January 2019
Wolves hunting down eighth spot and record breaking points tally
Sporting Index predict Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will reach club’s highest ever Premier League position
Thursday 3rd January, 2019 – Wolves will secure their highest ever position in the history of Premier League football, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index, with the Molineux side predicted to finish eighth in the table.
After a whirlwind first half of the season, which has seen Nuno Espirito Santo’s side climb to ninth after accruing 29 points from 21 matches, the spread betting experts think the Wanderers will secure 52 points come the end of the season – which would be their highest ever tally in the Premier League.
The west Midlands side have competed in the Premier League in four other seasons, being relegated twice, but their highest finish came in 2009/2010 when they secured 15th in the table with 38 points. The following season saw them secure two more points but slide to 17th spot, avoiding relegation by one point.
However, after heavy investment in the squad last summer following promotion to England’s top flight, Wolves are exceeding expectations and the traders at Sporting Index expect them to leapfrog Watford who currently sit eighth in the table.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Wolves have been one of the surprise packages of the Premier League season so far, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side deserve to be in the top ten as it stands.
“Notable wins against Tottenham and Chelsea in recent outings have seen them receive plaudits, and we predict they will secure their highest ever Premier League finish and highest points tally – eighth spot on 52 points.”
“Notable wins against Tottenham and Chelsea in recent outings have seen them receive plaudits, and we predict they will secure their highest ever Premier League finish and highest points tally – eighth spot on 52 points.”
Gracia's Watford set to be the greatest
Hornets to hover in top half of the league on 49 points for first time in club’s history
Thursday 3rd January 2018 – The Watford side of 2018/19 will go down in history according to Sporting Index, who have revised the Hornets’ Premier League points quote up to 49 – a club record.
The leading spread betting firm’s latest Premier League Points spread would see Javi Gracia’s men record their best ever points tally in the top-flight and a first ever top-half finish in 10th.
As things stand, Tottenham are expected to rule the roost in London by finishing third on 81 points, ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea on 77 and north London rivals Arsenal, who Sporting Index think will miss out on the top four and finish fifth on 72 points.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “To have a clutch of fans unhappy with last night’s 3-3 draw away at Bournemouth shows just how far Watford have come. They’ve only lost one of their last eight against sides from outside of the top four and we think they’re on course for a club record season, finishing in the top half in 10th on 49 points.“
Premier League clubs to fork out £139.5million less compared with last January window…
Sporting Index expect England’s top-flight clubs will limit transfer window spending, with £280m expenditure predicted in January 2019’s side
Thursday 3rd January, 2019 – Premier League clubs will spend a total of £280million in the January transfer window, £139.5m less than last year, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
Despite Chelsea announcing the signing of American Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £58m, the spread betting experts believe clubs will curtail January spending this year.
The January transfer window last season saw clubs spend a record amount of £419.5m, which almost doubled the previous record of £225m.
Liverpool made Virgil van Dijk the world’s most expensive defender when they paid Southampton £75m for his services, while Arsenal splashed £60m on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City made Aymeric Laporte a club-record signing at the time for £57m.
However, clubs are expected to tighten the purse strings this year, although Sporting Index believe the £58m fee paid for Pulisic is set to be trumped. The traders have predicted that the Premier League’s highest fee for as January transfer signing will be £61m.
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Last year we saw Premier League clubs spend an unprecedented amount, with £419.5m paid for top talent. This year, we expect that to be reduced by a huge £139.5m.
“That said, this could change should Manchester City fall further behind Liverpool then we might see their owners make a mad rush to spend in the hope of making up ground in the Premier League.”
Spurs hit Tranmere for seven and sting Sporting Index for six figures
Sporting Index traders predict overwhelming ‘no’ Brexit vote – which could signal the end for the Prime Minister
Monday 7th January, 2019 – Sporting Index were left licking their wounds over the weekend after Tottenham Hotspur’s 7-0 rout at Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup saw the spread betting firm lose over £100k to joyous punters.
The spread betting experts were hit when they made Spurs supremacy (number of goals they will win by) available at 2.2 before the match, however their 7-0 win meant £60k alone was made by lucky punters on that particular market.
Mauricio Pochettino decided to field a second-string side for the visit to Prenton Park, but a hat-trick from Fernando Llorente, a double from Serge Aurier and goals from Heung-Min Son and captain Harry Kane gave the north London side an easy afternoon.
While Kane was rested, the Spurs’ striker’s goal minutes could be bought at 22, and his late effort in the 82nd minute not only rubbed Tranmere’s noses in it, but also left Sporting Index feeling blue as they lost almost £20k on Kane’s strike alone.
In an evening to forget for Sporting Index, six figures was lost across all markets in the match as punters were left rubbing their hands.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: ““Tottenham’s drubbing of Tranmere hit us hard over the weekend. Spurs have been in great form and there were plenty willing to buy (bet higher) their supremacy. They were rewarded in fine style and it’s just one of those we have to take on the chin.
430 MPs set to shun May’s Brexit deal
Sporting Index traders predict Theresa May’s Brexit vote will see 430 MPs say no to underfire Prime Minister’s Brexit bargain
Friday 11th January, 2019 – Theresa May’s Brexit deal will be scoffed at by 430 MPs in next week’s parliamentary vote, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
The parliamentary vote was announced earlier this week, and early signals suggest that even Theresa May’s own backbenchers will look to kibosh her long-fought Brexit deal – and Sporting Index’s traders have predicted just how convincing the outcome will be.
With just under three months to go until Britain officially leaves the European Union, the pressure is on May to present a suitable deal that MPs can agree on before the ship has sailed.
If, as expected, the Brexit deal is shunned by the majority of MPs then it could trigger a general election, a second referendum or another vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, with details set to become clearer next week should the deal fail to pass through parliament.
And should Sporting Index’s predictions come to light, this could be the largest Commons defeat on record, with a majority defeat of 166 the current record loss for the Labour minority government in 1924.
Ed Fulton, political trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: ‘The Brexit vote is yet another battle the Prime Minister must face, and Theresa May must surely be planning her next steps as it looks like next week’s vote will be a formality with the majority of MPs set to reject the deal laid out.”
“We think that a total of 430 MPs will say no to May’s deal, which would be a heavy blow to the government and leave the Conservatives with just three parliamentary days to set out an alternative Brexit plan.”
Spurs goals starved to 17 in Kane’s absence
Thursday 17th January, 2019 – Sporting Index expect Spurs to find the back of the net just 17 times as long as Harry Kane remains on the side-lines with an ankle injury.
Tottenham’s talisman has provided 20 goals in 30 games for Tottenham this season and the leading sports spread betting firm think the goals may dry up without him.
Spurs have scored 19 times in their last six games in all competitions but the traders at Sporting Index can’t see the north London club reaching that tally in what is likely to be at least twice as many matches.
In Mauricio Pochettino’s 147 games in charge of Spurs, they have managed an average of 1.6 goals per game without their first-choice striker, compared to the two goals per game averaged when he is in the line-up.
With the England captain now set to miss 10 matches between now and the beginning of March, Sporting Index believe this, coupled with Son Heung-min’s absence due to Asia Cup duty, could prove to be tricky for Tottenham.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Son Heung-min’s involvement in the Asian Games was always going to be something to consider when pricing up Tottenham goals, but news that Harry Kane will be out until March has left everyone wondering where the goals will come from.
“Over the next 10 games in all competitions, we think Spurs will do well to find the back of the net 17 times without their star man. Whether that is enough to keep them in the title race, or the top four, remains to be seen.”
Kane’s pain makes Salah clear favourite for Golden Boot
Sporting Index predict lowest goal tally in three years for Premier League Golden Boot winner
Friday 18th January, 2019 – Mohamed Salah will win the Premier League Golden Boot by scoring 25 goals this season, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
With both Salah and Kane on 14 league goals for Liverpool and Tottenham respectively, the race for Premier League top scorer looked to be neck-and-neck, until an ankle injury ruled the Spurs frontman out of the north London side’s matches between now and March.
Sporting Index’s traders predict Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero will be hot on Salah’s heels with 22 goals each, while the spread betting experts think Chelsea’s Eden Hazard will find the net 19 times this season.
The 25-goal mark has been broken seven times in the last decade by Golden Boot winners. Didier Drogba and Robin van Persie – who won the award twice in the last decade – Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Mo Salah all scored 25+ in their winning seasons.
Only Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov hit sub-25 goals in their winning seasons in the ten years – both hitting 20 – while Kane’s first Golden Boot award in the 2015/2016 season saw him strike exactly 25 in the Premier League.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Harry Kane’s injury is unfortunate given his good run of form lately, and it looks like he’ll have to perform miracles when he returns in order to stay in the hunt for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
“Given his injury, we think Salah should win the award comfortably with 25 goals. Although Aubameyang and Aguero will be breathing down his neck, we expect them to come up short by finishing on 22 goals come the end of the season.”
Ole’s Gunnar finish above Gunners but feel Champions League blues
Sporting Index predict Manchester United will leapfrog Arsenal come the end of the season following Solskjaer’s perfect start
Tuesday 22nd January, 2019 – Manchester United will finish on 73 points in the Premier League and pip Arsenal to fifth in the table, but will miss out to Chelsea on a Champions League spot by three points, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
The prediction comes after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won all seven of his matches since taking over from Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. The Norwegian has impressed by seeing off Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton in the league, while disposing of Reading in the FA Cup.
Now the Red Devils are expected to claim 73 points on their way to sealing fifth – two points above Unai Emery’s Arsenal but just shy of the final Champions League spot, with Chelsea set to finish on 76 points.
If United do finish on 73 points, it would be eight points less than their 2017/2018 campaign, but still see them achieve a better tally than the four seasons prior to that.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “After a poor start to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned things around at Old Trafford, and the team are now chasing a Champions League spot if they can leapfrog Arsenal and catch Chelsea in fourth spot.
“However, we think that will prove too much of a challenge to the Red Devils and expect them to finish on 73 points – which will be two points above Arsenal and an agonising three points behind Chelsea, who will claim fourth.
“Many might expect Man United fans to be happy with that, given how tough they found the first half of the season. Should this happen, the big question will be ‘should United keep Solskjaer on permanently?“
Gonzalo going for seven goals during Chelsea loan spell
Sporting Index predict new Blues signing Higuain will bag seven Premier League goals during time at Stamford Bridge
Thursday 24th January 2019 – Gonzalo Higuain will score seven goals for Chelsea in the Premier League between now and the end of the season, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
The Argentinian last night put pen to paper on a deal which will see him spend the rest of this season at Stamford Bridge, where he’s expected to lead the line for Chelsea ahead of Alvaro Morata, with the Spaniard looking likely to clinch a loan move away from the Premier League side.
Should the former Juventus and Napoli striker reach seven goals in England’s top flight, that would be two more than Morata’s league total this season, which should please manager Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea fans as they look to consolidate a Champions League spot.
While Higuain misses out on Chelsea’s Carabao Cup second leg semi-final tie with Tottenham this evening, he could face Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup action this Saturday, while his first taste of league action should be next Wednesday against Bournemouth.”
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Gonzalo Higuain is a top goal scorer at the highest level, and Chelsea fans are right to be excited by his arrival. The Argentinian has scored in La Liga, Serie A and on the international stage, so we think he can prove his worth in the Premier League too.
“We predict he’ll bag seven goals in the league between now and the end of the season, which could be enough to secure a permanent deal with the Blues.“
Saints set to pile misery on Warriors following points deduction
Super League favourites St Helens expected to claim opening day win over Wigan Warriors in 38-point thriller
Thursday 31st January 2019 – Sporting Index predict St Helens will pile on the misery for Super League champions Wigan Warriors by securing victory in a match that will see a total of 38 points scored between both sides.
Wigan Warriors were docked two points yesterday – pending an appeal – for a salary cap breach, and the spread betting experts at Sporting Index think that could be on the minds of their players in tonight’s Super League opener.
The traders have totted up the numbers and think there will be a total of 38 points scored in tonight’s match, with six tries scored between the sides. The first try will come in the fifteenth minute of the match, according to the spread betting traders.
The Saints have also been earmarked by Sporting Index to wrestle the Super League crown off Wigan Warriors this year &ndash the Merseyside outfit lead the spread betting firm’s outright index to claim top spot this season.”
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “St Helens could be in line to make this a week to forget for Wigan Warriors, following the latter’s points deduction. The Saints are favourites for the Super League crown, and we think they will start as they mean to go on with a win tonight.
“We predict that there will be a total of six tries tonight, in a game which will serve up 38 points for Rugby League fans.“