The Premier League is the best league in the world eh? This Sunday we’ve got Manchester City taking on Liverpool at home. That’s third playing fourth. What a blockbuster. In other terms that’s a City side who surrendered the biggest leg lead in Champions League history against a French principality taking on a Liverpool team who celebrated beating Burnely as if they’d won the world.
It is, however, a terrific betting heat. And it would be easy to make a case for either outfit at the prices. City are 2 among Green Listed Bookmakers with Liverpool rather on the whopping side at 4 (Betfred, Coral). The draw is 3.8 (BetStars). That’s pretty tasty as well.
We are going to go with the Reds. Our eyes burst out of their sockets a little when we saw the offer. Not because Jurgen Klopp’s team are a sensation but because of two significant factors.
We are going to go with the Reds. Our eyes burst out of their sockets a little when we saw the offer. Not because Jurgen Klopp’s team are a sensation but because of two significant factors.
City’s exit against Monaco means it could be a very good time to be playing them. We don’t buy the notion they are tired. Just disappointed. And also, critically, low on confidence. Pep Guardiola’s admission that he couldn’t convince his players to attack was extraordinary. Is there really that much mistrust between players and staff?
Secondly, Liverpool are a decent proposition against top six teams. They have not lost to anyone from that echelon in 2016-17.
That may be difficult to fathom considering they labored against Burnley and failed to beat Sunderland and Plymouth this year and lost to Swansea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Hull City.
The common denominator in those matches is ‘the stifle’. Those teams do not dare give Liverpool the room to play. They squeeze the pitch, sit back and nullify their players who like to break at pace. It’s like they are trying to accelerate through a crowded supermarket.
The top teams, of course, don’t do this. They expect to play their own natural game, reckoning it will be good enough to win the game regardless of what Liverpool turn out. And so Liverpool are more dangerous. They have scored five goals against Arsenal and Spurs with once conceded since February.
Defender Dejan Lovren’s return for Liverpool is a major boost. They also have the comfort rug of good recent form against City. Klopp has won his last three league encounters, including a 4-1 success on their last visit to the Etihad.
Calculators
