Weekend Review: Liverpool and layers left feeling blue after City triumph

Operators endured a “rough” weekend due to favourites across the Premier League and Europe leaving the pitch victorious, as domestic football returned after the three-week international break.

The main event in the Premier League, played after Manchester City’s guilty verdict relating to financial irregularities, had Enzo Maresca’s men (1/1) run out 3-0 winners at Anfield.

The game was balanced before Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for picking up his second yellow card.

Goals in quick succession from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki restored City’s three-point lead at the top of the table.

In Saturday’s lunchtime fixture, reigning champions Arsenal (2/5) came from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 at the Emirates, while Chelsea (3/4), Ipswich (2/1) and Brighton (13/10) secured three points in the 3pm slate of games by beating Bournemouth, Fulham and Sunderland, respectively.

Manchester United and Tottenham faced off on Saturday evening, with the home side leading 1-0 and looking to secure only their second win of the season before 10-men Spurs equalised (3/1) in the dying minutes to salvage a point.

On the Premier League results, bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners at Anfield, with the Citizens remaining at 13/8 to be relegated as we sit and wait for an outcome.

“Enzo Maresca’s side were supported into Evens before kick-off as it looked a bit of a mismatch on paper, but Liverpool were in the game right up until Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.

“Of the Saturday favourites, we had Arsenal winning from behind with a laboured victory against Leeds, Chelsea hammering Bournemouth 5-1 and unfashionable Brighton continuing to impress by winning at Sunderland.

“There were no jeers in the trading room when Dominic Solanke equalised in injury time to rescue a point for Spurs, who remain winless with hosts Manchester United dropping more points, to the frustration of a struggling Michael Carrick.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “Great credit to the players of both clubs that a gripping contest ensued, which until the 62nd minute and Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal after being shown a second yellow was balanced on a knife-edge.

“Until then, Liverpool had arguably edged a full-blooded contest, but afterwards City’s superiority was marked, and goals from Haaland, the excellent substitute Doku, and a silky little contribution from Cherki settled matters emphatically for the Blues.

“City are 3/1 to win the Premier League, and 6/4 to be relegated. Until matters are resolved, that bizarre situation is its own telling testimony as to where we are right now.”

FDJ United’s Ali Gill called it a “rough” weekend for the layers, with punters coming out on top.

“Charges or not, Man City continue their dominant form in the league so far, and with a bit of help from a dubious looking red card, they ultimately saw Liverpool off with ease,” he said.

“That was our worst result of the match round, but Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton and Palace all left us in the red too.

“A late equaliser for Spurs at Old Trafford did see a fair swing in our favour, but all told, punters were left cheering over the weekend.”

Punters had similar success across Europe, thanks to Real Madrid (3/10) securing a 1-0 win against Villareal and Barcelona (1/10) winning 3-0 against Getafe.

Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw (7/1) against Augsburg ruined a lot of accumulators, in what was a rare win for operators over the weekend.

Freeth noted: “Real Madrid backers would’ve been pulling their hair out with Vini Jr’s red card forcing Los Blancos to hang on to their 1-0 lead with 10 men for the final 20 minutes, but that’s what they did.

“Barcelona had it a little easier with a 3-0 win, while Cristian Romero bagged a late winner for Atlético Madrid at Alavés.

“On Saturday, we had the odds-on pair of Inter and Napoli both landing in Serie A and PSG winning in Ligue 1, but it was Augsburg to the rescue in Germany.

“Robin Fellhauer scored the fastest goal in Bundesliga history following a Manuel Neuer mistake, as Bayern Munich were held to a coupon-busting 2-2 draw,” he added.

In darts, Jonny Clayton dispatched Luke Humphries 8-4 in the Swiss Darts Trophy final, while NFL fans were treated to an all-time finish at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the Jacksonville Jaguars scored a game-winning field goal with one second left on the clock.

BOYLE Sports spokesperson Brian O’Keeffe said: “Luke Humphries was denied another title after his recent BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix success, with Jonny Clayton producing the goods in an 8-4 Swiss Darts Trophy final victory.

“The Jacksonville Jaguars gave their Super Bowl hopes another boost after NFL London victory.”

Meanwhile, the Champion Stakes takes place this weekend at Ascot’s Champions Day.

Calandagan, who won the event last year, will compete again this year alongside Ombudsman and Almaqam, who finished in second and third, respectively, 12 months ago.

Calandagan is 11/4 to retain his crown, with 29 runners currently expected to compete in the one mile, two-furlong race.

Firkins noted: “Champions Day at Ascot looms large this weekend and the Champion Stakes in particular looks spectacular, with the likes of Calandagan, Ombudsman and Almaqam, last season’s first, second and third in the race, looking to lock horns once again.”