Although we’re not yet in December, the Premier League title already looks destined for the Etihad Stadium. Realistically, barring an unlikely collapse from Manchester City, any Liverpool title aspirations are already over for another season.
Those hopes are reflected in current best odds of 66-1 being available at Bet Victor on a first domestic league title for the Reds since 1990 and you would have to be donning some seriously sepia-tinted glasses to invest anything on that wait ending this term.
The big concern for Jurgen Klopp remains his team’s defensive frailties. Following the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday evening, Liverpool have now scored 47 goals in all competitions this season, but they have also conceded 29 goals in those 21 games, letting in three or more on four occasions.
Prior to the Chelsea match, statistically, Liverpool and City have had the most goal attempts and conceded the least attempts in the Premier League this season to date. The problem is that Liverpool have only converted 11% of their shots (City have put away 19%), whilst conceding 19% of shots against them (City have conceded just 9%).
The January transfer window will surely see a move to address the defensive issues, with a renewed bid for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk thought to be on the cards if Paddy Power are to be believed, with them offering 6/5 on a deal being completed in the New Year.
A new defender might not prove sufficient for the league title, but it could certainly help cement a top-four finish, for which you can currently get odds of 10/11 with bet365.
It’s the inconsistency of Liverpool’s game that makes them a better option in cup football, so 888sport’s 35-1 for them to win the Champions’ League isn’t without appeal. Of course, they still need to confirm qualification for the knockout stage after throwing away a three-goal lead at Sevilla last week, but a win over Spartak Moscow at Anfield will ensure top spot in the group.
The draw for the last 16 in the Champions’ League is sure to see some serious movement in the betting odds for the outright market so, if you’re looking to back Liverpool, it’s a time when you’ll want to have your mobile devices handy to react quickly. It will also pay to check out the football betting mobile sites for any current bookie offers and free bets that might be available.
The knockout stages should suit the Reds, with there being little to compare to the atmosphere at Anfield on a big European night, coupled with Jurgen Klopp having an array of attacking talent that can go toe-to-toe with the continent’s finest forward lines.
If the defence can stay solid (and it’s certainly a big ‘if’), Liverpool might just prove to be a value bet to feature at the NSK Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv on Saturday 26th May.
