Liverpool v Chelsea. Champions League. Again. 

Should be an easy one betting-wise; they met in the semis last year and both play in the Premier League.

A handful of bookies are undecided as to who’ll progress through this tie, offering 5/6 about both teams.

Corals report that they’ve seen equal amounts of money for both sides, although Chelsea are odds-against to qualify on Betfair.

Backing a team at 5/6 isn’t going to make you rich, and Wednesday’s match betting doesn’t look particularly rewarding. Liverpool are best priced at 11/8 with Paddy Power to beat Chelsea at Anfield, the draw is available at 11/5 and an away victory at 11/4.

Liverpool are 11/4 with Skybet to make the final and 11/5 to get knocked out in the semis like last year.

The sides last met at the same venue in February, with Liverpool winning in the last few minutes thanks to a Torres double. Florent Malouda thinks Chelsea are better, but the same correct score can be backed at 9/1. 

Torres is 10/1 with Paddy Power to score 2 goals or more.

In such a tight encounter, my preference is with the 0-0 scoreline, which usually offers cracking value. Boylesports are the only firm going 7/1 about No Goalscorer, which gives you room for the own goal nightmare.

Remember that Riise scored one in the 94th minute last year. He is no longer with the Reds.

I fancy under 2.5 goals, but 8/15 is a shocking price. Liverpool have scored in each of their last 18 CL matches, so preference would be for the 1-0 home win at 6/1 with Blue Square.

Another juicy price is 4/1 for the draw/draw outcome in the half-time/full-time market.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Liverpool v Chelsea Match Betting 

Liverpool v Chelsea Asian Handicap Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea Correct Score Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea First Goalscorer Betting

Liverpool v Chelsea Half-time/Full-time Betting

AC Milan crashed out the UEFA Cup last night, meaning that 13/2 Man City are the new favourites.

Rafael Benitez was the subject of an enormous gamble this week in the Next Manager to Leave market, backed down from 20/1 to evens (1/1). Skybet went 1/4 that he would no longer be in charge of Liverpool next season.

Kenny Dalglish was well supported in Paddy Power’s Next Liverpool Manager market, but José Mourinho was the 9/2 favourite.

Things change quickly in the betting world, which is why you should keep an eye on bookies.com.

Rick Parry is now leaving his position as Liverpool chief executive at the end of the season, meaning that the power struggle should be over. Benitez is now 1/2 with William Hill to still be in charge next season.

With the title race seemingly over, Liverpool will concentrate on the Champions League, which they are 9/1 to win with Victor Chandler.

Last Sunday, West Brom manager Tony Mowbray was 20/1 in the sack race, but has been very well backed following the 2-0 defeat at Fulham. He is now Sky Bet’s 9/4 favourite.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Next Manager to Leave Betting

UEFA Cup Winner Betting
Champions League Winner Betting

Coral go 8/11 that Ronaldo is still a Manchester United player next year, despite the reports that he has reached a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid this summer. Skybet clearly aren’t worried that he’s taking Spanish lessons, as they quote 4/7 that he plays for United next year. They are best-priced that he leaves this summer at 5/4, a price that may appeal to some.

I don’t have enough information on my side for any of those prices to be worthwhile, but I would think differently perhaps if I was Ronaldo’s Spanish teacher.

The Spanish paper, As, believe that President Ramon Calderon has signed a secret agreement with the player and his agent, Jorge Mendes. The transfer fee has been estimated at £90m, which would break the previous record set by Zidane.

The Portuguese winger was recently named the FIFA Player of the Year to add to his Ballon d’Or. SkyBet go 3/1 about him picking up the FIFA award next year, although I’d rather have my money with the 13/8 favourite, Leo Messi.

For a player to shine throughout the year, you ideally want his club to be performing well at the highest level. There aren’t any major international tournaments this year, so the Champions League will be crucial. 6/1 Torres or 16/1 Gerrard would be cut if Liverpool perform beyond expectations, but I have a feeling that this could be Barcelona’s year.

Fans may be ambitious in expecting their side to deliver a treble, but La Liga (1/20) looks sealed up. They are 7/2 favourites to win the Champions League – the best chance of the non-English clubs. If things get better for Thierry Henry, 50/1 for World Player of the Year could look like a huge price. His problem is the competition up front, such as 33/1 Eto’o.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Next Norwich Manager Betting

January Transfer Window Betting

Next Manager to Go Betting

Premier Leage Winner Betting

Even though Man U are 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, they are now the 6/4 favourites to win the league after Chelsea slipped up at Fulham, where they were 8/13 in the match betting. The title race looks incredibly tight at the moment, with the bookies able to see past Liverpool, still offering 11/4.

Chelsea have been pushed out to 2/1 by several firms, and Arsenal shouldn’t be dismissed at 33/1. The relegation battle looks even closer, with bigger prices available. Betfred go 4/1 about Portsmouth, which is a bigger price than Betfair. Pompey are set to lose several players in the January transfer window, and Tony Adams is Skybet’s 9/4 favourite in the next manager to go market.

Other prices that interest me are 4/1 for Bolton and 7/1 for Newcastle United, although I should’ve taken Ladbrokes’ 8/1 quote yesterday. West Brom have been eased out to 7/20 after a solid win against 10 man Spurs yesterday, who are 14/1 to go down themselves.

Tonight’s match is Manchester United against Middlesbrough, which is televised on Setanta. The home side are hot is the betting at 2/9, with Middlesbrough available at a huge 19/1. Gareth Southgate has recently been cut from 16/1 into 14s to be the next manager to go, as his side are winless in 8.

Since beating Aston Villa, Middlesbrough have lost to the likes of Bolton, Hull, Fulham and Everton. Unfortunately for them, Man U have won their last 6 at Old Trafford and are unbeaten in their last 12 home games. The away win looks highly unlikely tonight, but there may be some value in other markets.

Boro have scored in their last 3 visits to Old Trafford, and you can lay the Man U clean sheet at 1.71 on Betfair. They lost 4-1 in this fixture last year, with Aliadière scoring for the away side, who is 6/1 to net anytime tonight, or 20/1 to score first with Blue Square.

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2009 Premier League Winner Betting

Relegation Betting

Next Manager to Go Betting

Man U v Middlesbrough Match Betting

Man U v Middlesbrough Clean Sheet Betting

Man U v Middlesbrough Anytime Goalscorer Betting

Today’s Premier League action looks difficult from a punting point of view, as I think several matches could end up as draws. Punters are happy to smash into 4/5 Liverpool at Newcastle, because the home team have a number of injury problems. Beye, Viduka and Bassong will all be missing but the 9/2 home side have been on a good run of form recently. Newcastle are now out to 8/1 to be relegated, but won’t appreciate the returns of Mascherano and Torres.

Manchester City are looking to bid for Michael Owen, who is rated as £4-6 million even though his contract is running out at the end of the season. The 29 year old recently said that he wouldn’t leave this January, meaning that punters who took Hill’s generous 13/8 about him still being at Newcastle in February should be chuffed. Owen is best priced at 15/2 to open the scoring against his former club today with Sportingbet.

Other ‘bankers’ today are 2/5 Arsenal against Pompey and 8/13 Chelsea to continue their good away form at Fulham. Elsewhere, 11/10 Villa have been supported for their trip to Hull, and they are 66/1 to win the Premiership.

From a betting point of view, I’d be looking to avoid the clash between 13/8 Blackburn and 15/8 Manchester City. With question marks over both sides, the draw at 12/5 is probably the best bet. Everton v Sunderland also looks difficult, but 4/1 for Ricky Sbragia‘s side looks generous.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing football odds between the top UK bookmakers:

Newcastle v Liverpool Match Betting

Newcastle v Liverpool First Goalscorer Betting

Arsenal v Portsmouth Match Betting

Fulham v Chelsea Match Betting

Blackburn v Man City Match Betting

Everton v Sunderland Match Betting

Next Manager to go Betting

Premier League Winner Betting