Ligue 1 Betting: Champions poised to post another masterclass

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">Leaders to make it eight in a row</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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 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;">Nice v PSG</span> (11th v 1st)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Saturday 16:15 BST<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on Betfair Live Video</span></span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">PSG are serial record collectors and the opportunity to equal one dating back more than 80 years should inspire them to victory at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday afternoon.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Lille started the 1936-37 with eight straight victories and PSG will match that tally if they claim all three points on the Cote d'Azur this weekend. It would be madness to back against Thomas Tuchel's side right now given how they're playing: they've scored at least three goals in each of their seven Ligue 1 games, reserving their best performance of the season for their 4-1 victory over Reims on Wednesday night.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Even more frightening for Nice is the prospect of a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hungry and determined Kylian Mbappe returning here after a three-match suspension.</strong> The World Cup winner will have had fidgety feet watching his team-mates from the touchlines so expect a turbo-boosted performance from him as he reminds us what we've missed over the past month.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice's W3-D1-L3 record sums up their inconsistency</strong> and their W1-D0-L2 home stats underline the problems they've had in front of their own fans. To make matters worse, flyer Allan Saint-Maximin - their best player this season, and the nearest thing they have to Mbappe - has nursed an ankle knock over the past 48 hours so may be less fleet-footed than usual.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">PSG are <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/3"><span 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;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.35</b></span></span> to win. Instead, back the visitors -1.5 Asian Handicap. PSG have won all seven Ligue 1 fixtures by two or more goals. For a guide to Asian Handicap betting, click <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">here</b></span>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">Hosts too strong in attack</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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 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;">Lyon v Nantes</span> (2nd v 19th)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Saturday 19:00 BST<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video</span></span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Nantes manager Miguel Cardoso's status as a dead man walking makes Lyon firm favourites to record a convincing win this weekend.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">The Portuguese boss was appointed only this summer but well-informed local media sources believe this will be his final game in charge. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nantes' poor results (W1-D2-L4) and apparent confusion among the players about some of Cardoso's tactical decisions</strong>mean that a new manager will almost certainly be in charge by the time Nantes' fixture against Bordeaux kicks-off next weekend.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Volatile Nantes president never seemed convinced of Cardoso's qualities - which is bizarre, given that Kita appointed him - and has taken every opportunity to criticise the manager publicly during the opening two months of the season. Given the lack of authority Cardoso has going into the game this weekend it's hard to see Nantes producing a coherent, effective performance.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Lyon are the last team (bar PSG) you'd want to face right now. The hosts go into this game on the back of three fantastic victories - 2-1 at Manchester City, 4-2 at home to Marseille, 3-0 at Dijon on Wednesday night - and have the class and variety to take Nantes apart at will. With six high-calibre attackers - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maxwel Cornet, Moussa Dembele, Memphis Depay, Nabil Fekir, Martin Terrier, Bertrand Traore</strong> - manager Bruno Genesio can maintain the standard and freshness of the front line from kick-off to the final whistle.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Lyon are <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/3"><span 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;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.35</b></span></span> to collect all three points. The hosts with a -1.5 Asian Handicap start is a better selection.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">Lack of goals to trip up Reims</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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 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;">Reims v Bordeaux</span> (14th v 10th)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Saturday 19:00 BST<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on Betfair Live Video</span></span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Reims are favourites yet their form doesn't justify their status ahead of their game on Saturday night.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Having won their opening two matches of the season Reims have since gone five matches without a victory (W0-D2-L3). <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A lack of goals is their main problem:</strong> they failed to replace last season's top scorer Jordan Siebatcheu after he moved to Rennes for £10.5 million over the summer and have netted just four times in seven games.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bordeaux are improving. They've won their last two matches: they triumphed 3-1 at Guingamp and then beat Lille 1-0 on Wednesday night.</strong> Goalkeeper Benoit Costil needed to be at his best to secure the victory over Lille, but the attitude and effort of players all over the pitch impressed.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Bordeaux also have good strength in depth: Yann Karamoh, on loan from Inter, and Nicolas De Preville have scored from the bench in recent weeks. The visitors should avoid defeat so they're the Draw No Bet (DNB) selection.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">PSG -1.5 Asian Handicap at Nice @ 1.95</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Lyon -1.5 Asian Handicap v Nantes @ 1.95</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Bordeaux Draw No Bet at Reims @ 2.30</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQTHb549zdaUk7zX4ZaSEeEyk_HMRWbsizuZLag-jOJMzZkLHuTzU9XBrdh_dpv-Kdwniu4AQs5zKEoLXqJKJV8Lvgv2Ip0RuwwMvRovD7nlwt6x8ZjLsNFbUubj3Tk3bRPheOopMXb4/s1600/psg+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQTHb549zdaUk7zX4ZaSEeEyk_HMRWbsizuZLag-jOJMzZkLHuTzU9XBrdh_dpv-Kdwniu4AQs5zKEoLXqJKJV8Lvgv2Ip0RuwwMvRovD7nlwt6x8ZjLsNFbUubj3Tk3bRPheOopMXb4/s640/psg+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> </div>

Ligue 1 Betting: Champions poised to post another masterclass

Leaders to make it eight in a row Nice v PSG  (11th v 1st) Saturday 16:15 BST Live on Betfair Live Video PSG are serial record colle...

Read More

Serie A Betting: Rome Derby, Scudetto showdown and Milan in crisis

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">All roads lead to Lazio</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roma v Lazio</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday, 14:00<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on Betfair Live Video</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">The Serie A weekend starts with the high potential for drama at the Olimpico as <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roma and Lazio face off</strong> in a game that Eusebio Di Francesco really can't afford to lose. I know that Roma got back to winning ways in midweek against Frosinone, but that's such a routine victory that it doesn't count for much, and certainly doesn't hide the fact that they have been poor this season so far.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Di Francesco already had his doubters after the way that his team capitulated against Liverpool in the first leg of last season's Champions League semi-final, and he needed to hit the ground running, rather than limping tamely.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Roma have already lost twice in Serie A, they've been brushed aside by Real Madrid in the Champions League, and they have twice been held to home draws, by Atalanta and Chievo. They've looked listless and disorganised, and Simone Inzaghi and Lazio must fancy that they can do something significant, given the run of form that they're currently on.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Lazio could have limped into this season after losing out on the Champions League on the last day of the previous campaign, but after losing their opening two matches against Napoli and Juve, they <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">have now won five in a row in all competitions</strong>, never perfect but always doing more than enough.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">After failing in those first two cracks at a big name, Inzaghi will be determined to see his team win against one of the division's giants, and where better to start than against their city rivals. <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They're too big, and we should back them.</b></span></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">Napoli no competition for Juve</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juventus v Napoli</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday, 17:00<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on Betfair Live Video and Eleven Sports 1</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">The monumental weekend continues with Napoli's visit to Turin on Saturday evening, and even though a dramatic win here last season remains fresh in the memory, <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juventus rightly start as strong favourites</b></span>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">I was hoping that <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juve might be somewhere nearer even money than</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/5">1.77</span>, but that accurately reflects their chances against a Napoli team who have picked up well after a lukewarm beginning. I'm not convinced that they're ready to throw down a challenge for the title, and still feel that they'll be found wanting on Saturday.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Napoli have a Champions League game against Liverpool to think about too, while Juve have the relatively easy task of a home fixture against Young Boys, and that further tips the scales in the home team's favour, but <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I still can't back them at that price as I don't think that it represents any value for us</b></span>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">I know that this is <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the game of the season so far</strong>, and as a result I feel duty bound to preview it, but I don't see a bet that really jumps out at me. I'll tell you what I'll do, though. I think that Juventus will win, and do so fairly comfortably, and on the basis that they have <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">won four of their six games by two clear goals</strong>, and look to be finding their rhythm, and given that Napoli have distractions on their horizon, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I'll take a look at the Asian Handicap</strong>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juventus are</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/4">3.30</span> -1 on the Handicap, and I think that gives us a chance. We're fine if they win the game, and we have a good winner if they do so <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by two clear goals</b></span>. With Cristiano Ronaldo starting to relax and perform, and with Juve so potent at home, I think that's the bet. It won't be my biggest stake of the season, but it gives us a live chance.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 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; font-size: small;">Sassuolo simply stronger than Milan</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sassuolo v Milan</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday, 19:30<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on Betfair Live Video and Eleven Sports 1</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Both Sassuolo and Milan were in action on the Thursday of the midweek round, and so they face another game in quick succession, one which I think will provide some serious entertainment.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Betting on goals is a definite option, with <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 2.5 trading at around the</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.90</span> mark, but the question that I'm asking myself is whether I dare go into to a weekend supporting Sassuolo again. This is a team which is playing way above the general public's opinion of it, coached by a man that I'm convinced will be a star of the future in Roberto De Zerbi, and <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">still the market is treating Sassuolo as an also ran</b></span>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">I'm not suggesting that they can finish in a Champions League place or anything like that, their squad will inevitably be found out over the course of a tough season, but I do believe that they're underrated, and that they'll be <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">more than a match for a frustrating Milan</strong>.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Sassuolo have now <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">won three of their last four</strong>, and when you consider that their only defeat was a gallant one at Juventus, AND that they beat Inter on the opening day, you might understand why I'm so keen on them. Even ex-Milan man <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin-Prince Boateng</strong> was rested against SPAL, keeping him fresh for this reunion.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">They've won all three of their home games, and face a team that looks unconvincing after fumbling yet another lead to draw at Empoli. The Rossoneri only lost once, away at Napoli, but have now been held by Cagliari, Atalanta and Empoli, and Sassuolo are a far better team at the moment than any of those.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Factor in that <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gonzalo Higuain might not be fit</strong> in time after a muscular issue, Patrick Cutrone is still not 100 per cent after a sprained ankle and the only remaining striker is Fabio Borini - Milan are in real trouble.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Back Lazio to beat Roma @ 3.00</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Back Juventus -1 on the Asian Handicap against Napoli @ 3.30 </span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span 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;">Back Sassuolo to beat Milan @ 3.40</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD1Hqaouplc_f91dz6uUfXzEVat9-5BTDUW1xWrlPd7s9_hyphenhyphentZbu7mYIgjXRg74t5nNZ-yfP9FjeaRNA6PaqHtEVdQIsQg53rOHpJwtlSR4Cw_hZefxHwIig-wh20jZNEATeVjBFBuHs/s1600/roma-vs-lazio-092818-700x438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD1Hqaouplc_f91dz6uUfXzEVat9-5BTDUW1xWrlPd7s9_hyphenhyphentZbu7mYIgjXRg74t5nNZ-yfP9FjeaRNA6PaqHtEVdQIsQg53rOHpJwtlSR4Cw_hZefxHwIig-wh20jZNEATeVjBFBuHs/s640/roma-vs-lazio-092818-700x438.jpg" width="640" /></a><span 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;"><br /></span></span></div> </div>

Serie A Betting: Rome Derby, Scudetto showdown and Milan in crisis

All roads lead to Lazio Roma v Lazio Saturday, 14:00 Live on Betfair Live Video The Serie A weekend starts with the high potential f...

Read More

WEST HAM V MANCHESTER UNITED: LUKAKU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AT THE LONDON STADIUM

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">West Ham United v Manchester United</span><br />Saturday, 12:30<br />Live on BT Sport 1</span></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Irons in fightback mode</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things change quickly in football. Just ask West Ham, who were in full doom-and-gloom mode at the start of the month after starting the season with four straight losses. But <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they shook off the dust with a stirring win away to Everton</span>, were unlucky to follow it up with a win over Chelsea, and put eight goals past Macclesfield in midweek. Suddenly, the mood is altogether improved.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would be misguided to read too much into the Macclesfield result, of course, but it was a handy confidence booster for a few squad players. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The return of Marko Arnautović</span>, who has missed the last couple of games, is also great news; he should lead the line, with Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko also returning to the attack at the London Stadium.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But arguably it's the midfield that has been the key to West Ham's improvement. Jack Wilshere's injury prompted a switch to a three-man engine room, and <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pedro Obiang and Declan Rice have added energy and subtlety</span> since breaking into the team. They could shape a key battle against Manchester United.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Soap opera season at United</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul Pogba and José Mourinho. José Mourinho and Paul Pogba. It's a dance as old as... well, it's only been going for a few months, to be honest, but it already feels like a fixture. A weirdly inconsequential one, at that: two giant egos arm wrestling on the lookout deck of the Titanic as the whole thing goes under. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who will win? And what will be left when he does?</span></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is perhaps a bit too negative given United are unbeaten since August and won three games on the trot prior to last weekend's 1-1 draw with Wolves. But they were outplayed in that game and weren't much better against Derby in midweek, and the feeling that <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the Red Devils are only ever a game or two away from crisis</span> grows ever stronger. That cannot be a good thing.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are positives heading into this one. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nemanja Matić is available after serving a ban</span>in the league, while Anthony Martial showed some good form on Tuesday night. He, surely, would be a better pick than the woefully out-of-form Alexis Sánchez, although you'd never bet on Mourinho agreeing with that assessment.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hosts have tails up</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Ham have won only one of their last 19 Premier League matches against Manchester United, failing to score in both meetings at the London Stadium over the last couple of seasons. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That's a fairly rotten return</span>, so perhaps no wonder that the away side are considered <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1.90</span></span></span> favourites here.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet that doesn't quite reflect the mood music heading into this game. West Ham are not as good as Wolves, but <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they do have a spring in their step</span>, particularly after the performance against Chelsea. Add the excellent Arnautović to that mix, and there's no real reason they shouldn't be hopeful of getting something from this game. The draw, at <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">3.80</span></span></span>, therefore tempts.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Goals could flow</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four of six United games (Premier League only) have produced three goals or more. The same is true of West Ham, and both sets of attackers <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will be eyeing fragile defences with some relish</span> ahead of kick-off. Over 2.5 goals <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1.88</span></span></span> looks a decent pick, then, but perhaps <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left: initial; border-right: initial; border-top: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Both Teams to Score</span></span> just shades it, at <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/5"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1.79</span></span></span>. That would cover a 1-1 draw, which is a distinct possibility.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bad Luk omen</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our best bet is in the goalscorer market, with <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Romelu Lukaku</span> simply impossible to ignore in games against West Ham. The Belgian has netted 11 goals in his last 11 games in all competitions against the Irons, and has already scored in all of United's away matches this season (four in three).</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lukaku was missing the last time these sides met, back in May, <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and was badly missed</span>: United shaded possession but were unable to find a breakthrough. It should be a different story here, and he will be confident of having some joy against Issa Diop and Fabián Balbuena - two good defenders who are still feeling their way into English football.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Same Game Multi</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This new tool on the Sportsbook lets you combine multiple picks on the same game. So we could go for a 1-1 draw with a Romelu Lukaku goal at odds of around 24/1.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.5pts Romelu Lukaku to score at 2.26</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0.5pts Romelu Lukaku to score and 1-1 correct score at 24/1 (Same Game Multi)</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7SZU3NyPfQv7yvZ58T7BDs4_uL2IzXDnnz8_nYX5ykfX1Kw7lHVSM9jfMGNN1bfPki6dgbGCtXSM8xsLewxXGRB3U_4iHlF618kQ38-j-uDt07G9AB_IFc21Sm2BhVwdRgN7PHCa3OA/s1600/Lukaku-Rashford-Mkhitaryan-Mata-702x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="702" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7SZU3NyPfQv7yvZ58T7BDs4_uL2IzXDnnz8_nYX5ykfX1Kw7lHVSM9jfMGNN1bfPki6dgbGCtXSM8xsLewxXGRB3U_4iHlF618kQ38-j-uDt07G9AB_IFc21Sm2BhVwdRgN7PHCa3OA/s640/Lukaku-Rashford-Mkhitaryan-Mata-702x336.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>

WEST HAM V MANCHESTER UNITED: LUKAKU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AT THE LONDON STADIUM

West Ham United v Manchester United Saturday, 12:30 Live on BT Sport 1 Irons in fightback mode Things change quickly in football. J...

Read More

THE BIG MATCH TACTICAL VIEW: CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea v Liverpool<br />Saturday, 17:30, BT Sport 1.<br /><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Match Odds: Chelsea</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="15/8">2.86</span>, Liverpool <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/5">2.60</span>, The Draw <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/4">3.70</span>.</span></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea defeated Liverpool on Wednesday night at Anfield, courtesy of Eden Hazard's stunning late solo strike - but with both sides likely to be very different on Saturday evening, that game can hardly be considered much of a guide.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chelsea's toughest test so far</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is arguably<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Maurizio Sarri</span>'s first serious test as Chelsea manager. The only major opposition they'd encountered so far in the Premier League was Arsenal, in the second game of the season. Chelsea prevailed 2-1, but in truth it was against a side still trying to find their own footballing identity, and Chelsea conceded plenty of first-half chances.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a different test entirely, against last season's defeated European Cup finalists who have perhaps become even better this season. Jurgen Klopp's side are playing slick attacking football while continuing to press with great energy in midfield, and they might disrupt Chelsea's passing patterns here.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarri's first-choice XI so far has been fairly consistent. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is protected by a back four of <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cesar Azpilicueta</span>, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz and Marcos Alonso. Azpilicueta is as reliable as ever, Rudiger has sauntered forward for some long-range attempts at goal, David Luizlooks nervous in a four-man defence and Alonso has contributed a succession of crucial goals and assists.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jorginho</span> will continue to anchor the midfield. He's unlikely to match last weekend's extraordinary tally of 180 passes against West Ham, a number recorded primarily because West Ham were happy to stand off, let him play, and defend solidly in deeper positions. That approach surely won't be replicated by Liverpool, who will look to press aggressively in numbers.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The energy of<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> N'Golo Kante</span>, now deployed in more of a box-to-box midfield role to the right, will be crucial against Liverpool's mobility, and his battle with Naby Keita could be particularly exciting. Mateo Kovacic should complete the trio, attempting to connect midfield and attack.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Big decision upfront for Sarri</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hazard, Wednesday's hero, should start on the left flank here. His battle with<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Trent Alexander-Arnold</span> could be fascinating, not just in terms of the young full-back stopping the Belgian, but also because Hazard isn't too fond of tracking back, and Arnold's overlapping could be crucial in Liverpool's approach.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Willian has impressed on the right flank recently, while Sarri still hasn't decided on his centre-forward. <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Olivier Giroud</span> is the man in possession and plays some neat combinations to allow Hazard to run in behind, but the Frenchman isn't particularly effective against a high defensive line. Alvaro Morata is better at running the channels and could return despite his poor form.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Klopp to revert to familiar XI</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Klopp's starting XI is also very settled. Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have been in fine form, Joe Gomez has made a fine start to the campaign while Virgil van Dijk should be fit despite a rib problem. Joel Matip is on standby.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The midfield is the slight question mark. James Milner seems undroppable, Keita is likely to start in a similar role, so it's probably a battle between Jordan Henderson and <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gini Wijnaldum </span>for the deeper role. Wijnaldum currently looks more suited to that role.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Xherdan Shaqiri has started Liverpool's last two games, but got a rollicking from Klopp at full-time on Wednesday and was unlikely to continue here, as Liverpool revert to their classic 4-3-3, and their usual front three. Sadio Mane will play left against Azpilicueta, with Salah on the right against Alonso and <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roberto Firmino</span> leading the line.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Liverpool could thrive down the right</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firmino's role will be particularly crucial here. He'll be expected to apply backwards pressure on Jorginho, and is also likely to position himself cleverly to the right, in order to drag out <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">David Luiz </span>whose positional play has been questionable this season.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Liverpool's most promising zone, with Salah sprinting into the right-hand channel, Milner capable of pushing past Kovacic and into dangerous positions, and even Alexander-Arnold popping up on the overlap. Hazard will stay in advanced positions and Alonso isn't great in a positional sense. I think Liverpool will win the game in this zone.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea's possession play means they might dominate for long periods, particularly towards the end of halves when Liverpool find it difficult to sustain their possession play. But thus far it feels like they're dependent on individual moments of magic from Hazard. Wednesday demonstrates when he can do, but in terms of teamwork Sarri has conceded his side are about a year behind Liverpool in terms of their development, and I think Klopp's side will win here. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left: initial; border-right: initial; border-top: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">I'll back Liverpool at</span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/5">2.60</span>.</span></span></div> <section class="betting-copy" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="betting-copy__title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Betfair Trader's View - Alan Thompson</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Table topping Liverpool <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lost their 100% start</span> to the season midweek when Chelsea came back from a goal behind at Anfield to win 2-1 with two goals in the final 11 minutes and dump the Reds out of this year’s EFL cup. Revenge could be very quickly achieved though as the two sides clash again this weekend in the league, this time at Stamford Bridge.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite being the away side, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left: initial; border-right: initial; border-top: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Liverpool go into the game as slight favourites at</span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/4">2.54</span>, and it’s hard to disagree with that price, as not only do they bring their outstanding league record into this but they also have a decent recent record in the fixture, losing just twice out of their last eight league visits.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea will be all too aware though that a home win will put them ahead of their Merseyside rivals and at least level with Manchester City, who I fully expect to be on 19 points by kick off.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left: initial; border-right: initial; border-top: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Both teams to score looks to be a safe bet</span></span> even as low as <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/13"><span style="border: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1.60</span></span></span>, both teams have scored 14 goals in their opening six games and I think they both add to that record in this, just as they have done in six of the last seven league meetings at Stamford Bridge.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t think either side would be disappointed with a draw, and the Draw/Yes selection in the Match Odds and Both Teams to Score market <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left: initial; border-right: initial; border-top: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">at</span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1">5.00</span> is where I will be going.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlEFYoOubVru3xb-Tkjanbpo4KCtWTVxb7aBY3veovIkCkfdOHBbYWaZLhdRSU3RmqcXWA3qtngMT_-12GOQ3MravkpIp0dqY0DFFyB9L9lP4U9BKlBFntw9n4BxdGiecpsOzWAa3CtQ/s1600/eden-hazard-chelsea-liverpool-league-cup-26092018_z8usufnt41pc1qyoh5moh6zis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlEFYoOubVru3xb-Tkjanbpo4KCtWTVxb7aBY3veovIkCkfdOHBbYWaZLhdRSU3RmqcXWA3qtngMT_-12GOQ3MravkpIp0dqY0DFFyB9L9lP4U9BKlBFntw9n4BxdGiecpsOzWAa3CtQ/s640/eden-hazard-chelsea-liverpool-league-cup-26092018_z8usufnt41pc1qyoh5moh6zis.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> </section>

THE BIG MATCH TACTICAL VIEW: CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL

Chelsea v Liverpool Saturday, 17:30, BT Sport 1. Match Odds: Chelsea   2.86 , Liverpool  2.60 , The Draw  3.70 . Chelsea defeated Liverpo...

Read More