All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Southampton vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

by ·Comments Off on Southampton vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

Southampton vs Bournemouth
Friday 20th September 2019
Premier League, St Mary’s Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Premier League- Kick Off: 20:00 BST

Premier League matchday six kicks begins on Friday night where Southampton host Bournemouth at St Mary’s.

The host come into Friday nights fixture in a good vein of form. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are unbeaten in their last four matches and sit 10th in the Premier League following their 1-0 win at Sheffield United. Bournemouth too come into this fixture on the back of a win. Sundays 3-1 triumph over Everton means the Cherries now occupy 9th place, just one above Friday nights opponents.

The most recent meeting between these two sides dates to April, and what a thriller it was. Callum Wilson struck twice, with his second coming in the 87th minute for Bournemouth to ensure a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw. Wilson to score twice this time round is priced at 12/1 on SkyBet. Wilson has netted three times already this season, including a brace in last weekends win over Everton.

Southampton’s summer signing Moussa Djenepo has enjoyed a bright start to life in the Premier League. The £15 million-pound signing from Standard Liege has scored twice in three appearances for the saints, including the wonderful solo goal which sealed all three points against Sheffield United. The Mali international is priced at 9/4 on SkyBet to score anytime.

Southampton come into the fixture priced at EVENS on SkyBet to grab all three points. The Saints only home defeat so far this season came from Liverpool in August on matchday two. Their other home fixture ended in a 1-1 stalemate with Manchester United, which was celebrated emphatically by Hasenhuttl as his side were reduced to ten men with just short of half an hour remaining. Bournemouth’s only points on the road this season came in the 2-1 victory against Aston Villa. The Cherries were thumped 3-1 at Leicester in their last away game and will be hoping for a more positive outcome on Friday evening. Bournemouth are priced at 5/2 on SkyBet to get the win.

Chris Kavanagh is the man in the middle for Friday nights encounter. Kavanagh has appeared three times in the Premier League this season had has issued three yellow cards. With this considered, I would recommend a maximum of 30+ booking points for this fixture.

This fixture will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League with kick off scheduled to take place at 20:00 BST.

Prediction – Southampton 1-1 Bournemouth

Suggested Tips – Southampton vs Bournemouth – (BET365)

  • Correct Score – Draw – 1-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Southampton vs Bournemouth – (SKYBET)

  • Callum Wilson and Che Adams both to score – 7/1
  • Scorecast: Che Adams first goalscorer and 1-1 Draw – 25/1.
  • A penalty taken – 5/4
  • BTTS and under 3.5 goals in the match – 9/4
  • Half time/full time – Bournemouth/Draw – 14/1

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City – Match Preview

by ·Comments Off on Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City – Match Preview

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City
Wednesday 18th September 2019
UEFA Champions League, 

Live on BT Sport 3 – Kick-Off: 20:00 GMT

Manchester City begin their 2019/20 UEFA Champions League campaign with a trip to Ukraine as they face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s side enter this year’s competition as the bookmaker’s favourites to claim European silverware, with SkyBet offering odds of 10/3 for City to be crowned Kings of Europe.

Manchester City were joined by Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Tuesday’s opponents Shakhtar Donetsk in Group C following the draw, with most, if not all predicting City to cruise through the group with ease.

Their opponents currently sit at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League and boast a 100% record with seven wins from seven matches played. Donetsk defeated Zorya in their last fixture, winning 4-3 on home soil.

This will be the fifth time these two sides have met on the European stage, with City winning 4/5 affairs with relative ease. Their most recent meeting was in November 2018, where Guardiola’s side ran out 6-0 winners. Donetsk’s only ever victory over City came in the 2017/18 Champions League Group stage, where the Ukrainian side won 2-1, and in doing so ending City’s 29-match unbeaten run at the time. Shakhtar are priced at 8/1 on SkyBet to win on Wednesday night.

City come into Wednesday night’s clash following Saturday’s unexpected defeat to Premier League new boys Norwich City. A defeat which raised questions of City’s defensive capabilities in light of the injury sustained by Aymeric Laporte in the win over Brighton prior to the International break.  Will Guardiola stick with the centre-back pairing of Otamendi and Stones after their showing against The Canaries.

I, like most am expecting a strong response from Manchester City following their weekend defeat, and so too will their manager, Pep Guardiola. He and his City side strive for perfection, and three points will be the priority for City. However, as Shakhtar have shown already this season they are a side in a good run of form and will pose a threat, and potentially look to target the centre of that Manchester City backline. Despite Shakhtar’s strong start to their league campaign, I can only see a City win on Wednesday night.

This fixture will be shown live on BT Sport 3 with kick off scheduled for 20:00 BST.

Prediction – Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Manchester City

Scorecast – Sergio Aguero, 3-1 Manchester City – 22/1 (SkyBet)

Suggested Tips – Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City (SkyBet)

  • Manchester City to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 – 3/1 – 10/3.
  • Scorecast – Aguero to score first and Manchester City to win 3-1 – 22/1.
  • Player Stats RequestABets – Aguero 1+ shots on target & De Bruyne 1+ shots on target, 5+ Manchester City corners and 20+ match booking points – 11/8. (NAP).
  • Both Players to Score – Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero – 3/1.
  • Time of First Goal – 0-10 minutes – 5/2.
  • Total Goals – Manchester City to score 4 or more goals – 3/1.

Markets Updated at 18:00 BST on Wednesday 18th September 2019.

Napoli vs Liverpool – Match Preview

by ·Comments Off on Napoli vs Liverpool – Match Preview

Napoli vs Liverpool
Tuesday 17th September 2019
UEFA Champions League, 

Live on BT Sport 2 – Kick-Off: 20:00 GMT

Champions of Europe Liverpool begin the defence of their Champions League crown with a trip to Italy as they face Napoli on Tuesday evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s side enter the 2019/20 Champions League campaign as the reigning Champions, following their 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Madrid in June.

However, Tuesday nights fixture is by no means an easy task for Liverpool. These two sides faced each other in the group stage of last year’s Champions League, where Carlo Ancelotti’s side were 1-0 winners thanks to a last-minute goal from Lorenzo Insigne. Both these two sides are the favourites to make it through Group E, a group which is completed by Genk and Red Bull Salzburg.

Liverpool extended their unbeaten 100% record in the Premier League this season following Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, a match where a dazzling display from Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino made the headlines. The Brazilian to score, and Liverpool to win is priced at 16/5 on SkyBet.

Napoli on the other hand have enjoyed a positive beginning to this years Serie A campaign. Gli Azzurri have picked up two wins from three matches played, their only defeat coming in the last minute in the 4-3 defeat to Juventus. In the three matches played in the league, Napoli have scored nine goals, and goals are expected on Tuesday night. Napoli to score 2+ goals is priced at 5/4 on SkyBet.

The last time these two sides met was in December of last year, where a Mo Salah goal was enough to send Liverpool through to the knockout stage of the Champions League at Napoli’s expense. A result which proved to be so pivotal in The Red’s Champions League triumph. A repeat scoreline is priced at 9/1 on SkyBet.

It is so important to get off the mark as early as possible in Champions League football. Both sided will fancy their chances to win but will be wary of what defeat could do to their qualification chances, even this early on. Napoli have been involved in two 4-3 goal fests already this season and have proved that they can score just as easily as they can concede. Against this Liverpool side, with the attacking prowess it possesses, they cannot afford to leave themselves so open and exposed. I fancy Liverpool to get the win, and I am expecting goals too.

Napoli vs Liverpool will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 2 and kicks off at 20:00 BST.

Prediction – Napoli 1-3 Liverpool.

Suggested Tips – Napoli vs Liverpool (SKYBET)

  • Sadio Mane to score first and either draw 1-1 or Liverpool to win 2-1 – 25/1
  • Both teams to score in both halves – yes – 13/2
  • Liverpool and over 2.5 goals in the match – 21/10
  • BTTS in both halves and 2+ corners each team in each half – 40/1
  • Over 1.5 goals, 3+ Napoli corners, 5+ Liverpool corners and 10+ booking points each team – 2/1
  • Mane to score, 5+ corners each team and Fabinho to be carded – 25/1

Markets Updated at 18:00 BST on Monday 16th September 2019.