AS if the run-up to Christmas isn’t hectic enough, myself and the housemate have been invited to a wedding on Saturday, which is usually my day for frantically running around shops, purchasing presents that nobody either wants nor needs.
To make matters worse, we are due to be sitting down for dinner just as the Premier League clash between Tottenham and Liverpool kicks off at 5.30pm.
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With both the groom and best man being big Liverpool men, I’ve a few quid on them getting a number of names wrong during their speeches as they keep an eye on updates from north London.
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Thomas Frank may just wish he was at the wedding instead of patrolling the Spurs touchline, with the natives starting to turn on the former Brentford boss.
A 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday was the latest in a series of tricky results for Frank, and he knows he can hardly rely on home form to see him through against Arne Slot’s men.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has daily conversations with head coach Arne Slot and believes he has handled the pressure “perfectly”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot's decision to go back to basics has delivered two wins on the bounce(Tim Markland/PA)
The Liverpool manager has gone back to basics to record wins over Inter Milan and Brighton in the last week, keeping clean sheets in both games, and with Spurs having a nightmare on home turf, the Reds will be confident of keeping their revival going.
The victory over Brentford 10 days ago was Tottenham’s first at home in the league since the opening day of the season, a run of six games that saw only three points picked up.
They are struggling badly to create chances without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and a pragmatic Liverpool – who may well be glad to see Mo Salah head off to the Africa Cup of Nations – look a great bet at 21/20 with (Ladbrokes).
Given that Slot has opted to pack his midfield and sacrifice a bit of flair of late, it could also be worth backing an away win and under 3.5 goals in the game at 21/10.
The Sunday remedy to ease any headaches sees Aston Villa host Manchester United, and this has the look of a cracker to me.
Villa have won their last six Premier League games – and 10 of the last 11 – to creep into title contention, but can sill be backed at 33/1 despite trailing Arsenal by just three points.
Unai Emery is not ready to entertain title talk
Unai Emery is not ready to entertain title talk(Mike Egerton/PA)
Unai Emery’s men are also 6/4 (AK Bets) to finish in the top four, with United 10/3 chances in that market despite the fact they keep getting nose bleeds any time a chance to get into the upper reaches of the table appears.
On all form, Villa should be odds-on this weekend but can be backed at 11/10 generally which should not be ignored.
Emery has established a settled side who all know what they are doing, and Morgan Rogers is in sublime form.
That is a total contrast to United, with any steps forward for Ruben Amorim followed by a swift one back.
Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo may be ruled out against Bournemouth
Manchester United have lost Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to the Africa Cup on Nations(Peter Byrne/PA)
They did look good in attack against Bournemouth on Monday but can’t defend for love nor money, and Afcon has now robbed them of arguably their three first-choice right-sided players in Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui.
Emery is canny enough to exploit that and Villa are a cracking bet at 11/10, while it is also worth backing a home win with both teams scoring.
Villa have scored and conceded in six of their last seven outings, while United are a basket case, so that bet has the look of a good thing at 11/4 (bet365).
PREMIER LEAGUE SELECTIONS
Liverpool to beat Tottenham, 21/20 (Ladbrokes); Liverpool to win and under 3.5 goals, 21/10 (Boylesports);
Aston Villa to beat Manchester United, 11/10 (General); Villa to win and both teams to score, 11/4 (bet365)
As for the Africa Cup of Nations itself, host nation Morocco’s long unbeaten run and powerful squad makes them deserved favourites at 11/4.
They really should make a very deep run and with Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz in their ranks after switching allegiances from Spain, they could have the star of the whole show.
Tournaments played in north African tend to throw up winners from that region, most recently when Algeria triumphed in Egypt in 2019.
Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye was on target at Portman Road
Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye could be one of the stars of the show at Afcon(Bradley Collyer/PA)
Those two nations are tucked in behind the hosts at around 6/1 here, but Algeria and Morocco should end up in the same side of the draw if they win their groups, and Egypt are very reliant on Salah and usually find a way not to win this.
Morocco have a dreadful Afcon record, only winning it once in 1976, and I think Senegal might be worth a bet at 13/2 to overcome the geographical bias.
They lost in the final to Algeria six years ago before going one better in 2021, seeing off Egypt on penalties.
If they win their group, Senegal would avoid the hosts until the decider, and they are in a great run of form, losing only to Brazil in the last two years, a run that includes a 3-1 friendly win away to England in the summer.
Manager Pape Thiaw has a wealth of experience and talent to call on, from former Chelsea goalkeeper Edoaurd Mendy right through to Everton’s Idrissa Gueye in midfield and Bayern Munich’s Nicholas Jackson in attack.
Another Everton star, Iliman Ndiaye, is flying and could light up the tournament, so Senegal look a fine each-way bet at 13/2 (Paddy Power) and also at 6/4 to reach the semis.
Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz could be a decent alternative to market leaders Salah and Victor Osimhen of Nigeria in the top goalscorer markets.
A fringe player at Madrid, he has taken to the Moroccan ranks with ease, scoring eight in his first 16 outings, and with a deep run almost assured he has plenty of opportunity to add to that tally.
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS SELECTIONS
Senegal, e/w, 13/2 (Paddy Power); to reach semi-finals, 6/4 (General)
Brahim Diaz, top scorer, e/w, 18/1 (William Hill)