The End for Rafa?
Following last weekend's football, spread bettors will either be licking their wounds or jumping for joy but it's certain that most will be eager for the next installment of action. There are plenty of matches that spread punters will be hoping to profit from, including the massive Liverpool v Manchester United fixture. Although United currently top the table, the Sporting Index traders make Chelsea slight spread favourites on the outright league win index at 41-44pts (60pts for winner, 40pts for runner-up, 30pts for third and 20pts fourth), with United close behind at 40-43. Buyers of Liverpool's outright spread will be mightily concerned about their run of four league losses and three straight defeats and will, most likely, be happy to never see a beach ball again.
Sunday's football kicks off at lunchtime and followers of Man United on the spreads will have a bitter taste from last year's matches against Benitez's side, when they twice took the lead only to end up losing on both occasions. However, buyers of United's win index spread will be aware that, other than last season, Ferguson has a very strong record at Anfield. Prior to 2008/09 United were undefeated in six matches here, scoring seven and conceding just two. Spread bettors looking at the total goals market will have noticed that the last seven matches between the sides in this quarter of Merseyside have produced an average of just 1.7 goals per game, while three or more were last scored in a single game in 2001. The bookings index spread is always a hot topic for spread bettors in such competitive contests - Liverpool's previous four league matches against United have accumulated 75, 55, 65 and 50 points on the spread make-up, with two red cards.
Over on the blue side of Manchester, attention will be on visiting Fulham. Buyers of City's win index spread will take confidence from their earlier Carling Cup victory this season but spread sellers will claim that a weakened side was on show that night. Those spread punters looking to sell City's supremacy will be concerned that the Cottagers have won their previous two trips to the City of Manchester Stadium, while total goal spread buyers will have noted that these fixtures tend to produce goals. The last four at this venue have produced 16 of them.
Buyers of Arsenal's win index spread will be hoping that manager Arsene Wenger can lead the Gunners to a fifth successive victory when they meet West Ham at Upton Park. Spread punters buying the Gunners' match supremacy spread will more confident knowing that Zola's team have lost three out of their four previous clashes against Arsenal. In those matches the Hammers have been unable to score a single goal a further boon to Arsenal's supremacy spread buyers but a significant worry to buyers of the Hammers' goals. Those spread bettors interested in the bookings spread will be keen to know that the last match between these two in East London accumulated 75 points, with a last-minute Carlton Cole dismissal. Sellers will have noted that prior matches were calmer affairs though, with spread make-ups of 40, 50 and 20 points.
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