Bolton and 6-0 thrashing at Fulham, the R’s have picked up eight points and looked an improving side.

Meanwhile, Rovers have picked up just one point from three away games and are relying heavily on Yakubu to deliver the goals to keep them up.

Suggested Bet: DJ Campbell to score at anytime @ 13/8

Stoke v Fulham (3pm)

The Cottagers collected a shock win at the Britannia Stadium last season and go into this clash in good form.

A 6-0 win over QPR will have boosted confidence in the Fulham camp and the return to form and fitness of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora is massive.

Stoke are unbeaten at home and that includes the visits of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Tony Pulis’ men will have welcomed the international break, with their hectic schedule, and may prove too strong for the visitors.

Suggested Bet: Stoke to win @ 6/5

Wigan v Bolton (3pm)

This is normally a tight local derby and following disappointing starts to the season from both clubs, expect more of the same on Saturday.

Wanderers have not won at the DW Stadium since 2007 and the last four league meetings have produced just two goals.

The first goal, if there is one, is likely to prove crucial in this clash.

Suggested Bet: 1-1 Draw @ 11/2

Chelsea v Everton (5:30pm)

Everton have been stewing over the Merseyside derby defeat for a fortnight and so expect them to respond with a big performance at Stamford Bridge.

David Moyes’ men are unbeaten in their last six matches with Chelsea and will feel they can take something from this game – especially with Jack Rodwell available.

Chelsea will face their toughest home test of the season to date and although they appear to have plenty of goals in them, they will miss the suspended Fernando Torres.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ 7/2

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Dalglish eyeing Anfield comforts

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There is just one Premier League match on Wednesday evening as Fulham travel to Anfield to take on a Liverpool side who are still looking to turn the corner this season.

Roy Hodgson’s appointment as manager promised much for the Reds fans but he was unable to make it work during his brief tenure and paid the price with his job.

Returning hero Kenny Dalglish’s reign hardly began in spectacular fashion either as a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United and a loss to Blackpool next time out had the home faithful thinking ‘here we go again’ (Man Utd 4/1 favourites to win FA Cup).

But a Merseyside derby draw with Everton and 3-0 away win at Wolves have given the fans hope that Dalglish might just be able to work his magic once again and at least gain some respectability from the season.

Wednesday’s clash with Mark Hughes’ men will be far from straight forward, however, as the Cottagers are currently on a decent run and have taken 10 points from a possible 15, and they will fancy their chances of leaving the north west with something to show for their efforts (Fulham 5/1 to win, Liverpool 4/7).

Despite the revival, Fulham are far from safe with the bottom seven separated by just five points, although victory over Liverpool would move the west Londoners above their illustrious opponents.

Dalglish will, as ever, rely heavily on the striking talents of Fernando Torres, who seems to be ploughing a lone furrow up front at the moment until the possible arrival of Ajax’s Uruguay international striker Luis Suarez.

The Spaniard looks to be getting back to somewhere near his best but needs help up front although Raul Meireles has started to blossom into a real force in midfield and he has scored two goals in the past two games.

There is no doubt that Dalglish has revived the confidence and spirit at Anfield but that will only affect results for so long and it is improved performances and points that the legendary Scot is after, with his side still eight points adrift of sixth-place Sunderland and a possible return to the Europa League next term (Liverpool 13/2 to win Europa League).

Fulham made the final of that competition last season under Hodgson but have no chance of playing European football next season.

The transition from Hodgson to Hughes took some time to bear fruit but, despite the current upturn, the Cottagers are still just four points from the drop zone.

Clint Dempsey bagged a brace at the weekend and much will depend on whether he can gel with Andy Johnson in attack, with the latter still to find his scoring boots after such a long time out through injury over the past 18 months.

Pundits always believed that Hughes had the talent at his disposal to move the club away from danger and the return of key personnel has definitely had an influence on performances and results.

The outcome of the match will depend largely on which Liverpool side turns up but, with Dalglish looking for his first win back at his spiritual home and the crowd behind them, the hosts are tipped to win this one by a couple of goals – but they will have to work hard for it.

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Houllier makes Anfield return

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Gerard Houllier and Roy Hodgson are two managers that have not found life easy at their new clubs and on Monday Aston Villa travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool as the Frenchman returns to his old stomping ground (Liverpool 3/5, draw 11/4, Villa 5/1).

Villa are really struggling for wins in the Premier League in recent weeks and have only picked up one victory in their last nine games in the top flight.

Houllier’s job has not been made easy by an injury list as long as the former Lyon manager’s arm with nine first-team players all sidelined at one point. At the moment Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph, Emile Heskey, Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker are all out of action.

Houllier will not want to be looking at Villa’s stats against Liverpool as they have only managed one win in the last 17 meetings between the two sides but that was a 3-1 win last season. Villa have the worst record in the Premier League this season against sides in the top half of the table as they have only managed to pick up three points from a possible 24.

As for Liverpool they have started to slowly turn their season around after a poor start to the campaign under Hodgson. The Reds have won their last three games at Anfield including an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea which has started a run of poor form for the Blues.

Pepe Reina made some crucial saves for the Merseyside club in that clash and he will pick up his 100th clean sheet for Liverpool if he can keep a clean sheet on Monday night.

Unfortunately for Liverpool fans they will be without skipper Steven Gerrard who is still out of action with a hamstring injury which he picked up whilst playing for England in a friendly against France.

The Reds will also be without key defender Jamie Carragher as he is expected to have an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury.

With injuries to key players on both sides this is going to be a close game between two inconsistent sides that have played some good football this season, in spells.

It gets said often but it could be that man Fernando Torres (4/1 to get the first goal of the game) that could be the difference between the two sides as he looks to get back to his best form which he has started to show but again, in spells.

Liverpool should edge this one at home in front of their home fans so it looks unlikely that Houllier will have a happy return to Merseyside.

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