Hoorah – no more international breaks until March of next year!
That means punters have stacks of weeks ahead of them full of complete fixture lists, not just the scraps we have to feed off when the international football associations decide a friendly with Equatorial Guinea is a more worthwhile way for their players to spend their time.
So let’s get stuck right in, no messing about, with this week’s football accumulator betting tips:
- Liverpool vs Southampton: Liverpool to Win (4/11)
- Burnley vs Swansea City: Burnley/Draw Double Chance (2/7)
- Birmingham City vs Nottingham Forest: Forest/Draw Double Chance (4/7)
- Luton Town vs Cambridge United: Luton to Win (8/11)
- Lincoln City vs Coventry City: Under 2.5 Goals (3/5)
- Acca Odds: 6.86/1
Liverpool vs Southampton: Liverpool to Win
Jurgen Klopp must have been frustrated that the international break came when it did – his side’s 4-1 win at West Ham last time out was arguably their best performance of the season so far.
And the German will have been even more disappointed that Sadio Mane suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury while representing Senegal last week.
But the Reds have coped without Mane plenty of times this season, and with Phil Coutinho’s Brazil playing on English shores on Wednesday he should be fit and raring to replace the Senegalese ace.
Unless something drastic has happened in the past fortnight, we know exactly what kind of performance we’re going to get from Southampton: stodgy, defence minded and attack averse – the Saints have netted just three goals in four away outings this term at Huddersfield, Crystal Palace, Stoke and Brighton.
If they sit back at Anfield, they are likely to be picked off with routine ease by Klopp’s men.
Burnley vs Swansea City: Burnley/Draw Double Chance
It would seem that Sean Dyche has reiterated his commitment to Burnley – his odds of taking the Everton job have lengthened to around 10/1, which suggests he’s told the Toffees thanks but no thanks.
That’s good news for the Clarets, who continue to cofound expectations and accumulate points; especially on home soil, where they have lost just one of their last five.
Swansea, in contrast, have only won one in five on the road, and you do wonder if they have the stomach for this kind of northern trip. The Swans keep things tight away from home but they do struggle for a goal or two, and this Burnley side takes some breaking down.
Birmingham City vs Nottingham Forest: Forest/Draw Double Chance
When Steve Cotterill took over at Birmingham he made his modus operandi clear: he wanted to base his side’s efforts on sound defensive work, with the ultra-pacey Isaac Vassell as his counter-attacking out-ball.
Well, Vassell has picked up a long-term injury and the Blues have plummeted accordingly – losing three of their next four and failing to find the net.
Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, are loving life. They have recovered well from losing in the East Midlands derby, winning three of their next four and scoring ten times in the process.
There’s a lovely freedom about the Tricky Trees’ play; not an accusation you can level at Birmingham.
Luton Town vs Cambridge United: Luton to Win
Luton’s home form is scintillating – W6 D0 L2, with 24 goals scored, and every time they turn out at Kenilworth Road punters should take note.
Okay, so they are without a win in three, but it should be said that one of those was a tough fixture against Coventry and their last outing saw them twice take the lead at a decent Cheltenham outfit before conceding a late equaliser. We have no concerns about the Hatters overall.
Cambridge aren’t a bad side but they generally flatter to deceive on the road (W2 D2 L4), and scoring just four times in eight away starts does not suggest a side capable of outfoxing a free-scoring Luton team.
Lincoln City vs Coventry City: Under 2.5 Goals
Both of these teams are going well this term, but neither are setting the world alight from a goalscoring perspective.
Just 25% of Coventry’s last eight games have witnessed three or more goals, and Lincoln aren’t much better at 38%.
Indeed, the Imps’ eight home matches have delivered just 14 goals in total, while Coventry’s eight away dates have also yielded 14.
When an immoveable object meets an irresistible force, a stalemate is expected.