August 2019
HARRY’S HEADERS
Harry’s heading for three headers
Tuesday 6th August, 2019 – Manchester United’s new £80million signing Harry Maguire will score three headers and record 13 clean sheets for the Red Devils in the Premier League this season, according to betting firm Sporting Index.
Maguire became the world’s most expensive defender when he signed on the dotted line at Old Trafford on Monday, and he’ll be expected to solidify a United defence that only kept seven clean sheets in 38 topflight games last year.
The spread betting experts expect the former Leicester man to score four goals in total in the 2019/2020 Premier League campaign, which would be one more than his league total last season.
United are predicted to gather 68 points on the way to securing a Champions League spot in fourth place, according to the football traders at Sporting Index.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Manchester United have been crying out for a leader in central defence and they have signed that in England international Harry Maguire.
“Maguire has been a rock for club and country in recent years and we think he’ll help United secure 13 clean sheets this season – nearly double the amount they recorded last season.
“The former Leicester centre–back is fondly known as ‘slab head’ by teammates and fans and we think he’ll justify that nickname by heading in three goals for the Red Devils in the Premier League this year.“
PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP
1,073 goals, 50 red cards and seven managerial departures in new Premier League season
Friday 9th August 2019, London – The Premier League will see 1,073 goals scored, 50 red cards brandished, and seven managers leave their posts this season, according to betting firm Sporting Index.
The action finally gets underway tonight as last year’s runners-up Liverpool host Norwich at Anfield, and Sporting Index traders think the Reds will score the first of 1,073 goals by hitting the net in the 33rd minute.
There were a total of 47 dismissals in England’s top-flight last season, but the number crunchers at Sporting Index think there could be three more this year due to the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
A total of five Premier League managers left their posts during last season, but this year there will be just 13 managers to see the season out, according to Sporting Index, with seven set to be sacked or leave their position.
Harry Kane missed out on the Golden Boot last season, mainly due to two injury spells, but the spread betting experts are backing the England skipper to bounce back and claim his third top scorer award with 24 goals.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Football fans have every reason to be excited for the Premier League season ahead – high-profile signings and the introduction of VAR means it should be one to remember.“
“Our traders think there will be more goals, red cards and managerial departures than last season, while we also expect Harry Kane to bounce back and claim the Golden Boot for the third time in his career come May.“
LIVERPOOL v NORWICH
Liverpool backed to score quickest goal of game week one
Friday 9th August, 2019 – Liverpool will kick-off the new Premier League season with a goal in the 33rd minute against newly-promoted Norwich, the quickest of all sides to score in game week one, according to betting firm Sporting Index.
Last season’s runners-up will get the new season underway with the visit of Daniel Farke’s Championship winners and will be expecting to pick up where they left off last campaign having won each of their last nine league games.
The spread betting experts’ ‘stop the clock’ market is predicting that only three teams will break the deadlock in the first half, whilst Norwich themselves, West Ham and Sheffield United are all predicted to draw a blank in game week one.
Manchester City are expected to be just behind the Reds by scoring in the 36th minute in their away game at West Ham, while Tottenham are predicted to break the deadlock in the 45th minute against Aston Villa.
In Sunday’s big match at Old Trafford, Sporting Index traders are predicting that it will be Solskjaer’s Manchester United that will strike first. United’s ‘stop the Clock’ market sees the Red Devils priced to break the deadlock in the 63rd minute, with Chelsea equalising in the 73rd.
Neville Burdock, head of trading for Sporting Index, said: “Liverpool finished the season strongly last season, and we are expecting them to start as they mean to go on by scoring the quickest goal of the opening Premier League weekend.
“The Reds play before anyone else, but we think that no other team will score quicker than them in game week one. We expect the Reds to score in the 33rd minute to get their campaign off and running. Our traders predict Manchester City will be just behind them with a goal three minutes after their title rivals.“
BANK HOLIDAY WEATHER
London Heathrow to hit highs of 31.5c in bank holiday heatwave
Wednesday 21st August, 2019 – London Heathrow Airport will bake in record-breaking temperatures of 31.5c this August bank holiday, according to betting firm Sporting Index.
Wednesday 21st August, 2019 – London Heathrow Airport will bake in record-breaking temperatures of 31.5c this August bank holiday, according to betting firm Sporting Index.
The capital will be left sweating as the city’s biggest airport is set to overtake the hottest temperature for a bank holiday, when 28.2c was recorded in 2017.
London Gatwick will be just behind Heathrow by hitting highs of 29c over the long weekend, while Cardiff and Manchester’s aviation hubs will be next on the heatmap at 26.5c.
Hot on the heels come Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport at 26c and Edinburgh at 24c, while Dublin and Belfast will see slightly cooler temperatures of 22c and 21.5c respectively, according to the traders at Sporting Index.
Phill Fairclough, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: ‘Temperatures are set to soar this coming bank holiday weekend, and we could see records broken with holiday goers feeling the heat at Heathrow. Our traders expect the airport to reach highs of 31.5c.
‘London Gatwick will be playing catch up but looks set to hit highs of 29c over the long weekend, while Cardiff and Manchester will be close in comparison at 26.5c.”
LOMACHENKO V CAMPBELL
Lomachenkoto down Campbell in the eighth
Thursday 29th August, 2019 – Sporting Index predict Vasiliy Lomachenko will confirm his status as the undisputed lightweight world champion in 24 minutes at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night.
The leading sports spread betting firm, who quote 24 total fight minutes, expect the bout between the Ukrainian belt holder and British challenger Luke Campbell to be settled early on in the eighth round.
Earlier on the card, Russian Alexander Povetkin is expected to bounce back from his loss to Anthony Joshua with a 10th round win, tempting those who fancy an early heavyweight knockout to sell.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “We expect spectators to get their money’s worth on what looks set to be a cracking night of boxing at the O2 on Saturday.
“Though Luke Campbell looks up against it and Vasiliy Lomachenko is the bookie’s favourite, we still think there’ll be a hard-fought eight rounds of boxing before Campbell caves in.
DIRTY DERBIES
Saturday 31st August, 2019 – As Glasgow and north London prepares for their respective derby matches tomorrow, Sporting Index has predicted that more cards will be brandished at Ibrox than the Emirates..
With 10 points awarded per booking and 25 points for a red card, the spread betting experts have priced total points at 60 for the Old Firm derby compared to 52 for the Arsenal v Tottenham clash.
The last five Glasgow derbies have produced a total of three red cards and 15 yellow cards, while two reds and 25 yellows have been dished out in the same amount of north London crunch matches.
However, the traders at Sporting Index believe that the intensity of the Old Firm contest at Ibrox tomorrow will slightly outweigh the afternoon game in the big smoke.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “Tomorrow is a huge match for both teams in Glasgow and north London, and while all four managers will stress the importance of keeping a cool head, that can be easier said than done for the players experiencing the red hot atmosphere.
“We saw more red cards in last year's Glasgow derbies, but more yellows in the north London clashes. The Old Firm rarely goes by without some sort of controversy, so we think that there will be more cards brandished at Ibrox.“