Weekend Tips

What a week it has been. Andy Murray has won his first Grand Slam, the first Brit to do so for 76 years and England have started World Cup qualifying with 4 points from 6. However this is still a disappointment. Also the terrible findings of the Hillsborough disaster were released proving that football fans were not to blame, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool raise their game today.

Top flight football is back this week and so a full fixture list to chose from as well as Rugby League and horse-racing from Newcastle,Bath,Chester and Doncaster where Camelot goes for history. Last weeks' bet of the day came through despite Serena Williams giving me a scare. However my prediction of Djokovic would have changed after I knew about the delay, although can take nothing away from Murray he deserved it.

Football: 

Three points for O'Neill today

This week there is one game that for me stands out above the rest. It is the tea-time saturday match between Sunderland and Liverpool. Sunderland under the management of Martin O'Neill (left) are a very difficult team to play against. They have started the season solidly drawing away at Arsenal and home against an in-form Swansea side however their first win will surely happen today. The thing I like about Sunderland is the front three, in James McClean, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson they pose a very direct threat that will cause many teams problems throughout the season. For me this is a top-half front three. As a result I think Sunderland have goals in them, now when I compare this to Liverpool it is easy to see why the common sense must be a Sunderland win. Liverpool have struggled in their opening three games losing against West Brom (A) and Arsenal (H) and getting a draw against Manchester City (H). They won many plaudits for their performance against City however for me they were playing the best they could and City were at half-pace and used a strange team selection. I look at the Liverpool team and nothing would really worry me if I was Martin O'Neill. The front three of Luis Suarez, Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling is weaker then that of Sunderland. The boy Sterling looks a great player with plenty of pace however none if them are what I would call goal scorers. Suarez is capable of great skill and incredible goals but is he going to score 20? I dont think so. This for me is Liverpool biggest problem. Both of their goals this season have come from set-pieces.The team does not have goals in them. As a team they create very little and even if they do they have no clinical striker to finish them. In fact for me they have no traditional striker at all now that they have let Andy Carroll go. This decision was an error, Carroll has not had the best of times at Anfield however as a Newcastle fan I know just how good he can be, given the service. This was the same as Alan Shearer. He was also a plan B. Liverpool have all small forwards and are unable to change the game. There is no power up front so arial threat is non existent. Now I know the same could be labelled at Barcelona however they are in a different league, literally and metaphorically, and the players they have are far superior to that of Liverpool. Sunderland are defensively organised and so a shut-out here is very likely. Also worryingly Steven Gerrard looks as if the years of carrying Liverpool and being the 'Roy of the Rovers' have finally taken their toll on him.

I understand what Brendan Rogers is trying to do however I do think he has made mistakes this season already and I do not see things getting any easier for him any time soon. Today will be emotionally charged for Liverpool due to the Hillsborough files however this match will do nothing to raise their spirits.

The records will show any team that struggles for goals will be battling relegation, now I do not think Liverpool will be in such trouble however talk of top 4 is laughable unless of some terrific signings in January and plenty of luck. For me they will be mid-table and they can have no complaint.

SkyBet go 12/5 a Sunderland win which is amazing odds and ones that should not be missed. SkyBet also go  11/10 Liverpool win and the draw is 12/5.

Bet of the day: Sunderland to beat Liverpool 12/5 (SkyBet)

Accumulator bet: Arsenal, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Bournemouth @ 20/1 (SkyBet).

Longshot: Stoke to win at home to Manchester City @4/1 (SkyBet). Stoke a very tough place to go and Man City may be thinking of Real Madrid in mid-week.

Also maybe few pounds on Brendan Rogers to be the first manager sacked in the Premier League at 20/1.

Racing:

Camelot goes for history and I think he should do it. At 2/5 it is too short for me however it will be major shock if he fails.

Win bet: 1.50 @Doncaster- Invisible Man @4/1 (SkyBet)

Each-Way: 3.00 @Doncaster- Steps @10/1 (SkyBet)

Rugby League:

It is play-off weekend and so three matches left to bet on. Treble for me; Leeds, Hull and Warrington at 11/10 (SkyBet).

Good luck with your bets today. 

Suarez Forced To Issue Apology

Suarez apologises after appalling behaviour 

Luis Suarez (above) has today apologised for his appalling actions at Old Trafford in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Manchester United won the game 2-1 however Suarez was branded 'a disgrace' by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson following his decision not to shake Patrice Evra's hand before the kick off. He even suggested that Suarez should be sold by Liverpool due to the damage he is doing to their reputation.

Suarez ignored Evra's hand in what was supposed to be an end to the whole chapter. His behaviour was appalling and he should be ashamed. Suarez had apparently assured Liverpool and manager Kenny Dalglish that he would shake Evra's hand. Suarez released this statement on Liverpool's website:

"I have spoken with the manager since the game at Old Trafford and I realise I got things wrong. I've not only let him down, but also the Club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened. I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and I want to apologise for my actions. I would like to put this whole issue behind me and concentrate on playing football."

Manager Kenny Dalglish also apologised for his behaviour in the post -match interview in which he refused to discuss Suarez's action.

"To be honest, I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do. When I went on TV after yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I'd like to apologise for that." 

Managing Director Ian Ayre also issued a statement which is exactly what was required by Liverpool. For probably the first time ever the club issued a clear, unambiguous statement condemning his actions.

Read the full statement here: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/ian-ayre-luis-was-wrong

Hopefully this will be an end to this very ugly episode in which football and the Premier League's reputation has been damaged. Racism has no place in football and should be stamped out. In this day and age it is ridiculous that we have this problem.