Premier League and Carabao Cup betting tips: A London Derby stalemate and Newcastle doing it for Ant & Dec
Despite having a tough week at Cheltenham, The Bookie Basher returns to Sports News Blitz with a weekend football guide that’s sure to split opinions, wallets, and the last remaining patience of punters everywhere.
Cheltenham 2025? Lawd ha mercy. I write this crying salt tears onto my laptop after two days of heartache for my favourite backers. Majborough. Constitution Hill. Ballyburn. Jonbon.
Deary me. Make it make sense?
Bookmakers have breathed a huge sigh of relief, so it is only right that I try and ease the sadness and suffering with a few weekend footy winners.
Bournemouth vs Brentford (Premier League)
In their last four fixtures, Bournemouth have two draws and two defeats, having not won since beating Southampton 3-1 a month ago.
It gets worse if you are a Cherries' fan.
Bournemouth are winless in their last eight league games against Brentford (two draws, six losses) and have not won since a 1-0 home success in the Championship way back in August 2014.
With this in mind, we can’t have Bournemouth at odds on here and so a flamboyant play on the away win at bigger than 3/1 looks the way to bet.
Suggested Bet: Brentford to win at 18/5 (BETMGM/UNIBET)
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Arsenal vs Chelsea (Premier League)
Second plays fourth here and while Arsenal’s title challenge has fallen right away, - Liverpool are very much out of sight now - this should be a decent watch purely due to the fact that both teams are so erratic.
A lack of quality in the final third is continuing to plague this Arsenal side and that would be enough to put me off backing the home win at 5/6 in this one.
That 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last weekend really highlighted how far Arsenal are away from winning the league, given they could not fully get to grips with arguably the worst Manchester United side in Premier League history (and yes this is pocket talk in case you are wondering).
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against the Blues.
However, this fixture is giving off major ‘lump the draw’ energy and 11/4 that it finishes all square seems reasonable.
Suggested Bet: Draw at 11/4 (Hills)
Liverpool vs Newcastle United (Carabao Cup)
Lifting the Carabao Cup on Sunday, March 16 would be a statement victory for both teams.
Liverpool need to pick themselves off the floor after that heartbreaking European shootout loss to PSG in midweek, while the Mags are trying to be history-makers - it has felt like forever since they last lifted a major domestic honour.
Arne Slot's strollers look to have the title sewn up, but this would be his first silverware in English football and his team are 4/6 to win in 90 minutes.
Eddie Howe’s side have definitely evolved since their 2-0 cup final defeat to Manchester United two seasons ago, but are they good enough to get this over the line?
Purely on recent form it would take an act of God for the Toon to win this - but as we have seen at the Cheltenham Festival this week - such things do occur.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate are both set to miss Sunday’s showpiece through injury, while the Reds could be jaded after that effort they put in against PSG.
And any side who have Alexander Isak up front always have a shot.
I am therefore putting my head firmly above the parapet and having a dabble on Newcastle at 4/1 here.
Do it for Cheryl Tweedy, lads. Do it for Ant & Dec. Do it for Oz's f***ing donkey jacket in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Suggested Bet: Newcastle United to win at 4/1 (Betfred/Ladbrokes)
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Leicester City v Manchester United (Premier League)
It’s all getting on top for Ruben Amorim, who is starting to display that dishevelled, confused look of folk at the end of big-budget disaster movies being chaperoned to the waiting ambulances.
Make no bones, it has been a real slog for Manchester United inside the final third all season, having failed to score in 10 of their 28 league matches.
Happily, they face a Leicester side on Sunday night whose recent form has been absolutely honking.
I make it no league win since 26th January - when they beat Spurs away - and former Red Devils hotshot Ruud van Nistelrooy has been having a torrid time of things as Leicester manager.
The good news for Foxes fans is that Van Nistelrooy seems to have finally done away with that 4-2-3-1 formation that had been failing you every week.
The bad news is you are still sh*t and 12/5 about Bruno Fernandes scoring anytime at 12/5 looks a gift.
Suggested Bet: Fernandes to score anytime at 12/5 (bet365)
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