Stoke City Vs Liverpool | Betting Preview

After consecutive losses on the road at the end of December, Liverpool will look to get their away form back on track on Sunday when they travel to the Britania Stadium.

Stoke have surprised a few this season, with Mark Hughes attempting to instil a new brand of football (opposed to the rugby that was played under Tony Pulis) and has managed to, so far, avoid a relegation battle that many predicted.

Liverpool, though, rightly go into the game as favourites. As with most games this season, a lot of the betting will involve Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has scored an incredible 20 goals in just 15 league goals, and he is available at 3/1 to open the scoring. You can get 7/5 on him to score in a Liverpool win, and an interesting bet with BetVictor is for Suarez to be Man of the Match at 5/1.

With Daniel Sturridge back in full training, he comes in to the reckoning in the scoring market. He’s scored an extremely impressive 19 goals in 26 games since his arrival from Chelsea 12 months ago. The bet for him would be to score last, as you can’t imagine him going straight into the starting line up, and that is available at 9/2.

Moving away from the goalscorer markets, you’d have to be fairly confident of a Liverpool win, but the best price of 4/6 doesn’t offer much value.

The Reds have scored in the first half of 14 of their last 15 league games, so Liverpool to be winning at Half Time offers some value at 11/10, as does Liverpool to be winning at half time and then go in to take all 3 points, which is 8/5.

For those of you expecting a fairly comfortable win, Liverpool -1 is 7/4, and -2 is 9/2.

For me though, you have to stick with in-form strikers, so Suarez to score in a Liverpool win @ 7/5 is the bet of the game.

Best of the rest

Sky’s “Saturday Night Football” comes from Old Trafford where Man United host their FA Cup 3rd round conquerors, Swansea.

The Swans were available at 9/1 last weekend, but you’ll find no such price on Saturday, with 13/2 being the best around, and 22/1 being the price for a repeat of the 1-2 scoreline.

David Moyes has been nominated for December manager of the month after 4 wins and a draw, but since the turn of 2014 he has led United to 3 consecutive defeats. Surely, he won’t allow that to become 4.

The downfall for the majority of Man Utd ‘s failings this season has undoubtedly been their increasingly dodgy defence, which makes this game a cert on the “both teams to score” coupon at 10/11. If you fancy both teams to score but United to come out on top, then you’ll get a tempting 23/10 with William Hill. Hernandez was probably the home sides best player in the cup and you can get 5/1 on him following up his goal last weekend by opening the scoring in this game.

The other live game on Sunday comes from Newcastle where the magpies host title favourites Man City. Pellegrini’s men have a sensational record at home this season, emphasised again in midweek with the 6-0 thrashing of the abysmal West Ham.

However, their away form hasn’t been quite as impressive, and that’s what makes this game slightly harder to call. City have conceded 5 goals in their last 3 away games, which include a 1-1 draw against Championship side Blackburn, and having to come from behind late on to beat lowly Fulham, and it’s that less than perfect form that will make Newcastle think they’ve got a chance on Sunday, and they’re available to back at 9/2.

If Newcastle are to get a result, you’d imagine Loic Remy will have to have a good game. The Frenchman has scored 10 goals in 18 games since joining Newcastle on loan, and he is available at a tempting 8/1 to net first.

Alvaro Negredo is widely considered to be the best signing of the summer, and enhanced his growing reputation with a fine hat trick in midweek. He is 4/1 to score first.

A game that might not be as clear to call as some think then. Although I’d fancy City to take all three points, I think Newcastle will provide a real test, which is why Newcastle on the handicap is a bet I like. They’re available at 11/10 +1, and +2 at 2/5.

But, much like the City/Swansea game, I think both teams to score is a cert here, and is available at 8/13. Both teams to score and City win is also a very tempting bet at 2/1.