All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Newcastle United vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Newcastle United vs Liverpool – Match Preview – Liverpool take a trip to St James’ Park after picking up their first win in four games last weekend. Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat to Brighton and record their fourth win of the season.

After beating Leicester 3-2 at the King Power Stadium, Liverpool disappointed in a 1-1 draw against Spartak Moscow in midweek. After dropping two more points in their Champions League Group, Liverpool sit in second place, already two points behind leaders Sevilla. Whilst things might not be going to plan in Europe, they appear to be getting back on track in the league.

Mane returns to the Liverpool team after suspension Photo Credit: skysports.com

Despite the major question marks still held against Liverpool’s defending, the return to form of Phillipe Coutinho, alongside Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamad Salah, means the Reds can beat anyone in the league. All four started in Russia and Liverpool fans will hope that it is just the start. Already this season, they have managed 18 goals between them, with Coutinho missing a large chunk of that time as well. Whilst fans will be frustrated at Jurgen Klopp’s failure to address the club’s defensive frailties, the attacking power he has assembled is enough for them to frighten any defence across Europe.

Can Newcastle get back to winning ways? Photo Credit: skysports.com

For Newcastle, an up and down start has seen them win three and lose three of their opening six matches. After losing their opening two, they then won three on the spin before being defeated at the Amex Stadium last weekend 1-0. That defeat to Brighton was their first for a month, and now it is up to Benitez’s men to respond. One key success for Newcastle in their winning run was keeping two clean sheets in three games. Having tightened up at the back, it’s up front they need to improve. Their six league goals are the joint second lowest in the top half of the table, with many fearing they lack the firepower to sustain a push for the top half.

Liverpool have lost four of their last six trips St James’ Park, and haven’t won there since 2013. Having won just one of those six matches, it’s time for Klopp’s men to end that run and secure three points.

With Liverpool coming off the back of a disappointing result in midweek, I think they’ll be keen to make a point, and get back to winning ways. I think they’ll have enough to see off Benitez’s men, with their front four being too much to handle for Newcastle’s rear guard.

 

Prediction: Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE LIVERPOOL 2-0- 15/2

SKYBET: MANE AND COUTINHO TO BOTH SCORE- 11/2

SKYBET: SALAH TO SCORE FIRST AND LIVERPOOL TO WIN 3-1- 35/1

SKYBET: JOSELU TO SCORE AND FT DRAW- 10/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND LIVERPOOL TO WIN- 21/10

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Queens Park Rangers v Fulham – Match Preview

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Queens Park Rangers v Fulham – Match Preview – QPR host Fulham on Friday night in a West London derby. Both teams will be hoping for three points to push them up the league table.

QPR have struggled for consistency this season, amassing 13 points from their opening ten games. Three wins, four draws and three defeats have proven the Hoops are capable on their day, but also fail to turn up in some matches. Ian Holloway will be looking for a more consistent showing from his side, if QPR are to mount a charge in to the top half.

On Tuesday night they secured a 1-1 draw at Barnsley. In theory, not a terrible result, but those are the sort of games that teams at the top end of the league snatch a win in. This probably underlines the lack of quality available to Holloway, compared to teams in and around the top eight. QPR are currently without a win in four games, but have lost one of their last five. If QPR can turn some of those draws in to wins, they could have a very successful campaign.

So far this season, Fulham have failed to live up to expectations. The London side finished sixth last year, and were favourites to win the play-offs. Despite that tag, they were beaten by Reading, but many tipped them to bounce back and challenge again this year. Thus far, they’ve struggled, collecting only 14 points from their first ten outings.

Contrasting to last year, Fulham have struggled for goals. Last year they were joint top scorers in the league, with 85 goals from 46 games. This season they’ve only managed 12 in ten, which is a key reason as to why they’ve drawn five of their games so far. Fulham have missed Captain Tom Cairney, who has struggled for fitness this campaign, and without him, they’ve looked half the side of last year. That said, when the Scotsman returns, they will improve, and if they can be more clinical, I think they can make the top six again.

QPR will be hoping Conor Washington can provide the goals Photo Credit: skysports.com

Fulham have won 5 of the last eight games against QPR, losing just two of those matches. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have also only lost one their last four trips to QPR, making it a happy stomping ground for them. In those last eight games, we’ve seen 28 goals, averaging out at just over three per games.

With the away side in the better form, I think they’ll take all three points on Friday night. I think the best bet will be both teams to score, with five of the last eight meetings seeing both sides on the scoresheet.

 

Prediction: QPR 1-2 Fulham

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE 2-1 FULHAM- 8/1

SKYBET: FONTE TO SCORE FIRST AND FULHAM TO WIN 3-1- 45/1

SKYBET: FULHAM TO WIN 1-0, 2-0 OR 2-1- 5/2

SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 10/11

SKYBET: FLOYD AYITE TO SCORE A BRACE- 10/1

SKYBET: WASHINGTON TO SCORE FIRST AND QPR TO WIN 2-1- 50/1

Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea – Champions League Group C Preview

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Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea – Champions League Preview – Chelsea face their toughest test of the season on Wednesday, as they take a trip to the Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico will be hoping for their first win of the Group Stages, to draw level on points with Antonio Conte’s side.

Having romped home to a 6-0 victory against Qarabag last time out, Chelsea couldn’t be facing more contrasting opponents. Atletico have reached three of the last four semi-finals in the Champions League, including two finals. There are few harder tasks than a trip away to Diego Simeone’s men, and Chelsea will have to be at their very best to get a result.

Chelsea fans will be hoping to see Eden Hazard start. The Belgian was only on the bench during their 4-0 win against Stoke, despite starting in midweek against Nottingham Forest. As Hazard builds up his match sharpness, fans will have to remain patient, but it won’t be long before their number ten is back in the starting eleven. If they are to get a positive result from a trip to one of Europe’s elite, they’ll need him fit and firing.

Morata has hit the ground running for Chelsea Photo Credit: skysports.com

Alvaro Morata will be hoping to impress on his first return to Spain since leaving Real Madrid in the summer. The Spaniard has six goals this season already, and bagged a hattrick at the weekend at the Bet365 Stadium. Filling the shoes of Diego Costa was a task that very few would have envied, but if his early season form is anything to go by, Morata is managing the task just fine.

Griezmann has been in good form for Atletico Photo Credit: skysports.com

In La Liga, Atletico have got off to a good start. They currently sit second in the table, with four wins and two draws from their opening six matches. Having won their last three games, Simeone’s men are gathering momentum, and that’s largely thanks to star man Antione Griezmann. The French striker has two goals in his last three games, and has started the season in his usual majestic form. Since returning from suspension after his opening day red card, Griezmann has been influential in Atletico’s serge up the table, if not scoring, then assisting for team mates.

The last time these two sides met was the semi-final of this competition in 2014. Atletico won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to take them through to the final, where they would be later defeated 4-1 by Real. Having met only five times in Europe, Chelsea have only won once, back in 2009. Since then, two draws have been sandwiched in between Atletico victories, giving them a good record ahead of this game.

I think this will be a very tight game, with both sides renowned for their defensive prowess. With Conte going away from home, I think he will set up to try and snatch a point, and it’ll be down to Atletico to break Chelsea down. As a result, I’m going for a score draw, but don’t be surprised if this one finishes goalless.

 

Prediction: Atletico 1-1 Chelsea

 

SKYBET: 1-1 DRAW- 9/2

SKYBET: MORATA AND GRIEZMANN TO BOTH SCORE- 8/1

SKYBET: CARRASCO TO SCORE FIRST AND ATLETICO TO WIN 1-0- 35/1

SKYBET: DRAW AND UNDER 2.5 MATCH GOALS- 9/4

SKYBET: ATLETICO TO WIN TO NIL- 21/10

SKYBET: TORRES TO SCORE AND FT DRAW- 12/1

 

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