Tag Archives: Bounce

Graham Hunter’s La Liga Preview: Barca bounce back to form, Real run riot and a 12/1 shot

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Almería v Barcelona, Saturday 3pm

When Almería manager Fran Rico woke up on Thursday morning he got just about the best news possible.

No, not that Valencia and Sevilla were loaning them back Álvaro Negredo and Aleix Vidal so that the two ex-Almería strikers could get scoring practice against Barça but that the Catalan expedition had been stranded in Amsterdam over night thanks to a broken down plane.

Unlike the board, fans, journalists and players’ families, the team didn’t have to sleep in Schipol airport – being shipped off to a friendly hotel at about 2.20 am.

Almeria manager Francisco Rodríguez

FRAN-TASTIC NEWS: The Almeria boss will have welcomed Barca’s midweek travel woes

But given the well-known post-Champions League malaise [big team plays midweek, slumps the next weekend] old Frankie Rich [Señor Rico] would have been rubbing his hands in glee.

Iniesta out, two Liga defeats on the trot, Mathieu struggling for fitness, ditto Luis Suárez re match-sharpness – now a broken plane and broken night’s sleep.

But well might he pray.

Barcelona’s functional hotel in down-town Almería is a business and convention centre [the glamour!] and that’s just what they’ll want at the Estadio Juegos Mediterráneos – taking care of business and sticking to convention.

Almería have never beaten Barcelona home or away – that’s the convention.

Verza playing for Almeria

VERZA OUT OF TUNE: Almeria will need Verza to find his scoring touch to beat Barca

Last season the Andaluz team produced shocks – defeating Atlético, Valencia and Real Sociedad. But here’s the rub. Verza scored four goals across those three big scalp removals but he’s got just one this season.

Of Almería’s three other leading scorers last season, Rodri, Vidal and Oscar Díaz they are now scattered across 1860 Munich, Sevilla and Valladolid.

Defender Oscar Trujillo [Born Madrid 1987] promised to make the game: “Ugly and long” for Barcelona and Almería have been heavily practising corners [from which two of their eight goals have come this season] and free kicks as their main weapons on Saturday afternoon.

An early game after a tiring European trip against a team scrapping for survival and promising to make the game a bit Quasimodo might give you a hunch for Almería upsetting the odds.

But Barcelona showed a new attitude in Amsterdam, worked brutally hard and looked like a side which knew precisely where they’d gone wrong in the previous two matches.

Particularly the moving of Suárez to centre-forward, from right wing, made Barça look potent again. Messi’s movement and form was, suddenly, joyous. I think Luis Enrique’s side might tuck this one away – back Messi [a double], Rakitic and Suárez even if he gets one coming off the bench.

  • Almeria 14/1, Barcelona 1/5, Draw 11/2 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Liverpool v Chelsea MBS

Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano, Saturday 7pm

This is where you have to feel a bit of sympathy for Paco Jémez. A year and a week ago these two clubs met, at the Vallecas, and it was a fabulous contest – 3-2 to Los Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti was so impressed with how Jemez’s team played – tactics, possession, attacking verve, pressing – that he got in touch with the former Spain centre-back and asked if he could come watch Rayo train one day. What an astonishing compliment. Spin it as you like but within a month Madrid were playing 4-3-3, thrilling with their intensity and en route to winning two trophies.

“We’ve got to applaud a team with such an enjoyable playing style” Ancelotti said Friday. “Rayo are a great example of what Spanish football stands for. “Despite fighting against relegation they play well and they play attackingly. “It’s a great thing, very, very positive”.

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas

A RAYO OF INSPIRATION: Madrid’s minnows inspired Ancelotti last season

From that day to this Jemez has had to cope with losing 19 players, signing another 19 [they released or sold 13 in summer 2013 and signed 18 making it a gross turnaround of 71 players in two summers] yet still produce attractive, winning, tactically daring and technically admirable football. That he’ll one day be given charge of one of La Liga’s ‘grand’ clubs must now be a given.

For the moment, how does he cope with the world’s most in-form side?

Madrid-trained Alberto Bueno has a record of a goal every five games in La Primera and hasn’t scored for five so he might be worth a fiver anytime. Leo Baptistao is not only Rayo’s best player but suddenly in touch with the swagger and confidence he lost at parent club Atlético.

But when Los Blanco’s biggest test is how to re-incorporate the fit-again Gareth Bale then you can take it that a] this’ll be a cracker to watch and b] Madrid will hit three +

Rayo haven’t won at city neighbours Madrid since 1996 [their only away win in this fixture] and their scoring at the Bernabéu is a numerical palindrome – scored 15, conceded 51.

Bale will score, count on it, and backing Ronaldo may only be for dummies now given his mildly acceptable 17 goals in 9 league matches but, just for info, he’s got eight in six matches against Rayo.

  • Real Madrid 1/14, Rayo Vallecano 25/1, Draw 11/1 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Valencia v Athletic Bilbao, Sunday 6pm

You’d forgive the Athletic players if they take garlic, lucky white heather, silver bullets, wooden stakes, kryptonite, rabbits feet and a bundle of three-leaved clovers [clovii?] to Valencia with them. It’s not that their away record to Los Che is utterly atrocious – just that the Mestalla has been a killing field for their dreams. They’d not been to any cup final for quarter of a century before the Copa Del Rey pitted them with Guardiola’s Barcelona at the Mestalla in 2009. One nil up became 4-1 down – heartbreak for the heart-bustingly proud and noisy Basque support.

Mestalla Stadium

VAL-HELLA: Bilbao have endured their fair share of heartbreak at the Mestalla

Aready massively disadvantaged by the loss of ex-Valencia star Aritz Aduriz, Athletic are in search of a lucky break. Aduriz has seven in all comps, without him Athletic have three goals in La Liga. Then when they were fighting for their Champions League lives in midweek a mole popped its head above ground just in time to nod the ball over keeper Gorka’s boot so that Yacine Brahimi could score into an open goal.

As for Valencia they’ve racked up the A-Z of wins. Total domination, wins from a 15 minute power play, wins when they are on the ropes… the sign of a happy, fit, well coached, well stocked team.

Their last three wins have all been by 3-1 [back that correct score again here at 12/1] with Pablo Piatti serving up six goals for team mates in those matches. Valencia have [including an Elche own goal] scored from six set plays in those three games. Shkodran Mustafi [a new German centre half] can’t stop scoring so if Mr Power is dozing this weekend, odds-wise, the stopper is worth a little tickle again at 25/1 as is Sofiane Feghouli who’s back in form. Time for a Paco Alcácer [in the Spain squad] goal too.

  • Valencia 8/13, Athletic Bilbao 9/2, Draw 14/5 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Real Sociedad v Atlético, Sunday 8pm

It’s not grim oop north as far as Atleti are concerned. They’ve scored eleven times while winning their last four visits to the Anoeta.

But, this time, it’s got to be an Antoine Griezmann story. Picked up as a hopeful French kid by Real Sociedad when he was nowt but a lad [13] he became far and away their most exciting, most prolific player of recent seasons bagging over a half century of goals … before Atleti came calling. It’s funny, he’d got goals against all La Real’s other major rivals – Athletic, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia. Just not Atlético. But they put a €24m bet on him and although Diego Simeone’s latest comment on him was that he needed to become a ‘more complete’ striker the kid is learning. Four goals in total, two last week in the win over Cordoba – he’d got to be a storybook banker to score on his return ‘home’. “I won’t celebrate if I do..”

Anoeta Stadium

TAKE A-NOETA: Real Sociedad’s one home win this season was against Real Madrd

Warning to the Spanish champions? La Real’s only home league win was against … the European champions and they gave them a two goal start.

As for the Basques, they’d like this to be the game before David Moyes takes over. They have a back up plan [Pepe Mel] but it’s the Scot they are determined to persuade. “That Jagoba Arrasate has been sacked is a disaster of our [the players’] making” commented captain Xabi Prieto. Presumably of the football director’s making too – selling Griezmann [sixteen goals last season] and buying Alfred Finnbogason [eight appearances and not a single goal yet]

Griezmann, Koke, Prieto and Raúl Garcia might feature on the ‘goal anytime’ menu for many this weekend.

  • Real Sociedad , Atlético Madrid, Draw – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

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Blades set to bounce back

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Having come so close to securing a return to the Championship last term, Sheffield United (League One outright 6/1) should be able to finish the job in League One this time around.

The Blades (7/4 League One promotion) were cruelly denied a return to the second tier of English football, as they went down to Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town in a thrilling penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium.

What will have hurt the red half of the city more will be the fact their arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday did secure promotion but it should not be too long before the men from Bramall Lane meet their old foes in the league once again.

Like Wednesday, Huddersfield and teams like Stoke City and Leeds United have seen in the past, League One is a tricky competition to get out of.

Disappointment tends to precede success and under manager Danny Wilson they certainly have an experienced man in the game, who should be able to get them promotion if not claim the title.

However there are plenty of teams in the mix for the League One crown, who will certainly have a big say as to who will be celebrating come the business end of the season.

MK Dons (8/1 League One outright) are a side that have spent far too much time in the third tier and it’s about time they put a decent run together and challenged for the automatic places.

Manager Karl Robinson is a relatively young talent in the game and at 31-year-old already appears to be having a strong influence on the team.

Everything is in place at this club to achieve great things, from the impressive 22,000 seater stadium to an exciting manager but of course it all comes down to the players and who the Dons (5/2 League One promotion) can bring in over the summer.

From the teams that have come down from the Championship last season, Coventry City (11/1 League One outright) look like they could be the best of a group that are in bad positions.

Both Portsmouth and Doncaster Rovers have their troubles and the financial situation with the Sky Blues is dubious too.

However with signings like the promising John Fleck from Rangers, the club can still attract talent and they should be able to challenge for at least the playoff places, if not better, but a strong start will be crucial.

Much of lower league football is about momentum and how often have we seen sides leap through the tables when they grasp that winning mentality?

The likes of Swansea City and Norwich City have proved it can be done and Swindon Town (3/1 League One promotion) look like a side who could make another quick rise.

They will certainly be outsiders for the title this season but under eccentric and passionate manager Paulo Di Canio they have a man who will not be content with a mediocre season in mid-table.

So keep an eye out on the Robins, who could be there or thereabouts come May next year, when all will be decided in what looks set to be an intriguing season in League One.

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Spaniards set to bounce back

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Following the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals this week, the odds point to an all-Spanish final, with Real Madrid (8/13 – To Qualify) and Barcelona (4/11) fancied to make it to Munich on May 19.

Surprisingly both La Liga outfits slipped to first-leg defeats, with Real going down 2-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena while Barca found Chelsea a tough nut to crack and slumped to a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

But both sides are expected to bounce back on home soil after Jose Mourinho’s men secured what could prove to be a priceless away goal in Germany while Pep Guardiola’s side just need to beat the Blues to progress and, given their Nou Camp record this season, it would take a brave man to back against the reigning champions.

However, it must be noted that no side has ever retained the Champions League since it came into existence in its current format back in 1992 which sounds a note of caution over piling your mortgage on the holders.

Now in its 20th season since the evolution from the old European Cup, the Champions League final has pitted teams from the same nation together on just three occasions – Spain in 2000 when Real Madrid faced Valencia, in 2003 when AC Milan took on Juventus and four years ago when Manchester United met Chelsea in Moscow.

So the stats seem to point towards one of either Real or Barca failing to justify favouritism to qualify for the final although, by the same token, history is always waiting to be made and Real’s away goal just about swings it in their favour.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they are the current 11/10 outright favourites and their home form this season suggests they will at least contest the final.

The Catalan giants have won 27 games out of 30 at the Nou Camp this season – the other three matches were drawn – scoring 104 goals in the process and conceding just 16 times.

True, not all of their opponents have been in the class of Chelsea whose old guard are staging one last stand but next Tuesday could well represent a game too far for a club who seem to be playing off the cuff since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas.

The young Portuguese manager seemed to have a plan over revamping the squad, however he forgot to factor in the need to secure results while doing so and paid the price with his job.

Caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo seems to be taking games as they come but that is mainly down to having no other choice given the short-term nature of his mandate at the helm of what is now a top European club.

As a footnote, Barcelona (4/6 – 90 Minutes) entertain Real Madrid (3/1) in El Clasico at the Nou Camp on Saturday night knowing defeat would give their arch-rivals and current La Liga leaders a seven-point advantage with four games to come after this weekend.

The game at the Bernabeu ended 3-1 in Barca’s favour last December and another win for Guardiola’s men this weekend by the same scoreline pays out at 12s.

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Back Celtic to bounce back

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Last week’s Old Firm defeat to Rangers may have delayed the SPL party for Celtic, but they still go into Sunday’s game with St Johnstone holding a healthy 15-point advantage over their city rivals, meaning it is only a matter of time before they will be crowned champions.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon had been forced to angrily defend his players earlier this week following their loss at Rangers and a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in the League Cup final drew stinging criticism from the media.

The defeat at Hampden brought to an end a unbeaten domestic run that stretched back 26 games, something to consider when deciding your bets on this fixture.

Lennon’s ire has also been directed towards referee Calum Murray, who sent him to the stands at Ibrox last weekend as well as dismissing Celtic duo Cha Du-ri and Victor Wanyama.

After being asked to explain his comments by the SFA, Lennon promptly skipped his pre-match press conference on Friday, wary of talking himself into more trouble.

That represents far from ideal preparation for the visit of the Saints and perhaps an outward sign that the pressure is starting to affect the previously unruffled Hoops boss.

Meanwhile, Steve Lomas’ men are enjoying a fine season and are well on course to secure European football after their win at Inverness in midweek lifted them three points clear of Dundee United in fourth place.

They go into the game having won four of their last five games – including the last three – and have yet to lose since February 11.

They are also the only Scottish team to have beaten Neil Lennon’s men at Celtic Park this season, a 1-0 win in Glasgow on August 21 thanks to a goal from defender Dave Mackay.

Their enticing odds of 15/2 therefore suddenly become a viable option. A repeat of last August’s 1-0 win also brings home tidy odds of 14/1.

To do so though would be dismissing the strength of Celtic’s recent domestic run. A poor start to the season saw them fall 12 points behind Rangers at one stage, but their resurgence in form has stretched through to the spring and they now stand on the brink of a 43rd SPL Championship.

They may just be four places apart in the table, but the gulf between the Old Firm is vast and for that reason I think Lennon’s men will raise their game on Sunday.

The odds of 1/3 for a home win will not really payout, so value could be found in the correct score market.

Celtic have conceded just six goals at home this season while St Johnstone have just let in 10 on the road, so goals look set to be a premium. My prediction therefore is for the narrowest of Celtic wins, with a 1-0 home victory priced at a more favourable 6/1.

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Chelsea keen to bounce back

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The traditional New Year fixtures throw up several intriguing contests in the Premier League on Monday with Chelsea, in particular, desperate to bounce back from their 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa. Here we preview the games.

Wolves v Chelsea (3pm)

Chelsea’s inconsistent season took another unexpected twist on Saturday when they threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at home to Villa.

The Blues’ title bid appears in tatters following the defeat that leaves them 11 points off leaders Manchester City and well adrift in fifth place.

A second successive defeat would be unthinkable for boss Andre Villas-Boas and they should bounce back at Molineux although they will not get an easy ride in the Black Country.

Wolves have claimed battling back-to-back draws at Arsenal and Bolton to boost their survival hopes and will fancy their chances of another draw in this one. However, Chelsea know another slip-up will not be tolerated so expect a narrow away win. Go for 0-1 at 6/1.

Prediction – 0-1.

Aston Villa v Swansea (3pm)

Villa (5/6) enjoyed their best day under Alex McLeish on Saturday when they came from behind to stun Chelsea and they can build on that win when they host Swansea (4/1).

The Welsh side have been impressive at home this season but have struggled on their travels and have yet to win away from the Liberty Stadium in the top flight.

Top scorer Danny Graham was rested for the 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday – with Luke Moore handed a surprise start – but he should be back in the side with a point to prove at Villa Park so is well worth backing to score anytime at 9/4.

Villa will be buoyant following the Stamford Bridge success and, with Darren Bent  fit again, they look to have too much firepower for the Swans.

Prediction – 2-1.

Blackburn v Stoke (3pm)

Rovers’ win at Manchester United on Saturday was probably the result of the Premier League season so far and, coming on the back of the 1-1 draw at Liverpool, it has eased the pressure considerably on Steve Kean.

The way his young side have fought in the last two games suggests the players are still firmly behind the Scot and they can enjoy another win in this one against Tony Pulis’ side (Blackburn 6/4, Stoke 15/8, draw 9/4 in the match betting).

The Potters have had a good first half to the season and are eighth in the table and through to the knock-out stage of the Europa League but have been poor on their travels in the league, losing five out of nine games and it looks like being another disappointing afternoon on Monday.

Prediction – 1-0.

QPR v Norwich (3pm)

A battle between two of the promoted sides at Loftus Road looks like a difficult one to call.

Rangers lost only narrowly at Arsenal on Saturday but their home form is poor as they have won just once in front of their own fans and sit just a place above the relegation zone.

Neil Warnock knows he needs a goalscorer to boost his ranks and is expected to splash the cash this month in order to ensure safety in the Premier League.

Norwich have exceeded expectations so far back in the top flight and sit 10th at the halfway stage. They have adapted well to life in the Premier League and will have no fear going to the capital to take on the R’s.

This one looks like it has a draw written all over it – take 0-0 in the correct score market at 15/2.

Fulham v Arsenal (5.30pm)

Arsenal go to Craven Cottage for the late game currently in the driving seat in the battle for fourth after the 1-0 win over QPR on Saturday.

The Gunners have been boosted by the imminent return to the club of legend Thierry Henry and the feel-good factor is set to continue as they can secure another three points against their London rivals.

Robin van Persie is always worth backing to score anytime (4/5) while Arsenal HT/FT is also tempting at 2/1.

Fulham were only a few minutes away from a win at Norwich last time out but face a much tougher test on Monday and look like struggling to get anything out of Arsene Wenger’s side.

Prediction – 0-2.

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Swans can bounce back at home

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Six Premier League teams enjoyed a rare Boxing Day off, but they will return to action on Tuesday with three fixtures to look forward to. North London top-four hopefuls Arsenal and Tottenham are among those looking to close the gap at the top, while all-three promoted teams will be seeking a crucial three points in the battle to avoid the drop.

Swansea v QPR (5pm)

Both teams lost last week and will be keen to collect a late Christmas present, with the duo hovering dangerously above the drop zone. Swansea’s home record could be crucial though, as Brandon Rodgers men look to increase the gap between themselves and the R’s.

Both of these sides were playing Championship football last season and QPR had the better of things, claiming a 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium before sealing a 4-0 success at Loftus Road. But the Swans have the better form at present and have lost just one of their eight home games to date.

QPR have been better on the road than at home, but Swansea’s impressive defensive record – just two goals conceded at home - could see them edge this affair.

Suggested Bet: Swansea to win @ Evens 

Arsenal v Wolves (3pm)

The Gunners showed some steel when bouncing back from defeat to Manchester City to beat Aston Villa last time out, although it was far from a vintage display. But six wins, one draw and just one defeat at the Emirates tells it’s own story and it looks like more woe on their travels for Wolves.

Mick McCarthy’s men have won just once on their travels this term and recent displays on the road have been poor. Wolves have conceded two goals or more in their last six away games, with just six goals scored in eight fixtures away from Molineux, and it could be more of the same on Tuesday.

Suggested Bet: Total Goals (3-5 Goals) @ 8/13

Norwich v Tottenham (7.30pm)

Both these teams picked up draws in their last fixtures and both are in fine fettle going into this clash at Carrow Road. The Canaries find themselves in the top half, but the attacking threat that Spurs offer could be too much for Paul Lambert’s men.

Norwich has scored plenty at home (16) but they have also conceded regularly (12) and Harry Redknapp’s men have the speed to cause a paceless Canaries backline major problems, especially with Kyle Naughton out through suspension.

Tottenham, who have only lost one of their last 14 league matches, could have Rafael van der Vaart back, after suffering a knock against Chelsea, while Jermaine Defoe will have a late fitness test.

Suggested Bet: Draw HT/Tottenham FT - 10/3

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Blues aim to bounce back

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Birmingham City narrowly crashed out of the Europa League in midweek and without the distraction of Europe they now look ahead to their Championship clash with Crystal Palace on Monday (Palace 17/10, draw 11/5, Birmingham 13/8).

Blues currently find themselves in 14th place in the table but a push for promotion this season is still a realistic target for the club, who have three games in hand over some teams in the league.

Without the Europa League to draw attention from their bread and butter games in the Championship, Blues must now make the most of those matches in hand if they want to make a swift return to the Premier League.

However, they face a tricky trip to the capital on Monday with Palace being tough to beat at Selhurst Park this season.

The Blues welcome back skipper Stephan Carr after he was rested for the 1-0 victory over NK Maribor, which was not enough to put the Championship side through to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton was impressed with the performance of youngster Nathan Redmond (16/1 first goalscorer) in the win over the Slovenian outfit and the teenage winger is pushing for a place in the starting XI on Monday.

As for Palace they will have to do without their talented teenager Wilfried Zaha, who is suspended following his fifth yellow card in the 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The Eagles don’t have a bad replacement in Darren Ambrose (5/2 to score anytime) who was an unused replacement in the victory at the City Ground and is one of the best players for Palace on his day.

Both Dekel Keinan and Dean Moxey are a doubt for the clash with the Blues as both defenders are struggling with injuries and manager Dougie Freedman will have some decisions to make as to who will fill in at the back.

After a strong start to the season, which saw Palace in the playoff places, the London outfit had started to slip down the table and it looked like the bubble had burst at Selhurst Park.

However, the win over Forest proved the Eagles are still capable of battling out a victory and they will be a tough proposition for Birmingham, who will be feeling the pressure to make the most of those crucial games in hand.

The Blues have plenty of quality in attacking positions with the likes of Chris Burke and Nikola Zigic (7/1 first goalscorer) set to cause a weakened Palace defence problems.

Considering their decent away results in all competitions, the Blues might just have enough in their squad to get all three points at Selhurst Park but expect a closely-fought contest in the capital.

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‘Destroyed’ Arsenal to bounce back

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Arsene Wenger admitted in the aftermath of Arsenal’s dramatic, last-gasp Carling Cup final reverse against Birmingham on Sunday that some of his players were “destroyed” by the nature of the 2-1 defeat. However, the Gunners can still enjoy what would surely rank as their finest-ever season if they managed to win an amazing treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles (100/1).

It’s a big ask, of course, but will the Wembley defeat re-focus Arsenal as they chase that elusive first trophy since 2005, or will it end up destroying their campaign completely?

Plenty of teams, including Arsenal themselves, have, in the past, benefited from a triumphant League Cup victory that has propelled them onto even greater achievements in the rest of the season but the question Gunners fans – and Wenger himself – will be asking  in is can they now use the crushing late defeat as a catalyst and platform to ensure they do not experience more misery in a season that has promised so much for so long. Such is Arsenal’s recent record of choking in the latter stages of competitions that they are now odds on with Totesport at 8/11 to end the campaign without silverware.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though.

Next up for the north Londoners is an FA Cup fifth-round replay against League One Leyton Orient (Arsenal 15/8 to win FA Cup) after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road just over a week ago. Nothing other than a home win on Wednesday will do as the Gunners set about appeasing fans who must be questioning how such a talented bunch of players continue to fall flat on their faces when it matters most. In fact, a handsome victory will be demanded at the Emirates and, a 4-0 rout on offer at 7/1 looks well worth a bet.

The stunning come-from-behind win over Barcelona in the first leg of their European last-16 tie at the Emirates earlier this month has ensured they head to the Nou Camp with a 2-1 lead and, while many are predicting Barca to overcome that, Wenger will be doing all he can to make amends for last year’s 4-1 defeat there and book a place in the quarter-finals. If there is one spectacular way to get over their Wembley heartache then success over the Catalans would be it.

The Premier League title race resumes with a clash at home against Sunderland on Saturday. Wenger will be hoping Chelsea do his side a huge favour by taking something off Manchester United on Tuesday, while United then go to Liverpool on Sunday. The Gunners boss must believe they are two games that the leaders can drop points in and, if they do, it will probably be the Gunners who profit the most. Certainly if Wenger’s men can go on to lift the title at the end of the season (7/4, United 1/2f) then a defeat in late February in the Carling Cup final will seem like little more than an irritation.

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Rooney tipped to bounce back

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Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that striker Wayne Rooney will not let his disappointing World Cup performance affect the way he plays for Manchester United when the new Premier League season starts next month (Rooney 5/1 – Premiership Top Scorer).

The Red Devils boss has spoken out to back his 24-year-old star player, who was singled out for criticism at the World Cup finals in South Africa as Fabio Capello’s side crashed out in the last 16 following a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Germany.

Rooney has been left out of United’s pre-season trip to the United States, which starts with a game against Celtic on Friday, to rest following the tournament.

But, while Ferguson acknowledges that the player will be disappointed with his own shortcomings, he does not think he will dwell on it in the new season as United aim to take the Premier League title back from Chelsea (United 5/2 Outright).

Ferguson told sportsnet.ca: “I don’t expect a hangover. I think there’ll still be a bit of disappointment in the lad.

“I think all the players coming back from the World Cup who didn’t do well, who didn’t reach their expectations may I say, will feel that they’ve missed something.

“That’s because the World Cup’s only once every four years. That’s the horrible part of that tournament.

“We have several players who have come back very, very disappointed. We’ve Patrice Evra for instance, Wayne Rooney of course, and Nemanja Vidic.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson is hoping that young Mexican striker Javier Hernandez will arrive at Old Trafford full of confidence after he ’surprised a lot of people’ with some of his performances in the tournament.

He added: “So whereas we’ve got some disappointments from players like Wayne, Nemanja and Patrice, I think we’re going to have a positive effect from Javier.”

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