Free betting tips: Goodbye ‘The Greek’, Sunderland v Leeds, Liverpool, lampposts
The Bookie Basher is back but feeling in somewhat pensive mood this week.
There’s a massive game in the Championship, then we get straight into Premier League shizzle, looking at the games involving Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and misfiring Manchester United.
But first, we have some business to attend to…
A sad week for punting
Before we get stuck in it is worth acknowledging that it has been a sad week for punting degenerates like my good self.
And before you ask no I didn’t do my bo**ocks on the Mexican Liga MX again. I am referring of course to the passing of famed gambler/poker player Archie Karas - who in the 1990s once showed up in Vegas with $50 and turned it into $40 million after famously going on a heater now simply referred to as "The Run".
Karas had no fear and money meant nothing, his cash was all in play, all the time. Which probably explains why that $40 million was reduced to $1 million after a particularly naughty three weeks in 1995.
Let us see if we can go through the card with our tips this week then and have a ‘Run’ of our own in honour of ‘The Greek’, a gambler who defined the term ‘action’.
Sunderland v Leeds United
Big game in the Champo on Friday night, and Leeds are 13/10 favourites to beat the Black Cats.
Sunderland have a vibrant young team and are flying high at the top of the table, but Leeds’ recent form has been ominous and before Tuesday’s draw with Norwich the Yorkshire giants had managed 40 shots on target in just seven matches.
Reeks of goals this so give me The Lilywhites to win and both teams to tamper with the auld onion bag.
Suggested Bet: Leeds United to win & both teams to score at 15/4 (bet365)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NFL Betting Tips: Kansas City to stay unbeaten, Falcons in for a low-scoring affair
Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Having watched how poor they were against Everton, I am certain Palace cannot get a result here. At Goodison there was a collective lack of ideas, poor defending generally and some f***ing comedy attempts at defending set pieces.
They are third bottom and talents such as Eberechi Eze seem to be playing with zero confidence. Liverpool are top of course and should be busting to get out there and show Palace what they are all about.
The craic is the Reds will 'break the bank' to avoid losing Mohamed Salah on a free transfer this summer, and the iconic Egyptian – who has scored 161 Premier League goals in 269 appearances – gets our vote to score first in Croydon.
Suggested Bet: Salah to score first at 4/1 (LiveScoreBet/Unibet)
Everton v Newcastle United
Dwight McNeil scored two huge goals against Palace, but one suspects there is still a fragility about this Blues side. Newcastle lost 11 away games in the Premier League last season, so I guess all results are possible here.
The Mags were excellent against Man City though, absolute night and day from the Fulham performance. They put the hard graft in and were tenacious against the champions, and am happy to jump on the away win here at 23/20 as Everton still look a poor side to me.
Suggested Bet: Newcastle United to win at 23/20 (bet365/Hills)
READ MORE: Premier League Team of the Week: McNeil, Palmer and Van de Ven shine bright
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Am not a huge fan of social media phenom Mark Goldbridge but genuinely LOL’ed at his reaction to Andre Onana not keeping out Tottenham’s second goal last Sunday!
Goldbridge was going berserk as per but amidst the general incredulity dropped one of the best ‘keeper criticism lines I have ever heard when he mused “You may as well stick a f**king lamppost in goal and stick some cardboard arms on it”.
Truthfully, how do you solve a problem like Manchester United? A look at their team sheet and you can make a case for at least five players in their squad being legit world class. The question remains, though: is Erik Ten Hag the man to realise this talent and put together the rest of a bona fide elite team? He has laid out some big money, but it is just not happening
The Red Devils were beyond bobbins against Spurs. They made Tottenham look like peak Barcelona from the 2008/2009 campaign.
Villa are fifth and should take this you know. In fact, I am going for 4-2 Villa in an absolute melee of great goals, terrible defending, touchline shenanigans and overpriced Carlsberg.
Suggested Bet: Aston Villa to win 4-2 at 55/1 (Hills)
Brighton v Tottenham
Ninth plays eighth in Sunday’s late TV game and preference here is for Spurs. For a start Brennan Johnson has scored in his last four and is absolutely flying.
Brighton have made an OK start to the season but have lost some key defensive personnel and said defence was embarrassing at times against Chelsea. The high line they play is too risky against good teams, and Spurs are a good team.
Their supporters do love to moan, mind. They moaned under Antonio Conte because they were boring. They now moan under Big Ange because they are not boring enough.
The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin' Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd. And this shepherd is all over Spurs.
Suggested Bet: Tottenham to win at 23/30 (Paddy Power/Skybet)
