Author: Best Of Bets

It seems an awful long time since Liverpool and Chelsea went Number Nine mad in the January transfer window of 2011, splashing more than a combined £100m to strengthen their striking departments.

Having already bagged Luis Suarez for a veritable snip at £23million, Liverpool saw Chelsea come calling for their star forward Fernando Torres. The general public baulked at the £50million asking price, but Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich didn’t – he paid up. And on a dramatic final day of the window, Torres headed to Stamford Bridge and Andy Carroll went from Newcastle to Anfield for an eye-popping £35million. It was the stuff of madness.

Some 12 years later, it seems that very little has changed. Manchester United are so desperate for a striker they’re willing to recruit one on loan from Burnley, in the shape of Wout Weghorst.

The 30-year-old Dutch beanpole has been loaned by Besiktas since the summer but is apparently confident of securing a move to Manchester, and good United sources have confirmed the wheels are indeed in motion. Weghorst might have bagged a couple of World Cup goals for the Netherlands but he’s hardly Cristiano Ronaldo replacement material. Time will tell whether Erik ten Hag is right to pursue yet another Dutch-flavoured signing. This one seems like a gamble.

Over at Chelsea, things are looking even stranger. As Graham Potter continues to labour having replaced the hastily-sacked Thomas Tuchel (Potter is 4/1 with some bookies to be the next Premier League manager unseated), new owner Todd Boehly is going gung-ho with his transfer policy regardless.

The American has already recruited Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile, Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana from Norway and has clinched a deal to bring Christopher Nkunku to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig in the summer. Not content with that, however, Chelsea are now set to pay an €11m loan fee to sign Joao Felix for the next six months. The Atletico Madrid forward (who isn’t really the Number Nine Chelsea need) was hitherto on United and Arsenal’s radar.

The good news for Potter is that he’s received the public backing of Boehly and the Chelsea board, despite recent back-to-back defeats to Manchester City. Well, maybe that’s good news. We all know what often comes after the dreaded vote of confidence.

Elsewhere, the gossip columns are backed to the brim with potential striker signings. From Newcastle’s reported pursuit of Moussa Diaby, to Southampton’s proposed move for Celtic’s Japanese star Daizen Maeda. And then there’s the host of names linked with United, just in case Weghorst doesn’t work out: Memphis Depay, Edin Dzeko, Goncalo Ramos and Vincent Aboubakar are all reportedly in the running.

It seems clubs, especially those with big budgets and a chequered recent transfer history, just cannot help themselves when it comes to January and the hasty addition of a new Number Nine.

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After an exciting weekend of FA Cup action up and down the country, the domestic cup stuff continues in midweek with the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Eight teams are vying for a spot in the two-legged semi-finals, with the distinct possibility that another Manchester derby could be in the offing. Best of Bets previews this week’s fixtures here…

Manchester United vs Charlton Athletic

United are on a roll right now. Erik ten Hag can seemingly do no wrong at Old Trafford, leading his troops to a seven-match winning run that most would expect to stretch to eight games after the visit of Charlton.

Dean Holden’s side are mid-table in League One and huge outsiders for this one at 19/1 with most bookmakers. And such is United’s hot streak, having dispatched Bournemouth and Everton at home in the past week, there’s not much value in betting on a home win (1/10). But if they really break the shackles – even with a much-rotated team – a 5-1 win (17/1) or a 4-2 victory (25/1) might be worth your while.

Our tip: United -3 goals to win (13/5)

Newcastle vs Leicester

How both of these Premier League teams would love an appearance in the Carabao Cup final, albeit for different reasons.

For Eddie Howe and Newcastle, the chance of silverware would send a message to their rivals about the new Saudi regime and what can be achieved even in the initial stages following a takeover – we are still less than 18 months on from the new owners’ arrival. Brendan Rodgers, however, has been under pressure at various stages this season and would see a cup final as another chance to emphasise his importance at the Foxes’ helm, having won the FA Cup in 2021.

Newcastle have struggled for goals of late and were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend. This one could go to penalties.

Our tip: Leicester to qualify (31/10)

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves

You cannot deny Julen Lopetegui’s immediate impact at Wolves – and he should probably have more points and wins under his belt, too. His record sheet so far reads two wins, a respectable away draw to Aston Villa, a narrow defeat to in-form Manchester United and a 2-2 FA Cup draw at Liverpool that would have been a 3-2 win had it not been for a controversial VAR call.

Now, the former Spain and Real Madrid boss can lead Wolves to the brink of a Wembley final. They are justifiable favourites to beat a Forest side that was embarrassed 4-1 by Blackpool in the FA Cup at the weekend. Put your money on Wanderers here.

Our tip: Wolves to win in 90 minutes (7/4)

Southampton vs Manchester City

This one looks like a mismatch on the form guide and, given Man City’s relentless League Cup record in the past decade, will surely play out that way too. City lifted this trophy in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. And after Liverpool won it a year ago, Pep Guardiola will be desperate to get it back to east Manchester.

Nathan Jones needs to see some improvement from Saints, having failed to have much impact since arriving from Luton. This surely won’t be the game where Southampton’s results rocket skyward.
Our tip: Man City to win to nil (2/1)

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Four FA Cup fixtures to bet on this weekend

FA Cup third round day has long been one of the landmark occasions on the English footballing calendar. And although its reputation has slightly diminished in recent years, not even the World Cup break nor the glut of Premier League fixtures has moved it from the traditional first weekend of January. There are some truly mouthwatering games to be played and Best Of Bets previews some of them here…

Gillingham vs Leicester @ 12.30pm Saturday

This game represents possibly the best chance of a genuine ‘giant killing’, with Brendan Rodgers’ side still in patchy form and Gillingham – despite being rock bottom of the football league – likely to boast a capacity home crowd at Priestfield Stadium. The Gills beat Cardiff 1-0 at this stage of the competition in 2019 when the Welsh side were a Premier League outfit and, although the bookies aren’t backing them, could be an outside bet to repeat the dose against the Foxes.

Gillingham to win: 14/1

Crystal Palace vs Southampton @ 12.30pm Saturday

Nathan Jones’ Saints desperately need a win in the cup to generate some momentum, while Patrick Vieira is craving ‘consistency’ at Palace. It could be that the change of pace benefits Southampton in this all Premier League affair, with Vieira likely to ring the changes given the festive period’s hectic schedule. Jones might just get that victory he’s desperate for – it certainly represents a good value bet for punters.

Southampton to win: 10/3

Sheffield Wednesday vs Newcastle @ 6pm Saturday

Newcastle have been outstanding in the Premier League since Eddie Howe took charge (and the Saudi Arabia money starting pouring in). But the one thing the fans on Tyneside crave is a cup run. The trophy drought stretches right back to 1955, although Alan Shearer and company did reach four domestic cup finals in the 1990s. Sheffield Wednesday will boast a vociferous home crowd and are in good form, second in League One. They could easily force a replay.

Draw 17/5

Bristol City vs Swansea City @ 12.30pm Sunday

The England versus Wales element of Bristol City’s matches against Cardiff and Swansea is always intriguing and, with both these teams ensconced in mid table in the Championship, it’s worth them going all-out in the FA Cup. Both teams play open and attacking football so the game could make for entertaining fare while eating your Sunday lunch. The value bet is on the Swans.

Swansea to win: 29/20

Manchester United vs Everton preview – Rooney watches on with interest amid Lampard sack talk

The bookmakers have made their minds up. They firmly believe the next Premier League manager to lose his job will be the beleaguered Everton boss Frank Lampard.

The former Derby and Chelsea manager came out fighting following his team’s 4-1 home defeat by Brighton in midweek, during which choruses of boos regularly rang out around Goodison Park. Afterwards, Lampard vowed to turn the Toffees’ fortunes around, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll get the time.

“I’ve never and would never seek reassurances,” said Lampard.

“It’s my job to focus on the job in hand, day-to-day, game-to-game. I’m not hunting around for any reassurances. I’m a big man working for a great club and I’ll keep doing it.”

Most bookies are offering odds as short as 1/4 for Lampard to be the next Premier League boss to receive their marching orders. Former Everton boss David Moyes is next in the frame at 6/1 amid West Ham’s current sticky patch of form, and it’s another Everton legend who many are tipping to take over in Merseyside – in the shape of Wayne Rooney.

Rooney, like Lampard, is an ex Derby County boss with plenty of credit in the bank for the way he fought manfully at the cash-strapped former Championship side, battling relegation despite a huge points deduction.

He’s been in charge of DC United in the MLS since July but at 5/2 to take over from Lampard, the bookies clearly believe he can be persuaded back to these shores. His boyhood Blues and a Premier League role would have serious pulling power.

It’s also ironic that Everton come up against the other club at which Rooney is deified, in Manchester United in the FA Cup third round this Friday night. United are on a roll right now; their plight is very different from when Rooney was being linked with the Old Trafford job himself around a year ago. Erik ten Hag has masterminded a major overhaul at United and they are on a run of six successive wins, they haven’t conceded a goal since the World Cup break and they’ve lost just once in their past 16 games.

United have gradually introduced their World Cup stars back into the side in the past few games, with Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane all rested from the start during the 3-0 win over Bournemouth. That trio, plus the influential Antony, could return on Friday night to further strengthen the Red Devils.

It really doesn’t bode well for Lampard, then, although he might view the cup as an opportunity to be free of the league’s shackles and encourage his players to express themselves.

The real question is; who Rooney will be supporting? He once wore a t-shirt that said ‘once a blue, always a blue’ – only to move to United not long after. It could be that his allegiances are in Manchester, for the time being, if a job in Merseyside is on the cards. Lampard will hope otherwise.

Best Bets: Chelsea face tough task against the champions

Despite just one Premier League game this evening, it is arguably the standout tie in this round of fixtures as Manchester City head to Stamford Bridge.

City fell further behind leaders Arsenal last time out as Everton, rather surprisingly, managed to claim a point at the Etihad Stadium, but the Gunners’ 0-0 draw with Newcastle on Tuesday means the defending champions have a chance to move back to within five points of top spot with a win at Chelsea.

The hosts have managed four points from two games since the Premier League returned but they were hardly convincing in a win over Bournemouth and a draw at Nottingham Forest and they look set for a difficult evening on Thursday.

City dropped points last time out as they were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal, and they can put that right at Stamford Bridge.

Guardiola’s men overcame Chelsea 2-0 in the EFL Cup in November and won both league meetings 1-0 last season. Despite resting a few players, including Erling Haaland, City could perhaps have won th  last meeting by a bigger margin and with Chelsea looking out of sorts and away win with a -1 handicap appeals.

The London outfit lost their final three games without scoring before the World Cup and they may struggle to find a way through tonight. They have rediscovered their scoring touch in their last two, but both of those games were against teams in the bottom six and City have a chance to record a clean sheet.

Potter struggling to settle

Graham Potter already finds himself under pressure as Chelsea manager and the visit of the champions comes at a difficult time. The Blues initially improved after he replaced Thomas Tuchel in mid-September, embarking on a nine game unbeaten run, but they have picked up just two wins in seven games since and occasionally look devoid of ideas in attack, while leaking goals at the other end.

City need a result here if they are to close in on Arsenal and as Chelsea have drawn a blank in the last three meetings between these teams a 3-0 win for the visitors stands out. Once again, it is impossible to ignore Haaland as an anytime scorer option as he has four goals in three games since the action resumed after Qatar and if you are planning a bet builder on this game it could be worth backing the Norwegian to score two or more goals or possibly first – as he did against Everton and Liverpool in the EFL Cup – for extra value.

Predictions: Chelsea v Man City best bets and score prediction

• Both teams to score at 4/5 
• Score prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City at 13/2  

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Wayne Rooney named favourite to take over the reigns at Goodison park as Lampard days are numbered  

As Premier League Gameweek 19 rolls on, the new year begins in style on Tuesday night as Arsenal host Newcastle in a potentially pivotal league encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Now with an extended advantage of seven points at the top of the standings over champions Manchester City, the Gunners continue to sit pretty in their lofty bough after both the Citizens and their opponents here were held on New Years’ Eve.

Two points off City, the Magpies have become not only a strong bet for a Champions League place but such is their form, are now considered an outside title contender. Those credentials will be sorely tested here.

Nevertheless, under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have continued to flourish and their goalless draw with Leeds was their first winless league game since mid-October – a better current winning league record than Arsenal themselves who have won five on the bounce.

But stopping the Arsenal goal machine will be a task here and 2+ Bukayo Saka SOT at a boosted 4/1 from 2/1 with SkyBet is sure to gain attention.

Miguel Almiron drew a relatively rare blank last time out, but the Paraguayan has netted in the last three away league games including during Newcastle’s last trip to north London when they beat Spurs. Almiron is invitingly priced at 11/2 with Bet365 to score in 90 mins. A Saka-Almiron double meanwhile, fetches a whopping 18/1, again with SkyBet.

The visitors beat the north Londoners in their last meeting back in May at St. James’ Park, but prior to that, Arsenal had won the last eight games between the two sides. Indeed, at the Emirates, Newcastle have not so much as score a single goal in eight years.

This of course is a very different side and a pacy, fluid attack and a solid midfield could cause problems for Mikel Arteta’s men who have kept just one clean sheet on home turf this season. It could be a sensible ploy then, to back a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 Arsenal win at 9/4 with BoyleSports.

Howe has a slight quandary as to who to lead his line with Callum Wilson reportedly ready to go after illness, considering that Chris Wood has been an able deputy up top over the festive period and scored away to Leicester on Boxing Day.

In his Burnley days, Wood was a player who created problems in the air for the Gunners so a 3/1 shot for Wood to have 1+ headed SOT could be one to consider with both PaddyPower and Betfair. To cover that however, if Wilson starts, the England man is the same price with Betfred to score anytime.

Finally, Newcastle stopper Nick Pope has been in superb form of late but can expect to be a busy man on Tuesday night so similarly, backing an Arsenal win, Arsenal to have the most SOT and the most corners at 11/4 with PaddyPower is another option.

Like slipping on a new pair of trainers fresh out of the box after Christmas, Premier League fans are getting nice and comfortable with the presence of (copious amounts of) domestic football this festive period. The World Cup already seems a distant memory, with a tightly packed fixture list to enjoy over the next few weeks.

Here, Best of Bets previews the action around New Year, starting on Friday night and continuing onto New Year’s Day. Who will start 2023 with the momentum? And who is staring at a long 12 months ahead? Here are three games this weekend to keep an eye on…

Wolves vs Manchester United, New Year’s Eve @ 12.30pm

Erik ten Hag got exactly what he wanted for Christmas; a reinvigorated Manchester United side, who had shed their problematic individualist in Cristiano Ronaldo and then secured routine wins over Burnley and Nottingham Forest either side of Christmas Day. Then came the Cody Gakpo situation, however, with United missing out on a top transfer target at the hands of bitter rivals Liverpool.

Now Ten Hag’s men face a test that has tripped up many of his United predecessors – not least Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United won both their 2021 visits to Molineux but failed to win on their four previous trips in 2019 and 2020. Now under new boss Julen Lopetegui, and with a morale-boosting late Boxing Day win over Everton under their belts, Wolves will believe they can throw a spanner in the works of Ten Hag’s promising United project.

Our prediction: Manchester United to win to nil (11/4)

Brighton vs Arsenal, New Year’s Eve @ 5.30pm

Everyone is waiting for the inevitable moment when Arsenal slip up and hand Manchester City the initiative in the title race. The problem is, it’s simply not happening. The month-long World Cup break – compounded by a key injury to striker Gabriel Jesus – seemed to be the perfect storm for City, surely prompting an Arsenal meltdown when the fixtures returned. But Mikel Arteta’s side, even after going 1-0 down to West Ham, responded like champions, swatting side the Hammers with a 3-1 win.

Brighton have typically caused problems for the Gunners in recent years and they looked in confident form on Boxing Day when beating Southampton 3-1. But it will take an enormous performance from Roberto De Zerbi’s side, with Jesus replacement Eddie Nketiah looking razor sharp up front, alongside the menacing wide duo of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Expect goals in this one.

Our prediction: Arsenal to win and both teams to score (5/2)

Tottenham vs Aston Villa, New Year’s Day @ 2pm

It took an almighty fightback from Tottenham on Boxing Day to salvage a 2-2 draw with Brentford, but Spurs fans will have been encouraged by the sight of Harry Kane playing the full 90 minutes – and finding the net – after his World Cup travails. Brazil star Richarlison is still out injured, but Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-Min flanked Kane in West London and the trio may strike fear into the Aston Villa defenders when they’re seeing in the New Year the night before this game.

Villa remain an impossible side to predict, even under new boss Unai Emery. They showed glimpses of their attacking best even in defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week and given Spurs’ defensive vulnerabilities, the midlands outfit will believe they can further dent the top four aspirations of Antonio Conte’s side. It could be another draw for Kane and company.

Our prediction: Score draw (6/1)