Wales v Israel: Bale to inspire Welsh to crucial victory

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P817fyE48uo/VeqhdeMS4LI/AAAAAAAAADA/krH87e83U0s/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P817fyE48uo/VeqhdeMS4LI/AAAAAAAAADA/krH87e83U0s/s640/34.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Wales v Israel</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Sunday, 17:00</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Live On Sky Sports 1</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Wales</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Welsh have come close to qualifying for a championship before but this time there is a real sense of expectation, rather than hope, that they will be successful.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of this bullishness comes from the knowledge that their talisman <span style="font-weight: 600;">Gareth Bale</span> can be relied upon to make a difference at international level, in a way that perhaps former club greats such as Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ryan Giggs</span>, could not. Yet again he proved a match-winner as he headed home magnificently to give Wales victory over Cyprus on Thursday.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit must also go to <span style="font-weight: 600;">Chris Coleman</span>, who having struggled in his early days as manager, has fashioned a strong side that is not just a one-man show. The one change that Coleman is likely to make for this match is the reintroduction of <span style="font-weight: 600;">James Chester</span> to centre of defence after the West Brom player missed the Cyprus match through injury, with Joe Ledley looking likely to miss out again.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Israel</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This game has been heralded as a must-win match for Wales as they look to secure qualification, but this is also a game that Israel dare not lose.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Belgium favourites for a win against <span style="font-weight: 600;">Cyprus</span>, a loss to Wales could see Israel fall well off the pace for automatic qualification and reduced to battling with the Cypriots and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Bosnia and Herzegovina</span> for a play-off spot.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Israel come into this fixture off the back of a 4-0 win over <span style="font-weight: 600;">Andorra</span> in midweek, which broke a run of three successive losses.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Match Odds</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of those three defeats for Israel came at the hands of Wales, who ran out 3-0 winners in<span style="font-weight: 600;">Haifa</span> back in March.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's no surprise then that Wales are <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">favourites to win</span></span>, but the odds might surprise you. Coleman's side are <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="1/1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">1.98</span></span> to clinch victory, with the draw at <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="5/2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">3.45</span></span> and Israel at <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="10/3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">4.30</span></span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could very easily turn into a nervy night for Wales but it's a big price for the leaders of Group B who have won their last three games without conceding a goal.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wales are <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="2/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">2.96</span></span></span> to <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">win to nil</span></span> again, while the <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">draw half-time/Wales full-time</span></span> double result is also worth considering at a likely price of <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="4/1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">5.00</span></span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Over/Under 2.5 Goals</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Under 2.5 goals</span></span> is the favourite here at <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="8/13" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">1.61</span></span>, with <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">overs</span></span> at <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="7" oldtitle="6/4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">2.48</span></span>. Considering the margin of Wales' recent win over Israel the overs is tempting, yet it's a risky bet that's probably best avoided.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better value is the <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="8" oldtitle="5/4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">2.26</span></span> for Wales to keep what would be their fifth <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">clean sheet</span></span> in a row. Israel have drawn a blank in two of their last four games.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When looking at individual scorers, one man stands out. Only <span style="font-weight: 600;">Robert Lewandowski</span> has scored more Euro 2016 qualifying goals than Bale's six.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having started his international career as a left-back, Bale has moved further forward and has hit 15 goals in the last 24 games since 2011. The likely price of <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="9" oldtitle="6/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">2.20</span></span> for <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Bale to score</span></span> is worth a punt, with the Real Madrid star a <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="10" oldtitle="7/2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">4.50</span></span> option to <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">open the scoring</span></span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bets</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Wales to win at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="11" oldtitle="1/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">1.98</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Wales to keep a clean sheet at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="12" oldtitle="5/4" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.26</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Back Bale to score at </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="13" oldtitle="6/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.20</span></span></span></div>

Wales v Israel: Bale to inspire Welsh to crucial victory

Wales v Israel Sunday, 17:00 Live On Sky Sports 1 Wales The Welsh have come close to qualifying for a championship before but this ...

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Euro 2016 Qualifying Tips: Sweden to crash Russia's no Capello party

<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; clear: both; color: #1e1e1e; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPrQUVZRnw8/VeqgrbFpZlI/AAAAAAAAAC4/BMZcSgyrqwA/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPrQUVZRnw8/VeqgrbFpZlI/AAAAAAAAAC4/BMZcSgyrqwA/s640/33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666966;"><br /></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666966;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Russia </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="11/10" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.12</span><span style="color: #666966;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> v Sweden </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="16/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">4.20</span><span style="color: #666966;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">; The Draw </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="12/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">3.40</span><br />Saturday, 17:00<br />Live on Sky Sports 5</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Russian fans who launched a fundraising campaign to buy out Fabio Capello's contract <span style="font-weight: 600;">saw their wish granted</span> when he exited in July, but it would be misguided to expect immediate improvement under his successor Leonid Slutsky.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whereas the World Cup 2018 hosts won all five home games in the build-up to the 2014 edition of that tournament, their Moscow experiences have been miserable <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; transition: color 0.2s;">in this process</span>, losing to nil against Austria in June and being held by bottom side Moldova. They even drew a March friendly with Kazakhstan.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweden meanwhile are <span style="font-weight: 600;">unbeaten away</span> despite visiting the other top-four teams, with their 1-1 draw in Vienna marking the only points that Austria have dropped in Group G.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Lay Russia to win @</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="11/10" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.14</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Spain</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="1/4" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">1.27</span> v Slovakia <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="15/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">16.50</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="7" oldtitle="11/2" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">6.40</span><br />Saturday, 19:45<br />Live on Sky Sports 5</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="8" oldtitle="1/4" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); font-weight: 600; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">1.27</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span>is a short price on Spain conquering Group C leaders Slovakia given that they haven't dropped a point yet and won the reverse fixture 2-1 in Zilina.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, there is a trend powerful enough to blow away all that Slovakian goodness: the European Championship holders have won 15 successive home qualifiers for the competition. Indeed, since June 1995, they have contested 25 such matches and dropped points in just one of them.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seventeen of their 24 victories came accompanied by a clean sheet too, while they were <span style="font-weight: 600;">ahead by the interval</span> in the most recent five. Slovakia were 2-0 down within 18 minutes on their previous trip to Spain.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Spain to lead at half time and full time @</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="9" oldtitle="5/6" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">1.86</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Switzerland</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="10" oldtitle="8/15" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">1.55</span> v Slovenia <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="11" oldtitle="7/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">8.00</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="12" oldtitle="10/3" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">4.30</span><br />Saturday, 19:45<br />Live on Sky Sports Red Button</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both-teams-to-score backers have been able to claw back a few minor successes recently but, on the whole, Group E has been <span style="font-weight: 600;">a "No" punter's paradise</span>, with a mighty 15 of the 18 encounters delivering at least one clean sheet.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All three of Switzerland's home outings feature in that majority - 4-0 and 3-0 triumphs over Lithuania and Estonia, and a 2-0 defeat to England - as does the initial meeting between this duo, which was claimed 1-0 by Slovenia in Maribor owing to a late Milivoje Novakovic penalty.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Switzerland have taken 12 points from a possible 12 since to leapfrog them, conceding once in the process, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; transition: color 0.2s;">hinting at appeal in their</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="13" oldtitle="11/8" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.34</span> win to nil odds, though this columnist prefers the safer alternative of boarding the "Both Teams to Score? No" bandwagon.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet: <span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Back both teams to score? No @ </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="14" oldtitle="4/6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">1.68</span></span></span></div>

Euro 2016 Qualifying Tips: Sweden to crash Russia's no Capello party

Russia  2.12  v Sweden  4.20 ; The Draw  3.40 Saturday, 17:00 Live on Sky Sports 5 The Russian fans who launched a fundraising campai...

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Betting Preview: Victory, Sydney favourites

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxWlb9DIk54/VelToGqHrNI/AAAAAAAAFX4/a5_Kb5vnP6Q/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxWlb9DIk54/VelToGqHrNI/AAAAAAAAFX4/a5_Kb5vnP6Q/s640/32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="leading" style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-top: 0.6em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="leading" style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-top: 0.6em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reigning champions and their fierce rivals the Sky Blues are expected to set the pace again in the race for 2015-16 A-League silverware</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melbourne Victory are favourites retain the Premiers' Plate and to win the Grand Final again in 2015-16 a month out from the A-League season kicking off.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kevin Muscat's men are <span style="color: #007954;">$3.75 favourites at bet365</span> to finish top of the regular season standings, ahead of last season's beaten grand finalists Sydney FC (<span style="color: #007954;">$4.75</span>).</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite losing Golden Boot winner Marc Janko and forward Bernie Ibini, Graham Arnold's Sky Blues have reinforced in key areas and shouldn't be discounted.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adelaide United are paying <span style="color: #007954;">$7.50</span> to claim top spot, with Melbourne City at <span style="color: #007954;">$9</span>. The Reds will miss departed coach Josep Gombau, with Guillermo Amor yet to prove he's got what it takes to continue the South Australian club's steady progression in recent years.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">City meanwhile look to have recruited well under John van 't Schip but it remains to be seen if they can take the next step and join the elite of regular title contenders.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two teams from northern New South Wales are the biggest outsiders, with the Central Coast Mariners (<span style="color: #007954;">$19</span>) and Newcastle Jets (<span style="color: #007954;">$26</span>) being given little chance of contending meaningfully.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those prices are the same to claim Grand Final glory, with the four middle-ranking teams not being written off entirely but still being largely dismissed by punters</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix are both at <span style="color: #007954;">$11</span> to capture </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; line-height: 18.8509px; margin-bottom: 1.4em;"> <em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Prices subject to change</span></em></div>

Betting Preview: Victory, Sydney favourites

The reigning champions and their fierce rivals the Sky Blues are expected to set the pace again in the race for 2015-16 A-League silver...

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AFL Preview: Hawthorn v Carlton

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKwgEVvb46w/VelJZ2Oe_gI/AAAAAAAAFXo/sTBQZNhu-Hs/s1600/243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKwgEVvb46w/VelJZ2Oe_gI/AAAAAAAAFXo/sTBQZNhu-Hs/s640/243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;"><br /></strong></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">AFL Preview: Round 23</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">Hawthorn Hawks v Carlton Blues<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />4:40pm AEST, Saturday, September 5<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />MCG, Melbourne</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">Best Bet</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.9455px;">Over 193.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Other Recommended Bets</strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.9455px;">Carlton – Total: Under 59.5 Points ($1.91)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">One of the biggest mis-matches of the year as an in-form Hawthorn side takes on a heavily depleted Carlton team. The Hawks spanked Carlton by 138-points in round 17 and another thumping could be on the cards.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; line-height: 20.9455px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Hawthorn </strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">$1.01 | Line -75.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($6) | 40+ ($1.14) |Ov. 193.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Carlton </strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">$17 | Line +75.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($18) | 40+ ($101) | Un. 193.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Latest Hawthorn v Carlton Odds</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Selection Notes</strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">The jostling for spots in the Hawthorn side in the lead up to finals is at an all-time high with Sam Mitchell and Paul Puopolo set to return to the side that flogged Brisbane last week. Fringe members Ryan Schoenmakers, Angus Litherland and Brendan Whitecross must wait in the wings. Captain Luke Hodge is still suspended. The Blues have about 25 fit players to choose from with nine of their best 22 out. Andrew Carrazzo will come into the side for his last ever game.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.9455px;">Hawthorn v Carlton – Champion Data Form-Guide</span></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Form</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">The Hawks are third on the ladder having bounced back from a loss to Port Adelaide by easily taking care of the Lions last weekend. They are averaging 114 points per game in the past three weeks. Hawthorn is 9-3 (7-5 against the line) vs bottom ten teams this year. Barring an upset in the Lions-Dogs game, the Blues will escape the wooden spoon. After upsetting Melbourne, they crashed back to earth against the Giants last week and have now lost seven of their last eight games. Carlton is 0-10 (3-7 against the line) vs top eight teams this year</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Latest AFL Round 23 Betting</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Stats That Matter</strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">This will be the 163</span><sup style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">rd </sup><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">meeting between these two inner-Melbourne sides with the Blues leading 102-60. The Hawks have won 12 straight against Carlton dating back to 2005. Since 2010, Carlton is 0-6 (2-4 against the line) vs the Hawks. Their last four games have totalled over 188-points with the last two easily eclipsing 200. Teams favoured by 60-points or more are 4-0 (2-2 against the line) this year. Carlton is 7-17-1 (12-13 against the line) at the MCG under since the start of 2013. The Hawks are 27-7 (17-17 ATL) at the ‘G since the start of 2013. Sam Mitchell has had the most disposals in a Hawthorn game seven times this year (2</span><sup style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"> in the AFL).</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">The Hawks are the best front running side in the competition having lost just once when leading at quarter-time this year (11-1). They are 14-1 when leading at half-time too. Conversely, the Blues are a perfect four from four when they are leading at the last change this year.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">Betting Data</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">2015 Line:  Hawthorn 12-9, Carlton 9-12</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;">2015 Over/Under: Hawthorn 15-6, Carlton 13-8</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Final Thoughts</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">This result looks like it could be a carbon copy of the round 17 debacle when the Hawks slaughtered the Blues. The Blues have even less decent players involved and have even less to play for than that night whilst the Hawks will be looking to keep the momentum rolling into the finals. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">How It’s Shaping Up</strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Hawthorn by 80 points</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;">Best Bet</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.9455px;">Over 193.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Other Recommended Bets</strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: 20.9455px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.9455px;">Carlton – Total: Under 59.5 Points ($1.91)</span></span></span>

AFL Preview: Hawthorn v Carlton

AFL Preview: Round 23 Hawthorn Hawks v Carlton Blues 4:40pm AEST, Saturday, September 5 MCG, Melbourne Best Bet Over 193.5 Total Match Po...

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Bulldogs v Warriors preview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoA4dUx4xB0/VelINoFSZBI/AAAAAAAAFXY/QRCFOGpdgW0/s1600/175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoA4dUx4xB0/VelINoFSZBI/AAAAAAAAFXY/QRCFOGpdgW0/s640/175.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bulldogs v Warriors</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ANZ Stadium</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), 8.30pm (NZT)</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After copping back-to-back 50-16 thrashings the last thing the Warriors want to finish the season is a trip to ANZ Stadium to face the high-flying Bulldogs.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But while the season can't end soon enough for the Kiwi outfit, Canterbury have plenty to play for on Sunday with a top four spot still well in their reach if they can claim victory. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After narrowly edging past the Knights 20-18 last up the Dogs received a boost mid-week with the return of prop Aiden Tolman.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That sees Sam Kasiano move to the bench at the expense of 18th man Lloyd Perrett, while the injured Trent Hodkinson is replaced by Josh Reynolds in the halves.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite losing fullback Sam Tomkins to a knee injury the Warriors actually get some experience back for the Round 26 clash, with Chad Townsend (injury) and Ben Matulino (suspension) returning to the fold. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sebastine Ikahihifo drops back to the bench to cover for the suspended Charlie Gubb, and Raymond Faitala-Mariner replaces Sione Lousi on the bench.</span></div> <div class="cmsTinyMceBorder cmsDrawWidgetBorder mceNonEditable" style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch out Bulldogs:</span> The loss of Hodkinson is a big one, and his attacking productivity will be tough to replace. The NSW halfback's 12 try assists are the most of any Bulldog this season, while he has also set up the most line breaks. New halves pairing Moses Mbye and Reynolds will have plenty asked of them on Sunday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also come up against a Warriors side with nothing to lose. It has been an embarrassing collapse for the Warriors over the last two months, but now with no chance of making the finals or collecting the spoon we might just see a carefree attitude from the Kiwi side with plenty of open footy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch out Warriors:</span> Back-to-back defeats by 34 points, conceding 50 on both occasions, means the Warriors have now leaked the third-most points in the competition. Coach Andrew McFadden won't have to look far for the reasons behind the floodgates opening either, with a combined 82 missed tackles in their last two outings, averaging out at 41 per game. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Already struggling to hold on to any form of team morale, footage emerging of a group of players partying less than 48 hours before being thrashed by the Tigers won't have done anything to foster positive relationships. With murmurs already circulating throughout the playing group that some individuals are trying harder than others, it is the type of incident which can cause a divide and be detrimental to on-field performance. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Key Match-Up:</span> Damien Cook v Nathan Friend. When Michael Lichaa's season was ended by injury in Round 23 many feared the Dogs would find it impossible to replace him. Enter Cook, the 24-year-old former Dragon who has stepped up to almost seamlessly fill the void in the No.9 jersey. In defence he has been a workaholic, averaging 48.5 tackles, while offensively he has a try and line break in both of his games this year. Meanwhile Friend, in his last season with the Warriors before joining the Gold Coast, has been one of the side's most-consistent performers, playing 80 minutes in the last three games and averaging 31 tackles across the season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The History:</span> Played 32; Bulldogs 18, Warriors 12, Draw 2. The Bulldogs have had a great time against the Warriors in recent years and have won 12 of their last 16, dating back to 2004. The last three games have been close ones at least, with eight points the biggest winning margin.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What Are The Odds:</span> The Bulldogs are at almost unbackable odds, but Sportsbet punters are having a bit of a nibble on the massive price being offered for the out of form Warriors. Bulldogs 13+ looks the way to go according to the money trail. Latest odds at <span style="color: #1c3c34;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Sportsbet.com.au</span></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did You Know:</span> This weekend sees the coming together of the two 'most Kiwi' sides in the Telstra Premiership. While the Warriors obviously lead the way in terms of sheer numbers of New Zealanders in their squad (13 out of 18 named this week), the Bulldogs run second with six of their 19 men named having either been born in or represented New Zealand.   </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Officials:</span> Referee: Ashley Klein. Assistant Referee: Grant Atkins. Touch Judges: Nick Beashel and Jeff Younis. Video Referees: Steve Clark and Ben Galea.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Televised:</span> Fox Sports - Live from 6.30pm AEST. Sky Sport – Live from 8.30pm NZT. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Way We See It:</span> The Bulldogs have won four in a row, including two victories over fellow top eight sides, and just like last season appearing to be peaking at just the right time. While the Belmore boys are going forward the Warriors are in freefall, and it's very hard to see anything other than a comfortable win for the hosts. Canterbury by 30.</span></div>

Bulldogs v Warriors preview

Bulldogs v Warriors ANZ Stadium Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), 8.30pm (NZT) After copping back-to-back 50-16 thrashings the last thing the War...

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Sharks v Sea Eagles preview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iNa67V0FFk/VelH0pVecPI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/wdW88Ni6dIM/s1600/174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iNa67V0FFk/VelH0pVecPI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/wdW88Ni6dIM/s640/174.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles preview </span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remondis Stadium </span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday 4pm</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sea Eagles will know what their fate holds after the Dragons player the Wests Tigers on Saturday night – around 20 hours before Manly are due to play against the Sharks.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Theoretically the eighth-placed Dragons have a two competition point buffer and a 61 point differential buffer on the ninth-placed Sea Eagles, meaning if the Red V beat the Wests Tigers then Manly's season is over.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However if the Tigers win then the Sea Eagles are still in the hunt, especially if the Dragons' opponents somehow pull off a victory similar to their 34 point win over the Warriors last weekend, then it's up to Manly to make up the difference.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless, a win for the Sharks over their bogey team in the Sea Eagles means they'll shore up a top four berth and secure a likely finals clash with the Roosters – who they have beaten twice this season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sharks welcome back Anthony Tupou and Ben Barba on an extended bench at the expense of Blake Ayshford. Willie Mason's Sea Eagles career is over due to suspension with Ligi Sao starting at prop and Jesse Sene-Lefao coming onto the bench.</span></div> <div class="cmsTinyMceBorder cmsDrawWidgetBorder mceNonEditable" style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch out Sharks:</span> In his final game as a Sea Eagle – bar a miracle – five-eighth Kieran Foran will be looking to leave the club with a bang. After an injury interrupted opening to the year, the Eels-bound half is now averaging 101.2 metres and two tackle breaks per game and has produced a further 12 try assists.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch out Sea Eagles:</span> Cronulla are one of the most prolific offloading clubs in the NRL. Producing 247 offloads – the sixth most competition wide – the Sea Eagles should remain wary of the Sharks especially captain Paul Gallen (33 offloads – 10th in NRL) and five-eighth Jack Bird (26 – 20th in NRL) with Manly being one of the worst offloading teams themselves.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Key Match-Up:</span> Michael Ennis v Daly Cherry-Evans – A hooker taking on a halfback isn't your typical match up, but considering they are the linchpins for their respective side's attacking fortunes it's a valid one. Ennis has been a star in the Shire in 2015. His 15 try assists and 13 line break assists have helped Cronulla to their lofty position in the ladder. Daly Cherry-Evans' Sea Eagles have been a mixed bag this season but it hasn't stopped him coming up with 18 try assists (2nd in the league).</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The History:</span> Played 84; Sharks 23, Sea Eagles 59, Draw 2. The Sea Eagles have won 11 of their past 12 games dating back to 2008, including their most recent 28-16 win back in Round 17. In fact the Sharks have struggled against Manly since their inception in 1967. They've only managed to win consecutive games just three times – in 1985, the two games either side of the failed Northern Eagles experiment in 1999 and 2003, and in 2004. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the Odds:</span> Cronulla are all the rage with Sportsbet punters. The money is running two to one in head to head markets and 70 per cent of bets have been placed on the Sharks to cover the line. Valentine Holmes is extremely popular in the first try scoring market. Latest odds at <span style="color: #1c3c34;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Sportsbet.com.au</span></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Officials:</span> Referee: Ben Cummins. Assistant Referee: Alan Shortall. Sideline Officials: Michael Wise and Rick MacFarlane. Video Referees: Steve Chiddy and Luke Patten.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Televised:</span> Channel Nine (Live) – 3:30pm</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Way We See It:</span> The Sharks desire for a top four berth, if they are to be taken as serious contenders for this year's premiership, should outdo the Sea Eagles mathematical chances of making the finals. It's hard to predict how Manly will react and push themselves in this one considering their fate is completely dependent on how the Dragons perform against the Tigers. With their future completely in their hands, Sharks should buck eight years of history to win by four points. </span></div>

Sharks v Sea Eagles preview

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles preview  Remondis Stadium  Sunday 4pm The Sea Eagles will know what their fate holds af...

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Eels v Raiders preview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dXWKJOLe5I/VelHd4YII4I/AAAAAAAAFXI/iUlPkDkTez0/s1600/173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dXWKJOLe5I/VelHd4YII4I/AAAAAAAAFXI/iUlPkDkTez0/s640/173.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pirtek Stadium</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 2:00pm</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two teams will play for pride on Sunday afternoon as the Parramatta Eels host the Canberra Raiders in <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c3c34;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">the first NRL game ever to be influenced by a shot clock</span></span></span>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both teams have agreed for the new rule to be trialed in the game that will have no bearing on the make up of the finals.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As in the Holden Cup, each team will be allowed 30 seconds for drop-outs and 35 seconds for scrums, if they do not complete either in time they will be penalised.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Raiders head into this one understrength following a damaging victory against the Panthers on Monday night. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following Jack Wighton's suspension for a high tackle, Sisa Waqa moves to fullback while Jordan Rapana returns from his shoulder charge suspension on the wing.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blake Austin is also out for this one after suffering a serious shoulder injury last start, he underwent surgery during the week and is replaced by Mitch Cornish.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile for the Eels, David Gower and Darcy Lussick swap between the bench and lock in an otherwise unchanged team.</span></div> <div class="cmsTinyMceBorder cmsDrawWidgetBorder mceNonEditable" style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch Out Eels:</span> The Raiders are a genuine threat to score from within their own half  with a group of speedsters out wide. Jarrod Croker, Edrick Lee and Sisa Waqa were all in scintillating form in Monday night's win over Penrith and will once again be looking to carve up this weekend. Against the game's best winger, Semi Radradra, these three could really do some damage on Sunday afternoon.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch Out Raiders:</span> Semi Radradra is in unstoppable form and heads in to this weekend's matches with a one-try lead atop the NRL leading try-scorers table. He'll be looking for another big performance to close out an amazing season and to stamp himself as the game's best finisher. The Raiders will need to get numbers into contact on this huge, powerful man. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Key Match-Up:</span> Luke Kelly v Sam Williams. This match may very well be won in this positional battle. Two solid halfbacks looking to stamp themselves as first-graders will be hell-bent on winning this clash. Kelly has been solid this season but looks likely to relinquish his jersey to Kieran Foran next season, while Williams is set to be given the same treatment as Aidan Sezer heads to the nation's capital next year. A big performance in this one will give both these players a lot more confidence heading into the off-season. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">History:</span> Played 50; Eels 25, Raiders 25. Last time these two met the Raiders ended the Eels' 2014 season with a 33-20 point victory at Canberra Stadium.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What Are The Odds:</span> There’s three times the cash invested on the Eels in head-to-head betting according to Sportsbet, although punters are thinking Parramatta are more likely to win 1-12 rather than a big victory. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c3c34;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Latest odds at Sportsbet.com.au</span></span></span>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Officials:</span> Referee: Adam Devcich. Assistant Referee: Chris James. Touch Judges: Brett Suttor, Anthony Eliott. Video Referees: Shayne Hayne, Daniel Irvine.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Televised:</span> Fox Sports, Live, 2:00pm.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Way We See It:</span> Both sides come into this clash with confidence following solid recent performances. But the Raiders are understrength with the omission of their two best attacking players, Austin and Wighton. At home the Eels should be slightly too strong. They'll get the win by four.</span></div>

Eels v Raiders preview

Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders Pirtek Stadium Saturday 2:00pm Two teams will play for pride on Sunday afternoon as the Parramatta...

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Cowboys v Titans preview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgDJL3UhVwI/VelGjYn26nI/AAAAAAAAFXA/hzis3sMQ2ug/s1600/172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgDJL3UhVwI/VelGjYn26nI/AAAAAAAAFXA/hzis3sMQ2ug/s640/172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1300SMILES Stadium</span><br /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 7.30pm</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On paper this is a dead rubber but in reality it is a chance that North Queensland desperately need as they seek a complete 80-minute performance before finals.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cowboys coach Paul Green described this week as "about putting our game together and making sure all parts are ticked off"; and there is certainly much to work on.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a performance full of poor fifth-tackle options it took them 79 minutes to register points against the Storm last week, but Green noted an improved defensive effort on the try line.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago it was the polar opposite – their pack dominated and they kicked well, but leaked points close to the line.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things need to come together fast for a side that some are worrying has peaked too early.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Gold Coast, Saturday night signals the end of the line in a season featuring more heartache than an Ed Sheeran album.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the Daly Cherry-Evans backflip that torpedoed their recruitment strategy to a casualty ward currently housing 10 Titans, the club from Robina will lick their wounds as this year's hard luck story.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In team news, Green welcomes back James Tamou to the Cowboys side after a week-long layoff from a neck concern, which pushes Ben Hannant back to the bench and Ben Spina to 18th man.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Titans coach Neil Henry gets back future leader of the club Ryan James who lines up next to Luke Douglas in the front row, while Matt White and Eddy Pettybourne drop back to the bench. Kalifa Fai Fai Loa is 18th man.</span></div> <div class="cmsTinyMceBorder cmsDrawWidgetBorder mceNonEditable" style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch Out Cowboys:</span> The Titans' back five all have speed to burn, but have not been able to stretch out as much as they would have liked this year. Headed by right centre James Roberts, they are probably the league's fastest quintet, yet due to turbulence in the halves this year have not received enough quality ball to be more impactful. The Titans are also in fine offloading form, registering 15 last week, and rank second in the category.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch Out Titans:</span> The Cowboys' middle has been soft as marshmallow in recent weeks and that doesn't bode well for the Titans on finals' eve. Numbers have dropped significantly for star forward Matt Scott (including a second sub-100 metre performance since being rested in Round 22), sparking fresh concern regarding the prop's fitness. However, Green has named the Test and Origin veteran for this dead rubber. Along with Tamou, lock Jason Taumalolo rounds out North Queensland's forward triumvirate, and along with displaying his acclaimed running power the 22-year-old will be keen to atone for recent defensive lapses that saw him benched against the Storm.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Key Match-Up:</span> Gavin Cooper v Dave Taylor. Here we have two of the most diametrically opposed players of the same position in the NRL. Cooper is a beanpole of a forward with a fantastic motor, and stretches every sinew of his wiry 197-centimetre frame to get through half-holes generated by right-hand man Johnathan Thurston. From a steady and safe 80-minute performer on both sides of the ball to Taylor, who will win man-of-the-match honours with superhuman size and strength one week only to have coach Henry tearing his hair out the next. Cooper is Mr Intangible for the Cowboys, running over seven decoys (fourth in the league) and 14 supports per game (league's best forward), compared with Taylor's two and four respectively. Cooper has also amassed 12 turnover tackles this year compared with Taylor's three, along with 31 tackles per game to Taylor's 19. The pair will be in direct opposition for hopefully the full 80 minutes in the juiciest subplot of the evening, which also serves as Taylor's last NRL game before heading to Catalans Dragons for two years.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The History:</span> Played 15; Cowboys 7, Titans 8. The Titans saw the best and worst of North Queensland last season, with Thurston's memorable on-field spray toward his side in their 13-12 loss at Robina in Round 4 backed up by a 20-point demolition job at 1300SMILES Stadium when the Cowboys were the league's form side in Round 21. Both teams have an equal number of head-to-head wins since 2010.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What Are The Odds:</span> Sportsbet punters were quick to snap up the huge price for Gold Coast. Sportsbet is actually holding more money on the Titans than the Cowboys in head-to-head betting. Latest odds at <span style="color: #1c3c34;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Sportsbet.com.au</span></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did You Know:</span> An inscrutable figure on the Gold Coast, Kalifa Fai Fai Loa was equally enigmatic in his three years scoring freak tries under Henry at the Cowboys between 2011 and 2013. Making use of the new cornerpost rules at the time, Fai Fai Loa was one of the pioneers of the 'superman' try. But from Superman to Skater Boy, he is still one of the more entertaining tryscorers in the league, having bagged a brace twice in the last three weeks. Listed at 18th man, it would be fitting for the 25-year-old to make the 17 and touch down for a try on familiar soil. </span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Officials:</span> Referee: Henry Perenara; Assistant Referee: Chris Sutton; Touch Judges: Jason Walsh & Belinda Sleeman; Video Referees: Jared Maxwell & Luke Phillips.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Televised:</span> Fox Sports – Live 7.30pm</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #474c55; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Way We See It:</span> The Cowboys will be determined to prove a point to both themselves and the rugby league public, while the Gold Coast have finally stumbled to the finish line of a forgettable season. Nevertheless, they will want to strike while the iron is hot after two consecutive wins, but we see this as entirely one-way traffic. Cowboys by 20.</span></div>

Cowboys v Titans preview

North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans 1300SMILES Stadium Saturday 7.30pm On paper this is a dead rubber but in reality it is a...

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Real Madrid offered Liverpool star on deadline day but decided against deal for Moreno

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REAL MADRID turned down a deal for left-back Alberto Moreno after Liverpool offered them the chance to sign him, according to reports in Spain.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the day of the Spanish transfer deadline day, it was reported that Real boss Rafa Benitiez was keen to tie up a late deal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moreno was understood to be a direct replacement for Fabio Coentrao, who recently joined Monaco on loan.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Spanish publication AS claim Benitez opted out of a deal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spain defender has had a difficult time at Anfield since singing from Sevilla for £12million last summer.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 23-year-old came in for criticism from Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson, who described him as "a little boy."</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GqjmVf1OzEo/VekggDXD1vI/AAAAAAAAFWw/0b0UffszOtA/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GqjmVf1OzEo/VekggDXD1vI/AAAAAAAAFWw/0b0UffszOtA/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has made only substitute appearances this season and has fallen behind youngster Joe Gomez in the pecking order.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While he was a regular in Brendan Rodgers' first-team last season, Moreno was part of a leaky defence that was widely criticised.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spaniard has also been linked with Barcelona and Roma but either of those moves also failed to materialise.</span></div>

Real Madrid offered Liverpool star on deadline day but decided against deal for Moreno

REAL MADRID turned down a deal for left-back Alberto Moreno after Liverpool offered them the chance to sign him, according to reports in Sp...

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