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Premier League best bets: Liverpool to heap more misery on Manchester United
Liverpool are the shortest price to beat Manchester United since the Premier League started in 1992.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are 4/7 to inflict more misery on their rivals at Anfield tomorrow, with Manchester United a best-priced 5/1.
Despite those huge odds, it’s difficult to imagine Jose Mourinho’s side coming away with a victory.
With Mourinho at pains to again point out his unhappiness with Manchester United’s lack of activity in the transfer market and his desire to sign a top class centre-back in the January transfer window, there is still an obvious disconnect between the manager and the board, and a heavy defeat against one of their biggest rivals could further jeopardise the relationship.
Mourinho is right in that it is in defence that his team have been struggling. Going into this weekend’s fixtures, they had the worst away defensive record among the top 13 teams in the division and have beaten only Bournemouth, Watford and Burnley on their travels.
They have also conceded in the first half in five of their eight away league matches this season, so another fast start by the home team could easily result in an early breakthrough.
However, Liverpool have problems of their own defensively with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez ruled out with injury. That could force Klopp into either playing with a back three or moving the versatile James Milner to right back.
Liverpool have conceded just one goal at home this season and they will fancy their chances of keeping another, with Romelu Lukaku struggling for form, Alexis Sanchez out injured and Anthony Martial struggling for injuries.
Given Manchester United’s struggles away from Old Trafford, backing Liverpool to be ahead at half time and full time looks good value at 13/10.
Southampton v Arsenal
New Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhutl lost his first match in charge 1-0 away at Cardiff and saw his side achieve just one shot on target against their struggling opponents.
That surely will have worried the Austrian, who will surely continue to tweak personnel and he should turn to Manolo Gabbiadini or Danny Ings to bolster his attacking line-up and attempt to cause Arsenal problems.
Unai Emery’s side may be unbeaten in 22 games in all competitions but they have failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels in the league this season and have a host of defensive problems with Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding ruled out and Sokratis Papastathopoulos suspended.
Those absences suggest that a more positive approach from the home team should pay dividends. The 3/1 about a home win is well worth considering, while 8/15 about both teams to score should definitely be included for punters considering any form of multiples.
Brighton v Chelsea
Brighton are extremely difficult to beat at home and have lost only to Tottenham at the Amex stadium this season.
However, they face a tough test against Chelsea, who rested almost their entire first-choice starting line-up in the Europa League against Mol Vidi on Thursday.
Maurizio Sarri’s side have lost their last two away games against Tottenham and Wolves and will be keen to end that poor run. Despite those defeats, Chelsea still have the third-best away defensive record in the league this season and have beaten teams in the bottom half of the table on the road by an aggreate score of 12-1.
That suggests they should have more than enough to beat a dogged Brighton side who are still missing first-choice centre back Shane Duffy through suspension and it might be worth backing the London side to win to nil at 11/8.