ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PICK - MANCHESTER UNITED V LIVERPOOL

English Premier

2010-03-21 - Manchester United vs Liverpool

A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps

Manchester United v Liverpool
Football : England : Premier League
Sunday 21st March 2010 - Kickoff 1:30pm

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Manchester United

Last 5 Manchester Utd Games At Home : W5-D0-L0 F18-A0

The Red Devils are back on top of the Premiership and this is where they really turn it on, with 8 games to go United will be looking for all 24 points and up next is a huge game against 5th placed Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson’s side are flying at the moment especially at home where as you can see above 5 straight wins without conceding a goal and scoring 18 in the process which is a whopping over 3.50 goals a game! Since losing to Aston Villa back in December, Old Trafford has been a fortress with United winning 7 straight and conceding ZERO!

Within this 7 game run they have recorded wins over Wolves (3-0), Wigan (5-0), Burnley (3-0), Hull (4-0), Portsmouth (5-0), West Ham (3-0) and Fulham (3-0)! Now apart from Fulham they all look like home bankers and to be fair they are, but to win all 7 without conceding and giving the opposition a sniff is frightening.

In case you feel that this level of opponent is not of a high standard just look at the other recent home games in there in the Champions League a 4-0 demolition of AC Milan. So whoever this side is facing at the moment they are simply blowing them off the park.

A huge threat is the Premiership top scorer Rooney who is having the season of his short career, currently the scoucer has 32 goals in all competitions with 25 coming in the league. In the last 5 home games of which 18 goals have been scored, Rooney has 10 of them! Oh and in that Champions league game he also scored 2 of the United 4 goals, this guy is on fire and is surely going to get chances on Sunday.

Team news is that the injured trio of Giggs, Rafael and Evans have all returned to full training and are pushing for starts on Sunday. Once upon a time key midfielder Hargreaves has returned to action in the reserves following a long lay off but he’s still weeks away from the first team.

Longer term absentees include Anderson, Brown, Macheda, O’Shea and Owen all of which are out. We may see Ferguson recall Park in midfield (often plays the big games) with Valencia/Nani occupying the other flank.

Predicted Manchester United Lineup : Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Valencia; Berbatov, Rooney.

Liverpool

Last 5 Liverpool Away Games :W0-D3-L2 F1-A3

Title challengers all the pundits and papers said back in August with the very reputable Racing Post quoting Liverpool as their Champions elect in their pre season guide. Now with two thirds of the season gone the Merseysiders are in 5th struggling to even make the Champions League next season and a massive 15 points off current leaders United. Liverpool would love to dent United’s title hopes and they have the perfect opportunity on Sunday to do so when they make the daunting trip to Old Trafford.

I say daunting as statistically United are just formidable at home but then on the other hand Liverpool came here last year expecting to lose and won 4-1 in what was one of the stand out games of last season. Unfortunately, this year’s Liverpool and last year’s Liverpool are two completely different sides with last year’s side flying high at the top and beating all those before them, this year’s side are currently a point off 4th having played a game more!

Statistics also don’t help Liverpool, United have 18 goals and 5 wins from 5 at home whilst Liverpool are winless in 5 on the road having scored just ONCE!! Oh so maybe Liverpool have faced the pinnacle of opponents all back to back to back etc…Err..no not at all Rafa Benitez’s side have gone to Wigan (lost 1-0), Man City (0-0 – decent point), Arsenal (lost 1-0 – fair enough), Wolves (0-0 – poor) and Stoke (1-1 – again poor for a title competing side).

In all fairness Liverpool haven’t conceded lots of goals just the three with no more than 1 in any of the games but what is alarming is the lack of firepower. Some of them games Liverpool have been without Torres and Gerrard who as we know are huge for them but even so the Reds must stand up and deliver.

Fortunately for Liverpool both are fit for Sunday’s clash but more on that below, I want to look at the overall away form of Liverpool this season to establish whether this team can come to Old Trafford and at least statistically take something from the game.

Unfortunately the away form does not inspire me to back Liverpool either, 4 wins from 15 is not good enough and when comparing to last years 9 wins from 15 we can see exactly how much this side has declined. Again, as above it’s the lack of goals proving pivotal 15 played and just 12 goals, last year 15 played 27 goals! As much as this is a huge game, a game that Liverpool might get up for I can’t back them when all the stats other than last years 4-1 win are against them.

Team news as mentioned above is that both Torres and Gerrard are fit and raring to go, other news is that Agger is doubt with a calf injury as is Aquilani (virus). I think Agger will be fit but If not Kyrgiakos will deputise, elsewhere at the back Aurelio is out with a thigh injury as is Skrtel.

All the options are in midfield, Rafa should go with Lucas and Kuyt in midfield along side Mascherano and the recently improved Babel. That leaves Torres up top with Gerrard supporting, Rafa will also have Benayoun back on the bench to shake things up if they need goals but I expect:

Predicted Liverpool Lineup : Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt; Torres.

The Betting Verdict ;

One team is flying, the other is sinking I can’t back Liverpool here at all and if they take even a point on Sunday it would have taken an inspirational performance with most likely a lot of luck.

Home Win.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Take Manchester United to win 1.73 @ Canbet

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