All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

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Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Saturday 14th April, 5:30pm
FA Premier League, Anfield

BT Sport 1 – Kick-Off: 17:30 GMT

After conquering Manchester City and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, Liverpool return to Premier League action against Bournemouth in the pursuit of finishing second.

Jurgen Klopp’s team were a massive part of a phenomenal round of Champions League action. After winning 3-0 at Anfield, The Reds finished the job with a 2-1 win at The Etihad to topple the favourites Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate.

Mo Salah, as always was instrumental – scoring the vital away goal on Tuesday to put the result beyond doubt. That was his 38th goal of the campaign and the Egyptian is breaking all sorts of club records.

Salah’s 29 Premier League goals have helped to all but secure Liverpool’s Champions League place for next season. Klopp’s side are 3rd with 67 points after 33 games, ten ahead of the flailing Chelsea in 5th. March’s loss to United has given Mourinho’s side the impetus to finish in 2nd, but the race isn’t over yet.  Tottenham Hotspurs’ league-leading form has also seen them catch Liverpool’s points tally, with an additional game in hand.

Consecutive top-four finishes and a real pursuit for the Champions League will constitute progress and an excellent season. Moreover, the attractive manner in which Liverpool have played their football will be something fans can be proud of. Liverpool’s tally of 75 league goals and scoring two+ in 21 games is only bettered by City (90 and 26).

Bournemouth have truly established themselves as a mid-table side. After flirting with the relegation battle, wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke propelled them from danger’s reach.

Eddie Howe’s side are now 11th in the table, just behind Newcastle in the top half on goal-difference. One win in seven will not please Howe, but it feels as if the job is done for this season. The sheer number of teams between them and 18th place all but secures their Premier League status.

It seems vastly unlikely that The Cherries form will improve after this fixture. Liverpool’s loss to United was their only league defeat since January. Perhaps more pertinent, is that Klopp’s team remain the division’s only unbeaten side at home. The Reds have scored in their last seven at Anfield too.

Chris Kavanagh takes charge of this one, for his 13th Premier League appearance of the campaign. In the previous 12 he has given out 40 yellow cards and two reds, ranking him 6th of 19 in the league for average booking points per game, at 37.5.

Bournemouth have famously defied the odds to beat Liverpool before, coming from 3-1 to win 4-3 last season. However, this seems like a very different Liverpool side, one that is relentless in their quest to improve. The Reds may rotate after an exhausting week, but will still have too much for their South Coast opponents.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth will be televised live in the UK on BT Sports 1 with kick-off at 17:30 GMT.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth

Suggested tips – Liverpool vs Bournemouth – (BET365):

  • Correct score, Liverpool to win 3-0 – (link no longer available).
  • Roberto Firminho to score first – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Liverpool vs Bournemouth – (SKYBET):

  • Popular RequestABet – Van Dijk to score a header and 5+ corners each team – 80/1.
  • Price Boost – Sadio Mane to score first and Liverpool to win 3-0 – 50/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Mane & Wilson to score and Henderson & Ake to be carded – 200/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 14th April 2018 @10:30 GMT. Markets unlikely to be updated prior to kick off.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews for this upcoming weekends FA Premier League and SkyBet Championship action.

Preston vs Derby County – Match Preview

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Preston vs Derby County
Monday 2nd April 2018
Sky Bet Championship, Deepdale

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 12:45 GMT

Preston vs Derby County – The race for the play-offs intensifies with Derby County looking to bounce back from their humiliating 4-1 loss at home to Sunderland against fellow promotion hopefuls Preston.

Even withstanding Derby’s recent poor form, a three-goal defeat to bottom of the table was far from expected. Gary Rowett has a task on his hands to turn it around it and cling on to their top-six position.

Nearing the final stages of the season, it couldn’t be tighter in the race for promotion. There are just two points between the two teams, in 10th and 5th respectively.

The Rams’ run without a win has now extended to eight games, creating a real sense of freefall. Had it not been for the excellent form earlier in the season the play-offs would surely be beyond reach. Such as the nature of The Championship.

Preston have once again done well to put themselves in contention. They have generally been inconsistent all season but keep racking up enough wins to be in with a shot. Much of that has been down to their stellar away form, which is the third best in the division.

At home it is a different story, where The Lilywhites have only won seven of their 19 fixtures. Additionally, Alex Neil’s side have also conceded in their last eight matches at Deepdale. Derby have only lost three away matches all term, but with their woeful form it makes it a rather difficult one to call.

Another facet causing this to be close is that it pits two of the league’s better defences against each other. At least, in terms of matches in which they have conceded two or more. Only 2nd place Cardiff have conceded two or more in less games (seven) than the two sides (eight).

Championship top scorer Matej Vydra got his first goal in five last time out. The form of the 18-goal Czech Republic international could be crucial in deciding this game, and Derby’s season.

Preston also come into this one on the back of a 4-1 drubbing, at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday. Meaning this game has all the markings of a tight affair with both sides desperate not to concede the advantage, and three crucial points, to the other. The Championship is never dull.

Tony Harrington will be the man taking charge of this one in his 26th Championship fixture of the season. In the previous 25 the Englishman has given out 85 yellow cards and four reds at a middling average of 38 booking points per game.

Harrington may be on hand to add to that total, given Preston’s worst-in-the-league disciplinary record. Neil’s men have received a massive 89 bookings and four red cards. This puts Preston clear of the field with an average of 26.1 booking points per match. For comparison, Bolton are the nearest challengers for that crown with 23.4.

Prediction: Preston 1-1 Derby

A result neither side will be pleased about, Derby’s solid away form will keep them from defeat despite their slump.

Preston vs Derby County will be televised live on Sky Sports Football HD in the UK with kick off at 12:45 GMT.

Suggested tips – Preston vs Derby County (BET365):

  • Correct Score – 1-1 Draw – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Derby / Draw – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Preston vs Derby County (SKYBET):

  • Price Boost -Matej Vydra to score a brace – 16/1.
  • @FootyAccums – Maguire & Vydra to score, 4+ corners each team and 40+ match booking pts – 16/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – 33/1 to 66/1 –  Preston to win, BTTS, 5+ corners each team and 30+ Preston booking points – 33/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – up to 10/1 – Over 1.5 goals, 3+ corners each team and 30+ match booking pts – 13/8.
  • RequestABet Specials – up to 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ Corners Each Team, 10+ match booking points each – 2/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – up to 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 6/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 1 April 2018 @23:45 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from this weeks FA Premier League and SkyBet Championship action.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Saturday 31st March 2018
FA Premier League, Selhurst Park

Live on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick-Off: 12:30 GMT

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – The international break is over and the Premier League gets back underway as Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace with both sides needing victory in opposing sides of the table.

Barring the defeat against rivals Manchester United, Liverpool were in scintillating form prior to the international break.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have won ten of their last 14 in the Premier League by simply blowing the opposition away. Only Manchester City have scored two or more in more games (24) than The Reds (20) this season.

Much of that has been down to the form of Mo Salah, highlighted with the four-goal haul against Watford. The Egyptian King, as he’s affectionately known by the Liverpool faithful, has destroyed the league upon his return to England.

Remarkably, he already has 28 Premier League goals, with seven games of the season still left to play. The record in a 38-game season is 31 (held by Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Shearer and Luis Suarez). That feat, alongside the seemingly sewn up Golden Boot, is well within his laser-like sights.

Salah, and Liverpool, require nothing but victory as the battle for a Champions League spot nears its closing stages. In 3rd, The Reds have 63 points, with two points separating both Manchester United in 2nd, and Tottenham Hotspur in 4th. Most importantly, however, they are seven clear of Chelsea, although having played a game more.

Palace have scuppered Liverpool’s hopes on more than one occasion. Most notably, ‘Crystanbul’, where Liverpool blew a three-goal lead and drew when chasing their maiden Premier League title in 2013/14.

In fact, The Eagles have only lost to Liverpool in three of their last eight league meetings, winning four. That is a great record given the comparative size of the two clubs in question and will surely inspire hope.

Hope is exactly what is needed for what is shaping up to be an almighty relegation scrap. Palace ended their horrible seven-match winless run last time out, beating fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town 2-0 in a crucial game.

Now, there are just seven points between Brighton (34) in 12th and Stoke (27) in 19th. Palace are somewhere in the middle, in 16th with 30 points on the board, hovering ominously over the drop-zone.

The man in the middle will be Neil Swarbrick for this televised match. The stats say that there shouldn’t be too much action in this one. Palace are yet to receive a red card, and no side averages fewer booking points per game than Liverpool (12.7).

Swarbrick himself dishes out a very low (16th out of 19) average of 25.9 booking points per match. In fact, he also hasn’t given anyone their marching orders this term.

Roy Hodgson will need a trademark defensive display to get anything out of this game. Something that hasn’t really appeared in his Crystal Palace team this season. They have only kept six clean sheets all season – just Stoke and Bournemouth have less (5). Against the overwhelming trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and the aforementioned Salah, that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool will be televised live in the UK from 12:30 PM GMT on Sky Sports Football HD.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool

Suggested tips – Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – (BET365):

  • Correct score, Liverpool Win 2-0 – (link no longer available).
  • Clean Sheet – Liverpool – Yes – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – (SKYBET):

  • @FootyAccums RequestABet – Firmino to score, BTTS, 3+ corners each team and 30+ match booking pts – 7/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – 33/1 to 66/1 – Salah to score, Liverpool to win and Van Aanholt & Sakho to be carded – 40/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – 33/1 to 66/1 – Salah to score, Liverpool to win, BTTS, 4+ Palace corners, 6+ Liverpool corners and 20+ Palace booking pts – 16/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Liverpool to win, Benteke 2+ shots on target and 10+ match corners- 13/2.
  • RequestABet Specials – 80/1 and above – Mane to score, Liverpool 3-1 and Robertson & Alexander-Arnold to be carded – 350/1.
  • Scorecast Boost – Roberto Firmino to score first and Liverpool to win 2-0 – 45/1.
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 – Over 1.5 goals, 3+ corners each team and 30+ match booking pts – 6/4.
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 –  Liverpool to win, over 1.5 goals, 3+ corners each team and 20+ match booking pts – 13/8.

Odds and markets last updated on 31 March 2018 @10:45 GMT. Markets may be updated prior to kick off so keep checking back before 12:30 GMT for updates.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from this weekends FA Premier League and SkyBet Championship action.