Dave Tindall looks ahead to Sunday's Premier League action and picks out the best bets from the games involving Liverpool and Manchester United.
Southampton v Liverpool
It’s bottom v top when Southampton host leaders Liverpool in Sunday’s 2pm kick-off at St Mary’s.
The betting is predictably skewed with Arne Slot’s men as short as 1/4 to bag three more points.
Saints are 10/1 while The Draw is 5s.
All Southampton’s meagre tally of four points have been earned at home at least although they came against fellow bottom five dwellers Ipswich and Everton. This is clearly a massive step up.
As if Saints boss Russell Martin doesn’t have enough on his plate, he goes into this one without goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and defender Jan Bednarek after both succumbed to recent injuries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold misses out for Liverpool but they have an abundance of attacking weapons still and plenty of their players were among the goals during the international break.
A recent stat this week showed that Mo Salah is the first player in any of Europe’s top five leagues to hit double figures in both goals and assists in all competitions this season.
He has 10 of each and yet that equal weighting isn’t reflected in the odds. Salah is odds on at 19/20 to score anytime and yet more than twice the odds - 21/10 - to register an assist.
That’s the best bet here.
Cody Gakpo had limited minutes for the Netherlands so should get the nod and I’ll back him to score the first goal at 6/1.
The Dutchman did just that on another recent trip to the south coast when getting the opener in Liverpool’s 3-2 Carabao Cup win at Brighton.
Ipswich v Manchester United
It’s quite a double bill on Sunday in the Premier League and the 4.30pm kick-off carries much intrigue too.
This is the much-awaited first game in charge of United for new Portuguese boss Ruben Amorim.
And he comes up against a man who used to be a coach at Old Trafford, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
Ipswich went into the international break on the back of a heartening 2-1 win at Spurs and they’ve avoided defeat in six of their 11 games so far this season, scoring in eight of them.
That suggests they could get something here, the match odds showing Ipswich at 9/2 and The Draw 10/3. United are just 4/6.
Such a price on Man Utd, who went into the weekend in 13th spot, looks unappealing but another way of viewing their league position is that after 11 games they were only four points off a Champions League spot and their fortunes had already started to turn during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s temporary stint.
I think United secure Amorim a winning start but if we give Ipswich a goal then the price becomes far more palatable. United to win and Both teams to Score is 2/1.
We’ve had some success on Betting Radio by tipping Bruno Fernandes in the anytime scorer markets so let’s play him again.
The Portuguese star has netted four in four since Erik ten Hag left - coincidence? - and is 23/10 to bag another at Portman Road on Sunday.
Dave's Premier League Tips
Mo Salah to assist at 21/10
Cody Gakpo to score first goal at 6/1
Man Utd to beat Ipswich and BTTS at 2/1
Bruno Fernandes to score anytime at 23/10
Good luck with your bets and please gamble responsibly