All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Man City vs Shakhtar – Champions League Group F Preview

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Man City vs Shakhtar – Champions League Preview – The Champions League resumes on Tuesday night, with Manchester City hosting Shakhtar Donetsk. A win for City would leave them with six points from two games, leaving them in pole position in Group F.

With the Citizens in great form in the league, many are feeling confident about them replicating that success in Europe. City currently sit top of the Premier League and are unbeaten this season in all competitions. Having beaten Liverpool, Watford and Crystal Palace in the last three weeks with an aggregate score line of 16-0, Pep Guardiola’s men are in rampant form.

With Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus taking a lot of the limelight, few have noticed the goal scoring form of Raheem Sterling. The Englishman has started this season in fine fashion, netting five goals and three in his last three games. Last season Sterling started the season in a similar vein of form but his performances dropped off. This year he will be hoping he can consistently produce these displays, and have his best season yet in a City shirt.

Sterling has been in good form for City Photo Credit: skysports.com

 

Another player who has improved from last season is John Stones. City have only conceded two goals in the league, and that is largely down to the Englishman. His early season partnership with Vincent Kompany looked mutually beneficial, with Stones growing and learning from his more experienced Belgian partner. However, even in Kompany’s recent absence, Stones has maintained the same form next to Nicolas Otamendi, which can only be positive for City and England fans. The faith shown by Guardiola to persist and improve Stones is now beginning to show, with City reaping the rewards of Guardiola’s patience.

Whilst City will be clear favourites, Shakhtar have proved to be tough opposition. Having beaten Napoli last time out, they have shown they are clear rivals to win the group. In the Ukrainian Premier League they sit top, having accumulated 25 points from their opening ten matches. They’re currently on a nine game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning eight of those games. With them having the potential to move in to top spot, they may prove to be City’s biggest test yet of the season.

If City want to be successful, they will need to keep Facundo Ferreyra quiet. The Argentinian was the club’s top scorer last year with 14 goals, and has already grabbed himself five this season. If City play to their potential, I think they’ll grab the win. The irrepressible form of Aguero, Jesus and Sterling should be enough for them, and leave them in top spot.

 

Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

 

SKYBET: CITY TO WIN 3-0- 7/1

SKYBET: AGUERO AND JESUS TO BOTH SCORE-6/4

SKYBET: STERLING TO SCORE FIRST AND CITY TO WIN 3-1- 40/1

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

SKYBET: FERREYRA TO SCORE IN 90 MINS- 9/4

SKYBET: CITY TO WIN AND BTTS- 11/10

Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United – Match Preview

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Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United – Match Preview – The Steel City derby returns after a six year absence. Sheffield Wednesday host neighbours Sheffield United at Hillsborough, with both teams desperate to claim bragging rights over the other.

After a disappointing start to the season, Wednesday’s form of recent has improved. After losing their opening fixture 1-0 away at Preston, the club find themselves unbeaten in their last seven league games. Last week saw them collect seven points from a possible nine, with only a last-minute equaliser by Cardiff preventing them taking maximum points. Even so, home wins over Nottingham Forest and Brentford, plus a point at the Cardiff City Stadium is not to be sniffed at.

The Owls currently sit in ninth place, just two points outside the play-offs. If they can turn some of their draws in to wins, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t secure a third consecutive top six finish, and challenge for automatic promotion.

Gary Hooper has been in great form for Sheffield Wednesday so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Wednesday’s recent upturn in form is largely due to the growing partnership of strikers Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher. In the last 15 games the pair have started together, they have managed 16 goals, which is an impressive return. The Owls are also unbeaten in the last ten they have started together, winning nine of those matches. Hooper in particular has been in standout form. The striker has four goals in his last four games, and Wednesday haven’t lost when he has played since November 2016. Whilst the former Celtic and Norwich man missed five months through injury last year, this stat underlines his importance to the side, linking up the midfield and attack whilst providing goals.

Billy Sharp has picked up from where he left off from last season and will be hopeful of being fit for the derby Photo Credit: skysports.com

United have had a fantastic start to the season on their return to the division. After coming up as League One winners last year, Chris Wilder’s men have taken 15 points from their first eight games. Goals from Billy Sharp have been vital, with the Blades’ striker picking up where he left from last year to fire them up the table. New signing Clayton Donaldson has also got off to the best possible start, bagging a brace on his debut, in their 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

They do come in to this game with a number of injury concerns. Both Sharp and Donaldson are doubtful, whilst former Wednesday striker Leon Clarke is also carrying a knock. Should they not be available, United can turn to Ched Evans to lead the line. The striker started in last week’s defeat to Norwich, and is yet to score in the league for the club he re-joined in the summer.

In what is expected to be fierce, tense and a hard-contested game, I think Wednesday will win. Whilst it might be a scrappy game, with challenges flying in, I believe one moment of quality could be the difference. Wednesday have the better players, and with Hooper in such good form, I can see him settling this match and sending the Owls’ fans home happy.

Prediction: Wednesday 1-0 United

 

SKYBET: HOOPER TO SCORE FIRST AND WEDNESDAY TO WIN 1-0- 20/1

SKYBET: WEDNESDAY TO WIN 1-0, 2-0 OR 2-1- 15/8

SKYBET: BTTS AND WEDNESDAY TO WIN- 100/30

SKYBET: SHARP AND FLETCHER TO BOTH SCORE- 13/2

SKYBET: WEDNESDAY TO WIN FROM BEHIND- 11/1

SKYBET: DONALDSON TO SCORE FIRST AND UNITED TO WIN 2-1- 60/1

Leicester City vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Leicester City vs Liverpool – Match Preview – Liverpool take another trip to Leicester after their midweek cup defeat at the King Power Stadium. Liverpool will be looking for their first win in four games, as they hope to avenge their defeat on Tuesday night.

After yet another disappointing result, the pressure is beginning to mount on Jurgen Klopp. Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup only further underlined the problems in the Liverpool squad. The club’s failure to sign a centre back, when it was clear for all to see that they needed one, has been under much scrutiny. Dejan Lovren’s error in the Champions League highlighted the Reds lack of defensive quality, and they have now conceded ten goals in their last four games.

Okazaki scored in the 2-0 win over Liverpool midweek in the Carabao Cup Photo Credit: skysports.com

Phillipe Coutinho started his second consecutive game of the season, as the Brazilian looks to build up his match sharpness. Since returning, the playmaker has struggled to recapture last season’s form, and will be under pressure to prove he is still giving his all for the team. Whilst Mane is suspended, Countinho will slot back in to his left sided spot, but once the Malian returns, he could find himself with a real fight to keep his place in the team. The form of Salah, Mane and Firmino has been the main highlight this season, and it is unknown whether Klopp would be willing to play all four of them.

Can Coutinho rekindle his great form from last season?Photo Credit: skysports.com

After an incredibly tough start to their Premier League campaign, Leicester will be buoyed by their midweek victory. The match also gave fringe players such as Islam Slimani and Demari Gray a chance to impress, with the former scoring a sensational goal to seal the Foxes’ win. Whilst the victory may have surprised some, I saw it coming. Leicester have been playing well, and have been unfortunate in a lot of games. The table gives a false reading for them at the moment, and I think they’re due a good result in the Premier League.

With Liverpool losing at the King Power in midweek, it stretches Leicester’s home winning run against them. The Foxes haven’t lost again the Reds’ at home since 2014, with them winning the last three games there. I can see another win coming at the weekend, with Liverpool struggling to show any signs of recovery.

Prediction: Leicester 2-1 Liverpool

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE LEICESTER 2-1- 12/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 MATCH GOALS- 1/1

SKYBET: FIRMINO TO SCORE FIRST AND 1-1 DRAW- 25/1

SKYBET: OKAZAKI AND SALAH TO BOTH SCORE- 8/1

SKYBET: COUTINHO TO SCORE A BRACE- 16/1

SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN BOTH HALVES- 12/1