Five useful stats for betting on today’s Merseyside derby

Liverpool/Everton, 4pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Everton left Anfield with a point on Monday and 6000 of their fans are making the short trip today in the hope of seeing them go one better. Here are five stats about today’s game:

1. Liverpool have drawn three of their last four home games. Boylesports and Ladbrokes offer 5/2 on them doing the same today.

2. Everton have gone ten years without a win at Anfield although they have only lost four of their nine visits there since.

3. Liverpool have won nine FA Cup games against Everton while the Toffees have won just six. Five have been draws.

4. David Moyes’ side have reached the fifth round in just one of the last six seasons.

5. Tim Cahill has scored in four of his last seven Merseyside derbies. He is 7/2 with Paddy Power to do so at any time today.

Posted: January 25th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Why Derby could face they second cup exit in four days

Derby/Forest, 7.45pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Nigel Clough hosts former club Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup tonight and it looks like his tough introduction to Championship management could continue. Forest may have won just one in eleven against Derby but they are flying under County’s former boss Billy Davies and look good value at 2/1 with 888sport to triumph:

» Forest have scored ten in their last four games including three in the last round against Manchester City.

» Rob Earnshaw has scored in all four of Forest’s last games and Paddy Power are offering 11/5 that he will find the net at any time tonight.

» Forest have five clean sheets in their last seven matches and have scored exactly two in four of their last six. As a result, a Forest 2-0 win at 17.5/1 with Betfair represents good value.

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

Eight reasons why Liverpool won’t regain top spot tonight

Liverpool/Everton, 8pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

2009 marks the ten year anniversary of Everton’s last win at Anfield but they have been granted two opportunities in the space of a week to ensure that the lean streak isn’t allowed to continue for a second decade. Liverpool are unbeaten at home this season but they have drawn a lot and here are eight reasons why chickendinner expects them to drop points tonight:

1. Everton’s form away from Goodison Park is so impressive that they have won more on their travels than Liverpool have at home this season. Only Chelsea have a better away point average this season than the Toffees.

2. David Moyes’ side know how to perform a smash and grab. They have recorded the second most 1-0 wins in the league this season and four of those have come away.

3. Everton have won four straight games and are unbeaten in six despite the lack of recognised strikers due to injuries to Louis Saha, Yakubu and James Vaughan.

Posted: January 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Stoke are 9/1 to beat league leaders Liverpool at home

Stoke/Liverpool, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta Sp 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Stoke (9/1 with Bet365) were able to take a point against Liverpool at Anfield so will feel confident of causing them problems again on a pitch far greater suited to their style of play. Here are the key statistics about this weekend’s Saturday evening game:

THE BRITANNIA STADIUM
Only four clubs have taken more points at home this season than Stoke and the only teams who have beaten them there in the league are Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United, with Chelsea the only team to win their by more than one goal. Stoke’s defeats to Everton and Chelsea came one after the other so Liverpool will be hopeful of benefitting from the fact the Potters lost their last home game to Manchester United.

Posted: January 9th, 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

The Premier League’s best English manager meets Harry Redknapp in the FA Cup

Tottenham/Wigan, 8pm, Setanta Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

While a quick browse of most newspapers would give you the impression that Harry Redknapp was single-handedly saving the reputation of English managers, the reality is that Steve Bruce is currently the most successful having guided Wigan into seventh place.

The Latics are top of the Premier League form table with five wins in their last six while Spurs are nearer the bottom having won just once over that period but recent league results could be turned on their head in the FA Cup.

Wigan’s 3-0 win over Sunderland last year was their first over Premier League competition in the competition while Spurs have a good recent record in the cups and are of course managed by the FA Cup holding manager.

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