Friday 23 December 2011

Carling Cup: Can Liverpool go on to win the Carling Cup?

Liverpool Football Club are one of the most successful football clubs in the world. Their comprehensive history includes: 18 English top tier league titles, 7 FA Cups, 7 League Cups, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and 3 Europa League titles. The last time Liverpool achieved any form of prestigious silverware was back in 2006 where The Reds managed to claim the FA Cup after beating London side West Ham 3-1 on penalties. Having not won a competition in over 5 years, Liverpool fans will be hoping for silverware this season. Their best chance has to be the 2011/12 League Cup.

This season The Reds are performing at a mediocre level, especially in comparison to their past accomplishments. So far, their greatest triumph this campaign has to be the fact that they have managed to get to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. The only foe that stand in their way of the final are the mighty Manchester City. The Blues have performed extraordinarily well in the 2011/12 season and are sure to be problematic opponents for Liverpool. In the Premier League The Reds presently reside in 6th position and remain to be unbeaten at home. I imagine 6th position is where they will finish this season, particularly so when regarding the fact that Luis Suarez, Liverpool's star player, has been banned for a total of 8 games after being found guilty of racial abuse towards Manchester United's left-back and French international Patrice Evra. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should bear this in mind.

So, to answer the question in the title: "Can Liverpool go on to win the Carling Cup?" The answer to this question would have to be yes, even with their semi-final opponents being City. People looking at the Carling Cup betting need to remember this.

The best The Reds can hope for in the first leg of the semi-final is to claim an away draw against City at the Etihad Stadium. Particularly a score draw as the away goals rule applies in the League Cup competition. If they were to claim a draw at the Etihad, it would put them in a prominent position when they face the Manchester side at Anfield in the second leg of the semi-final.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

United eying Dutch starlet

Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen has admitted the club are keeping tabs on a promising midfielder on continent, who is being touted as having a bright future ahead of him.

Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen has been impressing in the Dutch domestic league and on the international stage with Denmark; sparking plenty of interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.

United have been strewn with injuries throughout the current Premier League campaign and are calling on the likes of centre-back Phil Jones to fill the void in the middle of the park.

There has been plenty of speculation that manager Sir Alex Ferguson will look to bring in players in the January transfer window to cover for some high profile absentees. People looking at the Premier League best odds should bear this in mind.

Scotland international Darren Fletcher has been forced to take an extended break from football through illness, whilst the Brazilian Anderson has been sidelined through injury. Those following the Premier League betting predictions should remember this.

Eriksen could be another exciting young player to be based at Old Trafford and Meulensteen has admitted the Red Devils are interested in the 19-year-old.
He told Voetbal International: "This is a player that is on our radar.

"But that is to be expected. If people weren't looking, no-one would ever have an opinion on these players.

"It is true that a player like Eriksen would fit our transfer policy.”

It’s not certain whether United will make a move in January but considering Eriksen’s talent it would not be a surprise to see the Premier League champions making a move for the playmaker in the near future.

Monday 19 December 2011

Adebayor urges improvements

Tottenham Hotspur's Emmanuel Adebayor has warned his team-mates against complacency after they scrapped for a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Sunday.

Spurs were found wanting in front of goal for much of the encounter against the Black Cats at White Hart Lane and gave away too many chances to the visitors, in a game that should have had a higher socreline.

The north London outfit managed to keep hold of third place in the Premier League, as they hope to make a return to Champions League action next season. Those who bet on Premier League games should remember this.

Tottenham are still one of the in-form sides in the top flight, with a run of 10 victories in 11 games, as only Stoke City managing to get the better of the Lilywhites at the Britannia Stadium earlier this month.

Adebayor, who is on a loan deal from league frontrunners Manchester City, is eager to see Spurs continue their fine form but believes they will have to put in far better performances than their showing against the Black Cats if they want to be successful. Anyone gambling on football needs to bear this in mind.

The Togo international Spurs TV Online: "I don't know what happened in the first half. I don't really want to know. I'm just glad that the game is over.

"We felt heavy on the pitch and we didn't have any solution. It was tough but to be champions that's what it takes.

"It's the kind of game that, regardless of what happened, we were just pleased to get the three points."

Wenger concedes title race

Following their narrow defeat at the hands of Manchester City, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted his side are all but out of the race for the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners produced a courageous effort but failed to score in a thrilling game at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. People looking at the football odds will know how close they came.

It was a goal from Spain international David Silva which was ultimately the difference between the two attacking teams, as City went back to the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory.

Arsenal would have to overhaul a 12 point gap if they were to leapfrog the top flight frontrunners and Wenger believes it might be too much to ask of his players this season. Fans of Premier League betting should bear this in mind.

The Frenchman said: "If we had won the game we would have come back to six points and with players coming back like our full-backs and [Jack] Wilshere  and [Abou] Diaby - we will have a better squad in the second half of the season.

"At the moment we are too far behind.”

The Gunners will have to put that defeat to City behind them and they don’t have to wait long to turn things around, as they get set to take on Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Villa were unconvincing in their last outing, as they went down 2-0 to Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday and manager Alex McLeish will be expecting a more spirited performance from his side when they host an Arsenal outfit, who will be looking to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.