Aston Villa vs Liverpool
FreeToday’s featured game is the English Premier League encounter between Aston Villa and Liverpool. Aston Villa have had a great season so far but suffered a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Arsenal last match. Visitors Liverpool managed to barely overcome Wolverhampton Wanderers last match and have been unconvincing all season long.
Aston Villa have only been beaten once at home in nine games this season, winning an impressive six times and averaging nearly two goals per game. They average conceding less than a goal per game at home and have won four out of their last five games, giving them some strong momentum ahead of this game. Villa play very quick counter-attacking football and cause problems for the vast majority of sides that they face. They appear to have an additional dimension to them this season somehow with their new-found ability to keep clean sheets. The 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last game will have hurt them, no doubt about it, but they’re a strong side mentally and have far too much in their arsenal to not cause a meager Liverpool defence problems tonight.
Visitors Liverpool have already lost five out of nine away games this season. They don’t score enough goals on the road and tend to leak goals too easily. A 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth was the result of their last away game, a result which means Liverpool have lost two out of their last four games. Although they now have their two talismans – Gerrard and Torres – back to full fitness, Liverpool still have underlying problems that really should be exposed by a good side like Aston Villa.
Villa enter this game knowing they can beat Liverpool, not only through the confidence that Martin O’Neill gives them but also because they won 3-1 at Anfield earlier on this season. Villa are good enough to do it and I’ll be quietly surprised if they don’t against a Liverpool side with a lot of problems.
Verdict: Aston Villa to win at 7/4.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
Bolton Wanderers vs Hull – home win at 5/6.
Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson has a strange habit with his side. Whenever his job is particularly under threat he tends to go on a four-game unbeaten run before sinking to the doldrums again. I don’t know how or why this occurs but it just keeps happening. His job was under threat three games ago and Bolton have gone unbeaten in all of those games, scoring an impressive seven goals along the way. Bolton concede goals too easily generally so the fact that they’re scoring goals themselves is of great comfort to them and they’ve gathered considerable momentum from their past three games as a result. Bolton know they can win this game and that they have to in what is frankly a relegation six-pointer game.
Visitors Hull City enter this game on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home by Manchester United. Although the result is far from shameful, and it certainly did flatter Manchester United, I think Hull City are going to be really demoralised from this. Boss Phil Brown says otherwise and fair play to him but I’ll explain why and let you make up your own mind. Hull City played arguably the best they’d played all season against Manchester United. They were first to the ball every time, in their faces, strong, quick and were facing an under-strength and out-of-sorts Manchester United side. Despite that, Hull still managed to lose convincingly. It might just be me but if you try harder than ever to get something and you fail then it really knocks your confidence because there’s nothing else you can do, is there? Hull have got a very tough game tonight and I think they’re going to be tired entering it from their intense efforts last game. Hull have already lost seven out of nine away games this season, failing to win any of their games and nearly three goals per away game on average. This record will be greeted with joy by a seemingly rampant Bolton Wanderers who really should score a couple of goals here. Hull’s goalscoring record on the road is woeful too with an average of just over a goal per every two away games.
Although this will be a tense, hard-fought game between two battling sides, yuo have to feel there’s value in the home win for the momentum side against their tired opponents who have lost three out of their last four games.
Verdict: Bolton Wanderers to win at 5/6.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk vs Sint-Truiden (5) 2-1
Cercle Brugge vs Standard de Liege (6) 0-1
English Premier League:
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (7) over 2.5 goals
Bolton Wanderers vs Hull City (7) 2-1
International Friendlies:
Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait (8) 2-0
Tunisia vs Ivory Coast (7) 1-1
Scottish Premier League:
Aberdeen vs Falkirk (6) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!