It’s not just the nation’s football fans that are feeling the excitement levels ramp up as a new Premier League season approaches. The bookmakers are also falling over one another to tempt us to lay down a pound or two with some tempting wagers on offer that will add that extra excitement and tension to the proceedings out in the middle.
As far as Liverpool are concerned, the biggest question out there is whether the ever-shortening odds on their chances to beat Manchester City to the biggest prize of all are still worth taking. However, there are some other tempters in the marketplace too. Let’s take a look.
So will you back them to do it?
Those in the know predict that if anyone can beat Manchester City to the top this year, it’s going to be Liverpool. Back in May, bookies were offering 5/1, but if you check the Premier League odds today, you will see that from some quarters they have shortened all the way to 3/1. Does that make it too late? Cynics will point to City’s demolition of Chelsea in the Community Shield at the weekend – Guardiola said this match would be the real indicator for the season to come, and the team looked as strong as ever. However, despite all the history and kudos, it is still just a friendly.
The real evidence will come next week, and even the impartial observers acknowledge that man for man, this Liverpool team is a match for anyone, City included. The real question is whether they can come together as a team and hit the ground running – in short, shop around, and if you can find a bookie that is still offering 9/2, snap it up while you can!
Salah to go from strength to strength?
Last year, one of the biggest news stories out of Anfield was Salah overhauling Harry Kane’s goal tally to pick up the golden boot. He scored 46 goals in all competitions, 32 of them in the Premier League. Right now, he’s 5/1 to repeat the feat, which many will fancy – however, look a little deeper and you will find a tantalizing offer – the most goals ever scored in a season is 34, a record shared by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. If you think Salah can go three better than last year and set an all-time Premier League record, you’ll get 25/1. If you’re going to back him, back him in style!
Mourinho on the ropes?
Last season, Manchester United were “best of the rest” and they have been generally tipped as the third team that could be in with a chance of causing an upset. However, all is looking far from rosy in the garden at Old Trafford. This will be Mourinho’s third season, and if he doesn’t produce this year, it could be a case of the three strikes rule.
The question is, will he even get the chance? “Next manager to leave his post” is always one of the fun bets, if slightly bloodthirsty, given that it can spell the end of someone’s career. Right now, Leicester City’s Claude Puel is favourite for the chop at 3/1, but Mourinho is not far behind – 7/1 is a tempting price, and what’s even more tantalizing is that the two teams square up against one another on Friday. If Leicester can “do a Leicester” and emerge victoriously, it will take the heat off Puel, and turn it up to boiling point on Mourinho. For many Liverpool fans, it is going to be too good an early-season wager to ignore!
