Why 13/10 Liverpool should be capable of beating Chelsea

Liverpool/Chelsea, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Liverpool have clashed with Chelsea in each of the last four seasons in the Champions League and on every occasion, they have failed to win the first meeting. However, with the home side playing their best football of the season and having already got the better of Chelsea twice this year, they won’t have a better opportunity to end that run. Here’s why Liverpool should justify the 13/10 offered by Paddy Power:

» Liverpool haven’t been beaten at home in the Premier or Champions League since December 2007, when they lost 1-0 to Manchester United.

» The Reds have only lost one of their last eight meetings with Chelsea in ninety minutes, going unbeaten in five and winning the last two.

» Rafael Benitez’s side have won their last five games, scoring sixteen while conceding just once.

Posted: April 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Newcastle and Spurs should provide Arsenal and Chelsea with tough tests

A stat on every Premier League game taking place this weekend

Portsmouth v Everton (Saturday, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1)
There have been under 2.5 goals in each of Everton’s last four trips to Fratton Park and their last ten away games.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at 1.66 on Betfair

Blackburn v West Ham
West Ham have won six straight games against Blackburn but have lost all five of their Premier League away games against Sam Allardyce sides.
Best Bet: The home win at evens with most bookmakers

Fulham v Manchester United
Both teams have scored in each of the champions’ last three league games and six of their seven Premier League trips to Craven Cottage.

Posted: March 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Manchester United can’t lose focus in the closing stages

Man Utd/Inter, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than concentrating on their gameplan to eliminate Manchester United, Inter Milan have been busy calculating what percentage chance they stand. Jose Mourinho says 50% while Mario Balotelli goes with 45% but both are wrong as the actual figure is 33%. Here we present the case for both teams, leaving you to assess whether the 8/15 on the holders breaking the curse is better value than the 7/4 Ladbrokes are offering on Inter progressing, while providing you with useful tips on other markets:

In the red corner…

» Manchester United have won eight and lost just one of their last ten home games against Italian opposition, triumphing in their last four.

» The Red Devils are unbeaten at home in over a year in all competitions and have gone more than four years without a Champions League loss at Old Trafford, a run stretching nineteen games.

Posted: March 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics to help you bet on Merseyside derby goalscorers

Everton/Liverpool, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Steven Gerrard has been Liverpool’s hero in the last two Merseyside derbies but is that run likely to continue tonight? chickendinner have examined the prospects of all the most likely goalscorers:

Tim Cahill - The Australian has scored four goals in eight Merseyside derbies and has fired nine times against Big Four opposition.

Mikel Arteta - The Spanish midfielder has notched three times in his last three appearances at Goodison Park but has only ever scored once against Big Four opposition (Chelsea in 2006).

Marouane Fellaini - Since a run of three goals in four games in October, Fellaini has fired just once in twelve.

Steven Gerrard - The England midfielder scored in each of the previous two Merseyside derbies this month, although he has only scored in three of his last twelve away games.

Posted: February 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five stats about West Ham’s daunting trip to Hartlepool

Hartlepool/West Ham, Sat 12.40pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Nottingham Forest, Luton, Bolton, Grimsby, Stockport, Wrexham, Swansea, Northampton, Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Oldham, Chesterfield and Watford. That is the expansive list of lower league teams West Ham have bowed out of either the FA or League Cup to over the course of their thirteen-and-a-half years in the Premier League. It’s no wonder Hartlepool are best-priced at 4/1 with Bet365 and 888sport to win tomorrow lunchtime:

1. West Ham have won four and drawn one of their last five games, their longest unbeaten streak since November 2007.

2. Carlton Cole has scored in each of those five games but in none of those matches has he been the first goalscorer. The striker is 13/8 with Boylesports to score at any time.

Posted: January 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Arsenal and Manchester United’s most likely scorers

chickendinner’s Champions League goalscorer betting guide

Here’s chickendinner’s look at some of the frontrunners to score the goals that could send Arsenal and Manchester United through as group winners tonight:

Arsenal:

Robin van Persie (first goalscorer 7/1, anytime goalscorer 9/4, last goalscorer 7/1) scored twice in Arsenal’s last away game against Chelsea and also grabbed a brace in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Porto earlier this season. The Dutchman has scored nine times this season but may be rested.

William Gallas (first goalscorer 28/1, anytime goalscorer 11/1, last goalscorer 28/1) has scored three Champions League goals already this season, a total topped only by Emmanuel Adebayor (four).

Posted: December 10th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment