1 week Ago By [email protected] (Alex Hankin)
Bet that normal service is thrillingly resumed at Anfield today. Liverpool welcome Chelsea (4.30pm) in a mouthwatering game that makes the Nations League seem dull and pointless, more so.
The Reds had a good break, with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk both gifted early returns. The final member of Anfield’s big three countdown-contract stars, Trent Alexander-Arnold , had two injury-free games and scored a blinder. It’s more than 30 years since a Liverpool player scored a direct free-kick for England, which feels like a huge number until you start to think about it.
Don’t imagine Crouchy had many deadball pops from 25 yards for a start. It seems that Trent’s worldie won him £500 from Jack Grealish . He is not allowed to roll that up on Salah ‘anytime scorer’, but there’s no law against us backing the little fella, even if it feels like theft at these prices.
He’s struck in 27 out of his past 40 Anfield runs, a 1/2 return. In their past three top-flight games Chelsea’s defence has let 46 shots happen – that’s a green light for Salah 13/10 (Unibet) ‘anytime scorer’ and ‘anytime assist’ at 5/1 (Bet365). The nation’s weekend accas will be on the chopping block in the earlier kick-off as Manchester City head to Wolves (2pm) – it’s hard to make a case for anything except an away win, but for a 2/7 ‘banker’ it’s still feels a bit squeaky-fun time.
Maybe Wolves’ fragile defence can lend a hand? They hired the club’s first ever set-piece coach in the summer. They have just fired him. Where that leaves things now is anyone’s guess.
It surely can’t hurt the prospects of dead-ball maestro Bernardo Silva ‘anytime assist’ at 3/1 (Hills), which comes with the ‘Impact sub’ safety net. New England boss Thomas Tuchel probably won’t be at Hull (3pm) to see Sunderland ’s Three Lions prospect Jobe Bellingham. The attack-minded teen has ‘Jobe’ on his shirt in a futile attempt to deflect comparisons with brother Jude – but he’s no shrinking violet.
Jobe likes a poke from range, and ‘Bellingham scores from outside box’ is a live one at 22/1 (Bet365). In a real telly treat back Spanish superteen Lamine Yamal ‘OVER 0.5 assists’ at 11/4 (Boyle) as Barcelona welcome a limited Sevilla side (8pm, ITV4).
Last week: Winner at 4.7/1.
