All articles by: Elliott Jackson

FC Porto vs Liverpool- Match Preview

February 13, 2018 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

FC Porto vs Liverpool
Wednesday 14th February
Champions League – 2nd round – 1st leg

BT Sport – 7:45pm

FC Porto vs Liverpool – Liverpool resume their European dream as they take a trip to Portugal where face Porto in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

After successfully winning their group last year, Jurgen Klopp’s men were pitted against one of Portugal’s finest clubs. The Reds had a fantastic weekend; making Manchester United pay for their defeat to Newcastle with a 2-0 victory at Southampton. That win means they’re just two points off United who occupy second. The result also moves them four points clear of Chelsea in fifth, ahead of their Monday night tie with West Brom.

With just one league defeat in their last 18 games, Liverpool appear to be building a strong domestic push. The real test will come in Europe; will we see the exhilarating football played against Manchester City or the woeful defending in their defeat to Swansea? One thing is clear, the stakes are much higher. Unlike most January additions, Klopp has the added bonus of using Virgil van Dijk in the competition.

This is a tie the Reds should get through and the nature of their high pressing, free-flowing football could just take them to another European title. Given that on their day Liverpool can beat just about anyone, favourable draws could see them make a real mark on the biggest stage. The form of Mohamad Salah and Roberto Firmino has been impossible to ignore and coupled with the pace and power of Sadio Mane, they will give any defence in Europe a run for their money.

Porto find themselves top of the Premeira Liga standings, two points ahead of Benfica. Unbeaten in the league, the Dragoes have amassed an impressive 55 points from their 21 games this season. Porto have won their last three games in all competitions, including the semi-final of the Taca de Portugal as they seek domestic glory. The dynamic duo of Moussa Marega and Vincent Aboubakar pose Liverpool the biggest problems, with the pair netting a combined 31 league goals so far this season.

Liverpool have never lost to Porto and have drawn both their only two visits to the Estadio do Gragao. At Anfield, they have won both their games, with their last meeting ending 4-1 back in 2007.

Daniele Orsato has been appointed as the referee for this match. The Italian official, who plies his trade in Serie A, has an average of 4.1 cards per match this season. These 40 yellow cards and one red card across ten matches this campaign.

With Liverpool playing the first leg of this tie away from home, I think getting an away goal could be crucial. Given their good form of late, I think they’ll get a draw, which would set them up nicely to finish the job at Anfield. Porto are by no means a bad side and will run the Reds close, so don’t be surprised to see the Portuguese giants edge this contest.

FC Porto vs Liverpool will be televised in the UK on BT Sport.

Prediction: Porto 1-1 Liverpool.

Suggested tips – FC Porto vs Liverpool – (BET365):

Correct score, draw 1-1 – (link no longer available)
BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – FC Porto vs Liverpool – (Skybet):

Salah to score and Liverpool to win – 5/2.
Aboubakar and Firmino to both score – 6/1.
BTTS and Porto to win – 4/1.
Marega to score a brace – 8/1.
RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – FC Porto v Liverpool – Liverpool to win, 4+ Liverpool corners and 30+ match booking pts – 9/4
@FootyAccums RequestABets – FC Porto v Liverpool – Firmino to score, over 2.5 goals, 1+ corners each team in each half and 30+ match booking pts – 13/2
Scorecast Boost – Porto v Liverpool – Roberto Firmino to score first and Liverpool to win 2-0 – 60/1
RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – FC Porto v Liverpool – Aboubakar, Firmino & Salah to score, Liverpool to win, 5+ match corners and Herrera to be carded – 66/1
RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – FC Porto v Liverpool – Salah to score, Draw, BTTS and Danilo Pereira & Matip to be carded – 100/1

Odds and markets last updated on Wednesday 14 February 2018 @16:55 GMT.

More markets will be added tomorrow afternoon prior to the game kicking off in the evening. Be sure to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates.

Real Madrid vs PSG – Match Preview

February 12, 2018 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

Real Madrid vs PSG
Wednesday 14th February, Bernabeu
Champions League – 2nd Round – 1st Leg

BT Sport 3 – 7:45 pm

Real Madrid vs PSG – Defending Champions Real Madrid take on PSG at the Bernabeu in the first-leg of their Champions League knockout tie.

After a disappointing domestic season, Madrid will be looking to restore their reputation in Europe. Sat in fourth, the reigning league champions sit 17 points behind Barcelona. With the league title long gone, their main focus has to be trying to catch second-placed Atletico Madrid, who are currently ten points ahead of them.

Despite struggling for most of this term, Zinedine Zidane’s sides’ form has improved recently, with four wins in their last six matches. With 12 goals in their last two home games, it isn’t goals that will dictate Madrid’s future in this competition. With Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos both struggling with injuries, Los Blancos have conceded 23 goals in 22 games. Whilst this doesn’t seem a bad return, it is three more goals than Barcelona and Atletico combined.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s league form has been under much scrutiny this season. The Portuguese forward has 11 goals this season from 18 games; a much lower return than previous seasons. In the Champions League, however, the former Manchester United forward has been in scintillating form. With nine goals from six games, Ronaldo has etched his name into Champions League history again this season. No player had previously scored in every group stages game before the five-time Ballon d’Or broke the record back in December last year.

Many will feel that PSG come into this game as favourites, despite facing the reigning Champions. Unai Emery’s side topped their group, collecting 15 points and beating Bayern Munich in the process. Having assembled one of the most expensive forward lines in history, it is little surprise to see Les Parisiens top of the goalscoring charts. With Edinson Cavani now joined by Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in attack, there is no defence in the world that wouldn’t be nervous about facing this potent trio. With 69 goals between the three in all competitions, PSG look like serious contenders for this competition and could make a real statement by toppling the reigning Champions on their own turf.

Gianluca Rocchi has been appointed as the referee for this crucial clash. The Italian has officiated ten games in Serie A this season, with an average of 4.9 cards per match. He has shown 46 yellow cards and two red cards this season, so booking points could be a good bet to go with.

With the amount of attacking talent on display on Wednesday night, it’s impossible to not predict goals. I think, despite their poor domestic form, Real Madrid will come out on top. Whilst PSG have been very impressive this season, the biggest players show their true ability in the biggest moments and I think Madrid will secure a crucial victory.

Real Madrid vs PSG will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 3, with kick off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 PSG.

Suggested tips (BET365):

Correct score, Madrid to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)
Anytime Goalscorer – Angel Di Maria – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips (Skybet):

Neymar and Ronaldo to both score – 7/2.
Mbappe to score a brace – 13/2.
Bale to score and win – 11/4.
BTTS and over 2.5 goals – 4/6.
BTTS in both halves – 15/2.

Suggested RequestABet Picks – Real Madrid vs PSG (Skybet):

Price Boosts – Real Madrid vs PSG – Neymar to score from outside the penalty area – 12/1.
Price Boosts – Real Madrid vs PSG – Gareth Bale and Kylian Mbappe both to score in 90 mins – 13/2.
@FootyAccums Specials – Real Madrid vs PSG – Both teams to score in both halves of both legs – 50/1.
@FootyAccums Specials – Real Madrid vs PSG – BTTS in 2nd half, 3+ corners each team and Real Madrid 20+ booking pts – 4/1.
RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Real Madrid vs PSG – Ronaldo & Cavani to score, 5+ Real Madrid corners, 3+ Paris St Germain corners & Ramos, Alves & Verratti to be carded – 100/1.
RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Real Madrid vs PSG – Ronaldo & Neymar each to score from outside the area – 100/1.
RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Real Madrid vs PSG – Mbappe & Neymar to score, over 2.5 goals, 4+ corners each team and Kroos & Di Maria to be carded – 150/1.
RequestABet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Real Madrid vs PSG – Di Maria to score, 12+ match corners and Verratti & Ramos to be carded – 33/1.
RequestABet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Real Madrid vs PSG – Neymar to score first and Draw 2-2 – 40/1.

Odds and markets last updated on Wednesday 14 February 2018 @17:07 GMT.

More markets will be added tomorrow afternoon prior to the game kicking off in the evening. Be sure to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates.

Chelsea vs West Brom – Match Betting Preview

February 12, 2018 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

Chelsea vs West Brom
Monday 12th February, Stamford Bridge
FA Premier League

Sky Sports 8pm.

Chelsea vs West Brom – After back to back defeats Chelsea will be hoping to return to winning ways against West Brom as the race for the top four heats up.

After dropping six points against lower placed opposition, the pressure has cranked up on Antonio Conte. With many already speculation the former Juventus boss will leave at the end of the season, now was not the right time for his team to have a mid-season wobble. With a crucial Champions League tie against Barcelona to come, Conte’s men are in exactly the wrong form to face the former European Champions.

Their 4-1 defeat against Watford was extremely worrying as the Champions shipped three goals in just seven minutes. The Hornets were by far the better team across the 90 minutes, even before Tiemoue Bakayoko’s first-half red card. A run of just two wins in ten games has seen the Champions fall to fourth in the league and they now sit just one point above fifth-placed Tottenham.

Conte needs to try and re-create the atmosphere that saw them run away with the league last year in a bid to try and secure a minimum of a top-four place. With the FA Cup and Champions League still on offer, Chelsea’s season is far from over. With two lots of silverware still available, an upturn in form is critical before they fall behind in the top four race.

West Brom need wins; it’s as simple as that. Despite a recent upturn in performances, they still sit 20th, four points adrift at the bottom of the league. With Swansea and Stoke’s recent upturn in results, it has piled more pressure on the Baggies, who have won just one Premier League game since August.

The loan signing of Daniel Sturridge should help their cause, with goas in short supply for Alan Pardew’s men. With the World Cup coming up, Sturridge needs a strong second half of the season to have any hopes of forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s 23 man squad. With Kane, Vardy and Rashford all guaranteed a spot there could be room for one more striker and if Sturridge can re-discover his form from previous years he could find himself on the plane.

Chelsea have won four of their last five games against the Baggies. They haven’t lost at home since 1983, a record stretching nearly 35 years. Lee Mason has been appointed as the referee for Monday night’s clash. In his 12 games in charge, Mason has produced 27 yellow cars, averaging at 2.2 per game. Having shown two three red cards, in addition, this campaign, his average booking points total stands at 25.8, which is one of the lowest amongst the officials.

After a run of four games without defeat, back to back losses have left West Brom in the mire. Draws are no longer good enough, they need results and they need them quick I struggle to see them getting anything from this one. Although Chelsea have been poor, I can see Conte going back to what he knows best and getting a huge win.

Chelsea vs West Brom will be shown live on Sky Sports at 8PM tonight in the UK.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Brom.

Suggested tips (BET365):

Correct score, Chelsea to win 2-0 – (link no longer available).
Chelsea to win to nil – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips (SKYBET):

Hazard to score and Chelsea to win – 5/4.
Giroud to score first and Chelsea to win 3-1 – 22/1.
Willian and Sturridge to both score – 10/1.
Over 2.5 goals and Chelsea to win – 10/11.

The UEFA Champions League starts back this week – don’t forget to check out our tips and previews area. We will have match previews for both Spurs and Liverpool games this week as well as Arsenal’s Europa cup game.