PREMIER LEAGUE SUNDAY: The Striker previews MANCHESTER UNITED v LIVERPOOL and ASTON VILLA v TOTTENHAM both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
MANCHESTER UNITED V LIVERPOOL
3.30pm We have a blockbuster Super Sunday from the Premier League this week on Betdaq Betting Exchange! We have two huge fixtures, and we kick off the day with one of English football’s most iconic rivalries as Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford. For years now, Liverpool have been the dominant side in this fixture but for the first time in quite a while, Manchester United come into the game as the favourites. The home win is trading 2.4 with Liverpool 3.0 and the draw is 3.85 at the time of writing. While both sides look pretty much certain of a Champions League spot given their five spots available this season, there’s still always so much to play for between these two. Michael Carrick has overseen a remarkable transformation since taking the reins at Old Trafford. The mood around the club has shifted dramatically; compare that to Anfield where Arne Slot has been having a tough second season in charge. It all went so smoothly for him last season – Liverpool were celebrating nearly this time last season – this season has been a battle though. Summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have shown plenty of quality, consistency has eluded them. A Champions League Quarter-Final exit to PSG compounded the frustration given they were beaten easily; there hasn’t been much to shout about for Liverpool fans this season.
United obviously come into this fixture in a different place. The squad is full of confidence; most of the talk is around Michael Carrick getting the job next season. Bruno Fernandes has been the engine of it all – the Portuguese captain now has 19 Premier League assists this season and needs just one more to equal the all time single season record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. That kind of form from a captain drags everyone else with him. Casemiro, set to leave in the summer when his contract expires, has been exceptional in recent weeks! United do tick a lot of boxes coming into this game but you can see why we have an open betting heat. Both sides have the exact same average xG created of 1.74 – Liverpool have an average xG conceded of 1.3 with United just behind them on 1.35 – both sides in the top five defensively. I wouldn’t have a very strong opinion in the match odds market, but we should see goals here – there always tends to be drama when these two meet! Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.56 and that looks nice value; both of them are creating a lot and they’ve also both been sloppy at the back at times too. We should have an entertaining clash here!
The Striker Says:
Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.56 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLMuLi
ASTON VILLA V TOTTENHAM
7pm We round off Sunday’s Premier League action with a fascinating fixture at Villa Park as the unusual time of 7pm – we don’t usually have this kick off slot on a Sunday evening! Aston Villa host Spurs in a massively important game for the away side given they stayed in the relegation zone last weekend even with a win over Wolves. Unai Emery’s Villa are obviously in the Europa League Semi-Final so they’ve been given a bit extra time to recover from Thursday night. Spurs will be hoping that Emery decides to rest some of his players here given the fixture falls in between the two legs of the Europa League Semi-Final. He could easily do that too; Villa have an eight point cushion on Brighton coming into the weekend so they look in a good spot for Champions League football next season. Obviously Spurs are fighting for their Premier League lives – Roberto De Zerbi finally got his first Premier League win last weekend but it came at a devastating cost with Xavi Simons stretchered off at Molineux with a confirmed ACL rupture, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Spurs have a pretty big injury list now and time is running out.
We could easily see some market movement on the team news here given this tie lands in the middle of the Europa League Semi-Final, so watch out for that. At the time of writing, Aston Villa are the favourites at 2.18 with Spurs 3.55 and the draw is 3.75. Obviously the 2.18 on Villa is a tempting lay – surely their full focus has to be on the Europa League at the moment – but Spurs hardly inspire confidence. Their average xG created of 1.32 is bang average; the low end of mid-table. Their average xG conceded of 1.44 is basically the same level. Granted, not relegation figures but given all the drama at the club, things have just ended up this way. Villa actually have the exact same average xG conceded, and although they have been over-performing this season, their average xG created of 1.47 is much better than Spurs. I couldn’t put anyone off a Villa lay, but I just have no faith this in Spurs squad. De Zerbi spoke passionately after the Wolves win about the spirit in the squad, but they still looked pretty average. I feel this is a game for small stakes, and the best option looks to be Over 2.5 goals at 1.76. Spurs have been all over the place at the back at times, and then of course if Villa rotate, we should see an open game with chances at both ends.
The Striker Says:
One point win Over 2.5 goals at 1.76 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PLAsTo
