AFTER what seemed like the longest international break in history, the club season has swung back into action this midweek, with the big prizes being polished before their distribution over the next couple of months.
Liverpool were hoping to be in the hunt for a few of those, and the break probably came at the right time for Arne Slot’s men after exiting the Champions League at the hands of PSG and then losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle in the space of a few days.
They have no such worries about letting the Premier League trophy slip through their hands, with the Reds leading by 12 points going into the final block of nine games.
It would take a collapse of epic proportions at this stage to let Arsenal back in and, given that Slot’s men have only lost once all season in the league, it’s a forlorn hope for anyone wishing it to happen.
Northern Ireland look like a team to bank on after giving good account against Swiss
The champions-elect have a great game to focus the minds on Wednesday evening when neighbours Everton make the journey across the city, just six weeks on from a thrilling 2-2 draw in the last ever Goodison derby.
The Toffees have enjoyed a real upturn in form since David Moyes returned to the helm and are unbeaten in their last nine league outings to surge clear of the relegation picture.
That said, Everton have drawn their last three and in two of those they have needed late goals from Irish defender Jake O’Brien to steal a point, most recently at home to West Ham.
Without an emotional Goodison crowd behind them, they might find this trip to Anfield a difficult one, as they have tended to do, winning only once this century, a 2-0 success in February 2021.
The second leg loss to PSG was only the second time Slot has tasted defeat on home soil as Liverpool boss, although they haven’t been quite as secure at the back of late as they were earlier in the season, with lowly Wolves and Southampton both finding the net at Anfield.
While they have wobbled in the cups, Liverpool have won three on the bounce in the Premier League and can make that four tonight, although not many will be taking the 4/11 about a home victory.
With Everton having scored in each of their last nine league outings, a home win with both teams finding the net looks like the bet here at 9/4 with Sky Bet.
Meanwhile, with the title all but wrapped up and the bottom three of Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich cut well adrift, the main issue to be sorted out before the season’s end is the make-up of next term’s Champions League entrants.
With five places almost certainly on offer, everyone down to Aston Villa in ninth will hold out hopes of getting to Europe’s top table, although Villa could achieve that by winning the competition this term.
They are away to another European contender in Brighton, with the sides experiencing contrasting FA Cup fortunes at the weekend.
The Seagulls were grounded on penalties at home to Nottingham Forest, while Villa strolled past Preston to reach the last four.
Brighton don’t tend to come unstuck on their home patch too often, losing only twice in the league this season, while Villa have a dreadful away record against sides in the top half of the league.
Their last win away from Villa Park against a top-10 team was at Fulham in October, while Palace and Wolves have also won at home to Unai Emery’s side in the last few weeks.
The Spaniard has assembled an impressive squad full of attacking intent, but their minds might just be on challenges ahead and Brighton look like a good bet at 11/10 (Betway), while the 15/8 about a home win and over 2.5 goals is also worth considering.
Newcastle will want to keep their own top-five bid on track at home to Brentford, and St James’s Park will be rocking after the Carabao Cup win.
Eddie Howe’s men partied hard at a homecoming parade over the weekend and won’t want things to fall flat, but they might just be coming up against the wrong opponents here.
After taking just two points from nine away games in the first half of the season, Thomas Frank’s Bees have won their last five on the road, and also hammered the Magpies in London at the start of December.
Bryan Mbeumo, left, put Brentford ahead
Bryan Mbeumo (left) and Yoane Wissa form a deadly double act for Brentford and can give Newcastle trouble(Steven Paston/PA)
That defeat prompted an upturn in form for Newcastle, but they have been patchy of late, and while they beat Forest 4-3 last time out at home, they lost their previous two on Tyneside to Fulham and Bournemouth.
Howe’s men are 3/4 jollies here, but Brentford are tempting at 17/5 (Unibet), while the Brentford-draw double chance at 23/20 (William Hill) is well worth backing.
Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo are rapid forwards who could trouble a Toon defence that lacks pace, with Wissa in great goalscoring form. He should be backed at 5/2 to score as Premier League action takes centre-stage again.
PREMIER LEAGUE SELECTIONS
Liverpool to beat Everton and both teams to score, 9/4 (Sky Bet);
Brighton to beat Aston Villa and over 2.5 goal in game, 15/8 (Betway);
Brentford/draw double chance v Newcastle, 23/20 (William Hill); Yoane Wissa anytime scorer, 5/2 (General)