Liverpool are unlikely to do the double over Real Madrid

Liverpool/Real Madrid, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Juande Ramos has promised that the “famous Anfield roar” holds no fear for his side and who can blame him when it hasn’t intimidated teams like Stoke and Hull this season. The Sun today reported that 91% of teams who win the away leg 1-0 progress, bringing into question ITV’s decision to again give Liverpool prominence over Chelsea, but while the Reds should still qualify, here are five reasons why they won’t win tonight:

1. Liverpool haven’t won consecutive home games since October. They have played twelve times at Anfield since their 1-0 win over Portsmouth over four months ago but have won just five of them.

2. Rafael Benitez’s side have won both the home and away legs of a Champions League knockout tie on just two of their last nine attempts.

3. Real Madrid have won four consecutive away games since facing Barcelona in Juande Ramos’ game. They haven’t conceded a goal throughout that run, have scored eleven times and have managed at least two goals in each game.

Posted: March 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Coventry look to cause an upset away from the cameras

Previews of Tuesday and Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replays

Anyone who saw the initial West Ham/Middlesbrough game will be baffled by ITV’s decision to televise that replay over Blackburn’s potentially dangerous trip to Coventry. Even the clubs were caught off-guard by the decision to move the match for the public’s pleasure, judging by West Ham’s failure to warn fans the date could change and Middlesbrough’s decision to send tickets out saying the game was on Tuesday. Here are all the key statistics about the first three replays:

Coventry v Blackburn (Tuesday 7.45pm)
ITV’s decision to ignore this tie could prove wise however as only one goal has been scored over the course of Blackburn’s last four away games. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes offer 23/10 on the game requiring extra-time and that looks enticing. Sam Allardyce’s side have won just one of their last eight away games - and that was away to Blyth Spartans - but at the same time they unbeaten in four, with three of those finishing 0-0. Coventry have lost just one of their last nine home games and knocked Blackburn out of the FA Cup last season.

Fulham v Swansea (Tuesday, 8pm)

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics on all four televised FA Cup fifth round games

Will we see more Tic Tac adverts than goals this time around?

Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United may be under pressure to avoid FA Cup giantkillings but that is nothing compared to the scrutiny ITV’s coverage will suffer following their Merseyside derby blunder. Here’s our guide to the four games that will be shown on TV, subject to further “technical problems”:

Swansea v Fulham (12.45pm, Saturday, ITV1)
The last time these two sides met in 1997, they were both competing in the fourth tier of English football. Despite not winning away from home in the league all season, Fulham have won on the road in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. However, Swansea are unbeaten in fifteen games, nine of which have been draws, so Fulham’s best chance might be to take the game to a replay. Three of the last five meetings between the two sides in Wales have finished 2-2, which is 16/1 on 888sport, while both sides won one each 2-1.

Watford v Chelsea (5.30pm, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1)
It’s Lampard versus Lampard at Vicarage Road this weekend as the Chelsea midfielder comes up against the team where his dad works as a football consultant for former Blues reserve manager Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea have failed to win either of their two previous FA Cup away games against Watford, drawing one and losing one. Even if that record ends, it could be worth betting on the visitors conceding for the eighth straight cup match. The Hornets have lost just three of their last ten home games and have only failed to fire in one of those. Bet365 offer evens on both teams scoring.

Everton v Aston Villa (2.30pm, Sunday, Setanta Sports 1)

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

All the stats on this weekend’s televised FA Cup football

Preston face Liverpool and Southampton challenge Man Utd

It’s FA Cup third round weekend but instead of Motson and Lawro it will be Tyldesley and Pleat putting words to the pictures as ITV and Setanta take charge of proceedings. Here are some statistics about the three matches they have decided to screen this weekend:

Preston v Liverpool
Saturday evening sees the Mark Lawrenson derby take place at Deepdale as the club the BBC pundit supports face the one he spent most of his career at. Alan Irvine’s side have a good record in the FA Cup, having reached the fifth round in each of the last three seasons while Preston have won ten of their thirteen home league matches. Lawro predicted a draw in his column and while that sounds like a reasonable shout, there hasn’t been a draw at Deepdale since last April and that was the only one in the last fourteen months. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are both expected to figure for Liverpool, who have gone out at this stage twice in four seasons under Benitez, while being taken to a replay in another.

Southampton v Manchester United

Posted: January 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment