Hornets 20/1 To Be Stung By Another Late Penalty: What will happen in today's matchup between Watford v. Sheffield?
Watford have been on the wrong end of three late questionable penalties this season and bet365 are offering 20/1 on it happening again on Tuesday.
bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth “Aidy may have had some stocks installed at Vicarage Road after his comments on the recent Portsmouth game, but you can understand his frustration at the penalties that have been awarded against Watford this season.
“Peter Walton gave Everton a dubious penalty when the ball seemed to hit Chris Powell’s head on the first day of the season, Gary Speed dispatched a late, late injury time spot-kick in September and LuaLua left the Hornets broken-hearted with an 88th minute strike from 12 yards only last week.”
bet365 are expecting a tasty encounter both on and off the pitch.
“It’s a must win game for both sides and it could be a ding-dong battle in the technical area as well as on the pitch.”
Watford v Sheffield United Specials
Watford concede a penalty 80th min and upwards 20
To Score A Penalty
Watford 6
Sheffield United 15/2
To Miss A Penalty
Watford 18
Sheffield United 22
A sending off 9/4
Manager Specials
Either Boothroyd or Warnock to be sent to stands 20
----
CostiganMedia.co.uk News Wire
Originally published November 27, 2006 3:41 pm GMT
Steve Harmison betting odds unveiled by Bet365
Keep Out Of Steve Harmison's Way – Bowler 12/1 To Start 2nd Test With Wide
bet365 (see website here) have unveiled a number of specials on Steve Harmison after his erratic performance against Australia in the 1st Test.
Spokesman Steve Freeth “The first ball of the Ashes Series was so wide it nearly ended up in Adelaide and we may see a bit of interest in our 12/1 on Harmison repeating his feat in the 2nd Test.
“We’d be a little wary if Harmison took up Dennis Lillee’s offer of assistance in the Ashes, especially with his previous in the betting ring!”
Harmison has been given a vote of confidence by bet365 as the firm make him 4/6 to get a wicket before bowling a wide in Adelaide.
“His bowling was too bad to be true in Brisbane and we’re hoping he’s got his poor performance out of his system or else we could be in for a hiding!”
2nd Test – Steve Harmison Specials
First delivery to be a wide 12
A hat-trick 66
What Will He Bowl First?
Wide 11/10
Wicket 4/6
-----
CostiganMedia.co.uk News Wire
Originally published November 27, 2006 10:29 am ET
November 26, 2006
Glen Roeder a 6/5 shot to last season with Newcastle
bet365 now make Glenn Roeder a 6/5 shot to last the season after his Newcastle side beat Portsmouth 1-0 on Sunday.
Spokesman Steve Freeth ”We had Roeder down at 9/4 to last after they lost at home to Sheffield United at the beginning of November, but the Magpies are now putting a bit of a run together.
The firm have also lengthened the 5/4 on him being next to go in the Premiership sack race with Stuart Pearce now 11/4 second favourite after another defeat on the road for Man City.
“City have now lost 16 of their last 19 league games away from Eastlands and Pearce’s boys are in danger of becoming over reliant on their home form.”
Wayne Rooney secures £100million deal with Manchester United
Footballer Wayne Rooney is about to become the richest man in the game according to the Daily Mail.
He will earn about £35million in salary alone - with the rest coming from a string of lucrative commercial deals which will run over the duration of his new contract.
The England striker has tie-ups with Nike, Asda, Coca-Cola and EA Sports.
Despite his youth, he has already struck a £5million deal with HarperCollins for a minimum of five books about his life.
Rooney and fiancee Coleen McLoughlin live in a £4million mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire.
Before last summer's World Cup, Rooney allegedly ran up £700,000 in gambling debts.
The Australian points out that Rooney's deal will expire in 2012, by which time he will be almost 27, guaranteeing United the services of England's greatest talent through to his peak years.
The value of the striker is reflected in the financial terms of the contract, which is thought to be the most lucrative in United's history and will make Rooney Britain's richest player, apart from David Beckham.
"We are building a new team and we want our best players like Wayne, who, without question, is going to be one of the best players in the world if he isn't at the moment," United manager Alex Ferguson said.
November 22, 2006
Manchester United v Chelsea betting odds
Man Utd v Chelsea will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the upcoming weekend. The two teams meet on Sunday 26 November.
11:00AM Man Utd v Chelsea +155 +205 +190 (Man Utd is +155. The draw is +205. Chelsea is +190).
Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Manchester United's gut-wrenching Champions League defeat to Celtic can inspire them to victory over Chelsea on Sunday.
However, the long-serving Red Devils chief has enough faith in the character within his squad to believe they can lift themselves this weekend, when victory over Jose Mourinho's men will see United open a six-point lead at the Premiership summit.
Shunsuke Nakamura's wonder goal gave Celtic a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United, while Real Madrid booked its passage through to the Champions League's knockout stages by drawing with Lyon. This was one of the highest billed matchups of the week thanks to the huge fan support on both sides.
Celtic have entered uncharted territory by reaching the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time.
With Manchester United v Chelsea, Canbet.com will also be offering odds on the half time coupon, huge payout odds on the correct score, and Half/Full Time Double: Half Time Result, Full Time Result. Visit Canbet.com Here
November 18, 2006
Blackburn v Tottenham Spur betting odds
Blackburn v Tottenham Spur betting odds appear below courtesy of Mansion.com (see website here). Mansion.com is a proud sponsor of the Tottenham Spur football club.
An important stat to consider when betting on Blackburn v Tottenham Spur: Tottenham are still seeking their first away win in the Premiership this season.
From the BBC:
BLACKBURN ROVERS against Tottenham is a Sunday afternoon mid-table affair between two sides with unbeaten Uefa Cup records, who are eager to halt recent poor runs. Rovers are battling to avoid a fifth successive Premiership defeat - Spurs are looking to pick a first away League win of the season.
Mark Hughes' side have fallen victim to Bolton (h), West Ham (a), Aston Villa (a) and Manchester United (h) in their last four League outings, scoring just one goal in the process. They only scored one goal when last losing five on the bounce between 28 September and 2 November 2003.
Rovers have only managed to win one of their last four home Premiership meetings with Spurs. A Stephen Carr own goal was the difference between the sides on 29 November 2003.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR travel in search of a 200th Premier League win, having had their ten-game undefeated run in League and Cup broken by a 3-1 defeat at Reading last Sunday.
Martin Jol's side have only gained two points and scored two goals from six Premiership matches on the road so far this season. With one of those goals being a Juan Pablo Angel own goal and the other a Robbie Keane penalty (against Reading), a Tottenham player is yet to score from open play on their Premiership travels.
Spurs boast a five-match unbeaten record against Blackburn in the Premiership.
Tottenham Hotspur
Draw
Blackburn Rovers
Three Way
+155
+200
+126
Asian Handicap
+0 +102
+0 -126
Total
ov 2 -131
un 2 +106
November 15, 2006
Holland v England:
Odds favor Holland
in International
Friendlies
England comes into
Wednesday's
International
Friendlies matchup
against Holland as
an underdog with
good reason.
An unconvincing win
followed by a draw
against
Macedonia.
Then came the
shocking loss in
Croatia.
Needless-to-say,
this game will be a
chance for England
Manager Steve
McClaren to redeem
himself. And
if he doesn't?
Well.....
The Netherlands have
been performing a
lot better in their
Euro 2008
qualification
campaign and they
sit pretty on top of
their group after
four matches.
However, it is still
very much early days
in a new era for
Dutch football with
most of their
experienced players
now absent from the
squad. They’ll be
anxious to continue
their development in
the hope of being a
major force to be
reckoned with by
2008.
"It's clearly a
frustrating time for
Arsenal right now.
"They might be
getting plenty of
plaudits for playing
a lot of great
football, but they
have drawn too many
games and missed too
many chances - and
the pressure is
starting to show.
"We all saw it at
West Ham last week.
I couldn't see what
Alan Pardew did
wrong myself and was
amazed at Arsene
Wenger's reaction."
From the BBC:
BIG-MATCH FACTS
ARSENAL and
Liverpool may both
be going well in the
Champions League and
have qualified for
the quarter-finals
of the League Cup,
but the pair are
well off the pace in
the Premiership as
they prepare to go
head-to-head at the
Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are
second in the
Premiership's "Last
Six Current Form"
table, despite last
Sunday's shock
defeat by lowly West
Ham and the much
publicized touch
line spat between
the managers. But
they're defending an
unbeaten home League
record, and boss
Arsene Wenger has
not seen his side
suffer back-to-back
Premiership defeats
in over nine months.
The last five
Premiership clashes
between Arsenal and
Liverpool have been
won by the club
playing at home. The
Gunners prevailed
2-1 most recently in
March, when a
dreadful error by
Liverpool captain
Steven Gerrard
allowed Thierry
Henry to score his
second, and the
winner, in a
dramatic finish at
Highbury.
LIVERPOOL notched a
fifth successive win
and a third clean
sheet in a row in
all competitions
with Wednesday's 0-1
victory at
Birmingham in the
Carling Cup. They
now go to North
London eager to add
to successive home
League victories
over Aston Villa and
Reading, but have
not claimed nine
points out of nine
since closing last
season with nine
victories in a row.
The Reds' form away
from home in the
Premiership this
season has been
appalling. They've
managed just one
point out of a
possible 15 from an
opening day 1-1 draw
at newly promoted
Sheffield United,
and have not scored
in four games on the
road since. Indeed
they are yet to net
from open play on
their League travels
this season.
The Merseysiders
have not taken
maximum points away
from Arsenal in six
attempts and only
once in eight
visits. Titi Camara
was on target in the
0-1 triumph on 13
February 2000.
Major League Soccer chiefs are
working out the financial
implications of what they see as
a 'terrific' chance to bring
former England captain David
Beckham to the United States.
Beckham's contract at Real
Madrid expires at the end of the
season, and he will be allowed
to speak to other clubs from
January 1 if he does not pen a
new deal by then.
Chelsea v Aston Villa betting
odds are now available.
Chelsea defender Geremi insists
Mourinho's side are taking the
Carling Cup seriously as they
prepare to meet Villa.
Villa stole a point in their
last meeting in west London in
the Barclays Premiership just
over a month ago.
But, with 10 other Premiership
clubs left in the competition,
Geremi accepts going all the way
and winning it will not be easy.
"The good thing is to create
opportunities. You cannot score
without creating opportunities,"
said Geremi.
"The day that we are going to
take the chances to score will
be good for us and our luck will
come.
"You can see in the league table
that this year, Aston Villa are
doing well. They have got a new
manager who is working well and
we respect them. It is one game
and a knockout straight away, so
we have to go there just
thinking to qualify.
"When you see that there are 10
Premiership teams still there in
the competition, it is not
possible to get in the final
easily. So you take it
seriously."
Barcelona v. Chelsea
is the most popular
matchup of the week
in the world of
soccer. The
game goes off
Tuesday evening.
Going into this
fixture Chelsea head
Group A having taken
maximum points from
their three games
played thus far
while Barcelona lie
in second, a point
in advance of
third-placed Werder
Bremen.
Who are they?
European champions,
La Liga leaders and
widely considered
the most attractive
footballing side in
the world - as in
style on the pitch,
not looks!
Recent form: In the
fortnight since
Chelsea won the
corresponding
fixture at Stamford
Bridge, Barca have
lost to Real Madrid
but returned to
winning ways at the
weekend with a 3-0
win over Recreativo
Huelva to maintain a
one-point lead at
the top of the
table.
European record:
They staged a late
comeback to beat
Arsenal in Paris in
May to win the
Champions League for
the first time since
beating Sampdoria at
Wembley in 1992.
How did they get
here? As well as
winning in the
French capital they
successfully
defended their La
Liga crown to secure
an 18th title.
Ones to watch: Too
many to mention them
all, but the main
man is of course
Ronaldinho,
particularly with
Samuel Eto'o
injured. Much has
been made of the
Brazilian's poor
form this term, but
he scored two goals
at the weekend to
take his tally to
six for the season.
However, will that
be enough to quell
tabloid talk of his
infatuation with
Mariana de Melo
being the cause of
his on-pitch slump?
The glamour model
says Ronnie is "mad"
for her, adding "he
cannot sleep at
night because I'm
always in his mind."
Did you know?
Following their
victory in this
competition last
season, Barca are
now the most popular
club in Europe
outside of its own
country, according
to German company
Sport + Markt AG.
Real Madrid and
Arsenal make up the
top three.
They say: "People
have made a lot of
the absence of Eto'o
and they have been
critical at times of
Ronaldinho and Deco,
but when this pair
are on form there's
no stopping them."
October 24, 2006
David Beckham: Odds
are favorable of
Becks coming to the
USA
Oddsmaker
William Hill
has listed David
Beckham at 6/4 odds
to remain at Real
Madrid while giving
him favorable odds
of heading to the
USA.
William Hill has
David Beckham with
4/1 odds of playing
in the MLS next,
which would no doubt
deliver a tremendous
boost to the USA
soccer program.
Beckham remains the
most marketable
sports commodity in
the world.
"I want to be part
of a country that is
passionate about
sport," Beckham said
last spring when
talk began about him
ending his career
with an MLS team.
"I've got my academy
in LA, which is
important to me
because that is my
life after the
game."
But Newcastle boss
Glen Roeder has
suggested that
Premiership clubs
would be falling
over themselves to
snap up David
Beckham if he chose
to return to
England.
Arsenal has odds of
6/1, Tottenham 13/2,
West Ham 14/1 and
Chelsea 25/1.
In this series,
Chesterfield v. West
Ham, the later team
has won ten while
another 6 were
draws. The
last matchup between
these two teams
occurred in 2002
with a 5-4 win by
West Ham.
Ladbrokes.com
has offered odds of
7/2 for
Chesterfield, 23/10
on the draw and 4/6
on West Ham.
"West Ham (4/6),
who have failed to
score in their last
seven, are going
through a perpetual
Groundhog day as
they look for that
elusive stroke of
luck. Anything less
than victory against
Chesterfield (7/2)
could see Alan
Pardew looking for a
new job
From
AsianHandicap.com:
"Despite the poor
form in which West
Ham is playing in
last few weeks, in
my eyes, they are
big favorites for
winning this match.
Why? They have to
start winning
somewhere and better
opponent for that
than Chesterfield
cannot find. They
are currently 16 th
in League One and
they are not playing
great lately either.
In their last 10
matches they have 3
wins, 2 draws and 5
losses.
"West Ham had great
last season, but
this season they
cannot find the
necessary form. They
are struggling to
score and last
season that part of
the game was one of
the easiest for
them. It seems that
bad luck had
overtaken them since
the arrival of the
two Argentinean
stars. But this will
be an easier match I
expect full West Ham
dominance and with
this win they should
get back on winning
tracks.
"Chesterfield will
be without Phil
Picken and Paul Shaw
and Bailey is
doubtful but is
expected to be
ready."
West Ham manager
Alan Pardew plans to
make "three or four
changes" for the
Carling Cup trip to
Chesterfield.
TotalBet.com
lists Chesterfield
at 9/2 odds, the
draw at 5/2 and West
Ham at 8/13
Jermain Defoe "bite'
not punishable says
Football Association
The Football
Association are
unable to take any
further action
against Tottenham
striker Jermain
Defoe over his
alleged `bite' on
West Ham midfielder
Javier Mascherano
because of FIFA
directives on
retrospective
punishment.
Defoe was booked by
referee Steve
Bennett when he
reacted angrily to a
challenge from
behind from the
Argentinian
midfielder during
Tottenham's 1-0
victory at White
Hart Lane on Sunday.
TV replays showed
Defoe attempting to
`bite' Mascherano on
the arm but the
Spurs player claimed
that his reaction,
labelled a `comical
nibble' by coach
Martin Jol, had been
blown up out of all
proportion.
Defoe has come in
for widespread
criticism for his
reaction to
Mascherano's tackle
but the FA are
prevented from
charging Defoe with
any further offence
because of the
ruling by FIFA.
An FA spokesman
said: 'We are unable
to take any action
because the referee
has already dealt
with the incident.
Under FIFA
regulations, we are
prevented from
taking retrospective
action.'
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Manchester City
defender Ben
Thatcher was
punished by the FA
after the event
earlier this season
when his forearm
smash left
Portsmouth
midfielder Pedro
Mendes in hospital.
However, that
incident was deemed
as exceptional
because Mendes
suffered serious
injury but in most
cases, the FA's
hands are tied
because of FIFA's
stance on the issue
of retrospective
punishment.
Defoe's agent Sky
Andrew said his
client now wants
everybody to get
back to
concentrating on
football and denied
again that he had
bitten the West Ham
star.
Andrew said: 'Jermain
says he did not bite
anyone. He's very
passionate boy about
his football. It was
a tough game and an
intense environment
but he says he did
not bite him.
'Jermain regrets the
way he did retaliate
and accepts he
should not have
retaliated at all
but it has been
blown up out of all
proportion.' he told
Radio Five Live.
Defoe had earlier
claimed that Bennett
would have issued
him with a red card
if he thought he had
been guilty of
biting his opponent.
Defoe said: 'The
referee was standing
right over me and if
he felt I had done
anything bad he
would have sent me
off.
'The incident
doesn't look great
on TV and I accept
that as a role model
to kids I have a
responsibility to
conduct myself in
the right way, which
I always try to do
on and off the
pitch.'
October 22, 2006
Manchester
United back on top:
5 to 1 odds of
winning 2006/2007
England FA Cup
VIP.com continued to
list Manchester
United with odds of
5 to 1 of winning
the 2006/2007
England FA Cup
following the 2-0
win over Liverpool
Sunday.
Liverpool were
outplayed and at
times embarrassed at
Old Trafford by a
vibrant Manchester
United side who are
back on top of the
Barclays Premiership
with an 11-point
lead on Rafael
Benitez's distraught
men after a 2-0 win.
In his 500th game
for United, only
eight players
previously have
reached that total
for the club, Paul
Scholes scored a
trademark goal from
midfield and Rio
Ferdinand belted in
his first of the
season after the
break.
Liverpool were
ordinary and only
effective when
Steven Gerrard moved
back into central
midfield near the
end and the question
of why one of
Europe's best
midfielders spends
so much time on the
wing for club and
country remains
open.
Sir Alex Ferguson
brought back Gary
Neville and Ryan
Giggs, Wes Brown
dropping to the
bench with Ronaldo,
who has missed two
days of training
with flu.
Manchester United
boss Sir Alex
Ferguson insists
Liverpool shouldn't
be written off as
title contenders
despite the
Merseysiders already
languishing 11
points behind their
rivals.
He said: "I would
not dismiss
Liverpool. They have
a good run-in and
there will be a
freshness about them
in the second half
of the season
because of the way
Rafa has been
ringing the
changes."
Liverpool still had
odds of 6 to 1 of
winning the
2006/2007 England FA
Cup while Chelsea
remained the 3 to 1
favorite.
Inter Milan wants Jose Mourinho
as manager
News
of the World reported on Sunday
that Inter Milan owner Massimo
Moratti has directly contacted
Jose Mourinho's agent, Jorge
Mendes.
Inter chief Roberto Mancini is
under pressure and faces the
sack, according to the paper.
A source close to the Inter
owner told News of the World: "Mr
Moratti would love to have Jose
Mourinho in as the manager of
the club if Mancini goes.
"He is absolutely the first
choice to become the new
manager. Mr Moratti has already
spoken with Jorge Mendes about
this."
Mega-rich Moratti would have no
problem in matching Mourinho's
£5million-a-year wages at
Chelsea, the paper writes.
Mourinho is presently managing
Chelsea, the favorite to win
this year's English Premiership
at 3 to 1 odds at
VIP.com
Mourinho was voted BBC London
Manager of the Year 2005
Chelsea moved three points clear
at the top of The Premiership
after they beat visiting
Portsmouth on Saturday, while
Aston Villa remained unbeaten
with a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Manchester United v Liverpool
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Chelsea payout still
substantial with
Premiership League
win
Punters are crossing
their fingers.
Even heading into
this weekend,
Chelsea was listed
with odds of 3 to 1
to win the English
Premiership with a
payout of US$300 for
every US$100 bet.
There is, however, a
catch.
Chelsea has 22
points but
Manchester United
can take the lead on
goal difference with
a victory over
Liverpool on Sunday.
Aston Villa is still
the league's only
unbeaten team after
its 1-1 tie with
Fulham.
Andriy Shevchenko
and Michael Ballack
scored for Chelsea
on Saturday, helping
the defending
champions beat
Portsmouth 2-1 in
the English Premier
League.
Shevchenko scored in
the 55th minute and
Ballack added
another two minutes
later at home with
his first Premier
League goal. Both
were subsequently
shown yellow cards
for celebrating.
Shevchenko, who
joined Chelsea for a
club-ecord fee, took
a low cross from
Arjen Robben to
score the first
goal. He also had a
goal disallowed for
offsides and forced
Portsmouth
goalkeeper David
James into making
two tough saves in
the first half.
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Manchester United
comes into its game
against Liverpool
with 5 to 1 odds of
winning the 2007
England FA cup.
They are followed
closely (at 6 to 1
odds) by Sunday's
opponent Liverpool.
Chelsea is the 3 to
1 favorite at press
time.
(See all odds to win
the 2007 England FA
Cup at
VIP.com
Manchester Utd -0.5
-101 Liverpool +0.5
-107
Manchester Utd
(-120) DRAW (+220)
Liverpool (+300)
Man Utd -111
Draw +215 Liverpool
+340
Important things to
note in this matchup
from a betting odds
perspective
(courtesy of the
BBC):
MANCHESTER UNITED
against Liverpool is
a game in which the
home club have the
upper hand. Sir Alex
Ferguson's side may
have been knocked
off the top by
Chelsea before this
Sunday fixture gets
underway, but the
title chasers have
won twice as many
Premiership matches
as Liverpool (six to
three) and lead them
by eight points -
the pair having both
played eight
matches. Defeat for
the visitors would
leave them trailing
by 11 points and
would severely dent
their hopes of
catching up.
This match will mark
Paul Scholes' 500th
career appearance in
a Manchester United
shirt, and Wayne
Rooney's 100th for
the Old Trafford
club.
United have won
twice as many
Premiership matches
as they have lost
against Liverpool
(won 14, lost
seven). Only one
goal was scored in
the two League
meetings last
season. That was Rio
Ferdinand's last
minute header, which
snatched all three
points in an
uninspiring
corresponding
fixture, and sparked
Gary Neville's
disgraceful
celebration in front
of the Liverpool
fans.
LIVERPOOL are an
enigma this season.
They've dropped only
two points at home,
but are still to win
away. The opening
day 1-1 draw at
Sheffield United is
their only point and
only goal from four
games on the road
this season. As that
goal was a penalty
from Robbie Fowler,
Rafael Benitez' side
are still to score
from open play in a
League game away
from Anfield.
Between them
Liverpool and
Manchester United
have won 33 League
titles. But the last
of the Reds' record
18 was in 1989-90,
since when the Red
Devils have been
crowned Premiership
champions eight
times, and are
desperate this
season to pick up
their ninth and
first in four
attempts. Both sides
enjoyed success in
the Champions League
midweek, but
Liverpool, arguably,
would have been
given a greater
confidence boost
from a 0-1 victory
over Bordeaux in
France, than United
would have gained
from a 3-0 victory
over Copenhagen at
Old Trafford.
The Merseysiders are
looking for a 50th
League victory over
United, and are
hoping to complete
back-to-back wins
against them, having
knocked the Red
Devils out of the FA
Cup on 18 February.
Peter Crouch scored
the only goal in
that fifth round
victory.
Wayne Rooney
suffering World Cup
hangover?
Refund offer to
punters on
goalkeeping bet
Manchester
United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson thinks that
Wayne Rooney is
suffering a World
Cup hangover.
"I tried to warn of
the dangers of the
hype and expectation
that was heaped on
him, as England
prepared for
Germany," Ferguson
said in The Sun.
'And it proved to be
asking too much too
soon of him - a
situation that
wasn't helped when
he ended up with a
groin injury that
was not revealed at
the time.
'Football lays down
all manner of
challenges for
players, as Wayne
has experienced in
recent months.
'The result has been
a dip in the kind of
form that we have
come to expect from
him.'
The perfect cure for
a hangover may be a
defeat of rival
Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool
goalkeeper Jose
Reina has voiced
fear that defeat to
Manchester United in
Sunday's pivotal
matchup could end
their title
challenge.
The 2005 Champions
League winners would
be left 11 points
adrift of United
after just nine
rounds of matches.
But a defeat at the
hands of Liverpool
may have even more
far-reaching
ramifications for
Wayne Rooney.
David Beckham
believes Wayne
Rooney's recent dip
in form is the
result of a lack of
match fitness and is
no cause for alarm,
according to a
report in the
Independent.
The former England
captain still
harbours hopes of
linking up with the
Manchester United
forward on the
international stage
and has no doubt
Rooney will soon be
back to his best.
"People talk about
Wayne being in a bad
patch but people
also have to
remember that he's
missed quite a bit
of the season -
three or four weeks
without playing the
game," Beckham said.
"He might have
trained but it's not
the same as match
fitness and you need
that."
Meanwhile,
PaddyPower
has announced that
if Wayne Rooney and
Steven Gerrard both
get booked in this
game they will
refund all losing
1st/last goalscorer,
correct score and
scorecast bets on
this game.
Learn More Here
Manchester United
v Liverpool: Man
United favored to
win
Liverpool
goalkeeper Jose
Reina has voiced
fear that defeat to
Manchester United in
Sunday's pivotal
matchup could end
their title
challenge.
The 2005 Champions
League winners would
be left 11 points
adrift of United
after just nine
rounds of matches.
Liverpool have
already lost three
of their first four
away matches in this
season's Barclays
Premiership, and
Reina said: 'We know
we're losing ground.
We're too far behind
United.
'Eight points is too
many and that makes
Sunday's outcome all
the more important.
We have to keep
going and fight for
everything, but if
they win it will be
11 points between us
- and that could be
too much.'
According to the
Daily Mail, Reina
has come in for
mounting criticism
after a series of
costly blunders but
looks to be edging
his way back to form
after a Champions
League shut-out in
Bordeaux on
Wednesday.
Man United was a
favorite to win in
this matchup with
odds of 5/6 compared
to Liverpool odds of
16/5 heading into
Sunday.
A list of mouth
watering bets have
been provided by
Sportingbet
Steve Harmison betting odds unveiled by Bet365
Wayne Rooney secures 
Manchester United v Chelsea betting odds
Blackburn v Tottenham Spur betting odds
David
Beckham would change face of US
soccer
Oddsmaker
Manchester
United back on top:
5 to 1 odds of
winning 2006/2007
England FA Cup
News
of the World reported on Sunday
that Inter Milan owner Massimo
Moratti has directly contacted
Jose Mourinho's agent, Jorge
Mendes. 
Chelsea payout still
substantial with
Premiership League
win
Manchester
United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson thinks that
Wayne Rooney is
suffering a World
Cup hangover. 
Liverpool
goalkeeper Jose
Reina has voiced
fear that defeat to
Manchester United in
Sunday's pivotal
matchup could end
their title
challenge.