sport

The Cheeky Punt's Weekend Preview

Everton v Liverpool
Firstly, apologies to those who took my advice last week and actually had 18 grand on Liverpool to beat Stoke at 2/9. I'm guessing you'll have enjoyed better weekends? If it's any consolation the Reds completely ruined a seven-team Acca of mine that would have netted me over £390.

Rafa Benitez's men are fancied to get back to winning ways this weekend in the 698th-ish Merseyside derby given the fact that Everton have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Liverpool did the double over their city rivals last year and you can get decent odds about them making it three derby wins on the bounce.

I'm going to swerve that in favour of a few quid on Robbie Keane finally getting off the mark for his new club. The 'genial' Irishman needs to start paying off some of that hefty £20million transfer fee sharpish and scoring here would go some way towards doing that.
Betting: Keane to score first at 8/1 (Coral).

Aston Villa v Sunderland
Roy Keane was anything but 'genial' late on Tuesday night after launching into a side-splitting rant at his players and Sunderland's fans in the wake of their indifferent Carling Cup display against Northampton. Keano branded the night "a shambles" and "probably one of the worst and longest nights I ever had in my football career". That is certainly saying something coming from a man who was once punched to the floor by a (quite possibly sozzled) Brian Clough after an FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace.

I like Villa here and also reckon John Carew is a decent price to grab a goal. 'Big' John has found some rare form of late and given that Sunderland's defence aren't the most physical he could have a field day.
Betting: Carew to score anytime at 13/8 (Hills).

Fulham v West Ham
West Ham have a great recent record over their London rivals (unbeaten in six -winning four of those matches) and with both teams suffering shock Carling Cup reverses in the week I reckon this one could be a tense, cagey affair. The 0-0 is available at 10/1 and that's a price I wouldn't put people off steaming into.
Betting: 'No Goalscorer' Fulham v West Ham at 10/1 (Sportingbet).

Manchester United v Bolton
The Red Devils have made a strictly mediocre start to their 2008/09 campaign but with that big Portuguese winker proving he is back in business against Boro in midweek look for them to start hitting their stride, starting with a routine win over Bolton here.

If you had backed Ronaldo to score first in every Premiership match last season you'd have done OK and with him priced upat Kirk Stevens the world's richest 'slave' gets my vote to find the net again at OT.
Betting: Ronaldo to score at Evens (Boylesports).

Middlesbrough v West Brom
West Brom have struggled on their travels so far this season and the last time they were on Teesside they were beaten 3-1 by Hartlepool in the Carling Cup. If the Monkey Hangers, whose entire squad is worth something in the region of thirty bob, a few jazz mags and as jar of pickled onions can beat them then I fancy their more illustrious Smoggy cousins can too. Boro for me here, most probably by more than a goal.
Betting: Middlesbrough (-1) to beat West Brom at 13/5 (bet365).

Newcastle v Blackburn
They reckon Mike Ashley lost £300million last week, which is slightly more than I did in backing Europe to retain the Ryder Cup at Evens but then my assets don't include a Premier League football club and a sportswear empire. Just a Renault Clio 1.2, several Adidas tracky tops and a collection of old Boxing News's.

The Toon will be buoyed by the return of Obafemi Martins for this one but on current form (they have lost their last three) it's nigh on impossible to make a case for them here. If I was having a punt on this one, which I'm not, I'd be considering the away with given that Blackburn have won their last three against the Geordies.
Betting: Blackburn to beat Newcastle at 2/1 (Stan James).

Stoke v Chelsea
Chelsea are red hot 2/5 favourites here despite the Stokie's gallant effort at Anfield last week. The Blues know they can return to the Premiership summit (at least for an hour or so) with a win at the Britannia on Saturday and it would take a brave man to bet against them here with Didier Drogba (9/2 to score first) and Nicolas Anelka (4/1 to do likewise) in their ranks. On this occasion I'm not that brave man and will be backing Big Phil's men to win this one without conceding.
Betting: Chelsea to win to nil at evens (Skybet).

Arsenal v Hull City
Arsenal's kids gave Sheffield United a footballing lesson in midweek after thrashing the Blades 6-0. And this despite the side having an average age of something like 11. Hull have made a fine start to the season but I reckon they could be in for a spanking here.

A North London acquaintance of mine Mick the Bubble (so named for his love of bubble coats rather than any genuine comedic ability), had a dream that Arsenal win this 4-0 so I'll ride out with Mick on this one and back said score at 11/1.
Betting: Arsenal to beat Hull 4-0 at 11/1 (Blue Square).

Degsy Bilton