Weekend Review: Liverpool get lost in the Tricky Trees

Liverpool’s (9/20) stuttering attempt at retaining the Premier League title continued on Saturday after losing 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest (5/1).

Murillo, Nicolò Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White ensured Forest walked away from Anfield with all three points and left Arne Slot’s side with only one win in their last seven league fixtures.

Man City (5/2) also suffered defeat, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United (19/20), as Harvey Barnes found the back of the net either side of a Rúben Dias goal.

Those defeats meant Arsenal’s (1/2) convincing 4-1 win over Tottenham (6/1) in Sunday’s North London derby has them six points clear of second-placed Chelsea (3/5), who themselves won 2-0 against Burnley (4/1) in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Bet365’s Steeve Freeth commented on how the bookies barely came out on top thanks to the City and Liverpool losses on Saturday.

He said: “The defeats for 4/9 Liverpool and 10/11 Manchester City were enough for us to secure a narrow victory on the Premier League coupon despite wins for Arsenal, Brighton, Chelsea, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

“The Gunners are now 4/9 for the title after their comprehensive 4-1 victory in the North London derby with 34 pre-game punters backing 100/1 Eberechi Eze to score a hat-trick.

“Liverpool have never finished in the bottom half of the Premier League, but the reigning champions are into 16/1 from an opening show of 100/1 to finish below 10th after their sixth defeat in seven games.”

Despite the gap Arsenal have opened over last season’s winners, Mikel Arteta’s side are heavy favourites to lift the trophy come May, with Betfred’s Alan Firkins highlighting there are still plenty of games left to play before anything is decided.

Firkins noted: “I can’t help thinking almost anyone else playing beautifully and six points clear in the Premier League would be even more prohibitive right now in the outright market than 4/9, but hey, this is Arsenal after all, and there’s the small matter of 26 matches left to play.

“The Gunners thrashed Spurs at the Emirates 4-1, and Eberechi Eze helped himself to a hat-trick. Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle was the latest in hundreds upon hundreds to be effectively decided by VAR and its never ending idiosyncrasies, while Liverpool was the real proverbial coupon-buster, getting turned over by Forest at Anfield, 3-0.”

Over at Midnite, a 4-1 Arsenal win was priced at 25/1 pre-match and an Eze hat-trick reached 300/1 in-play – it was 80/1 before a ball was kicked.

While Wolves (7/2) are now 1/14 to be relegated after losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace (3/4) in Rob Edwards’ first game in charge.

Jordan Willmott, Midnite sportsbook experience manager, said: “Arsenal destroyed Spurs in the North London derby, with the correct score of 4-1 being available at 25/1 pre-match. Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick for the hosts, which was 80/1 before kick-off, but as big as 300/1 in-play, with Arsenal not breaking the deadlock until the 36th minute through Leandro Trossard.”

BOYLE Sports spokesperson Lawrence Lyons noted that Arne Slot is facing increasing scrutiny as their struggles show no sign of letting up.

“Pressure is mounting on Arne Slot as their dismal run of results continued with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. With just one win in their last seven Premier League fixtures, form is against them but they’re still odds-on (8/15) to finish in the top four,” he added.

FDJ UNITED’s Ali Gill said the return from the international break went the way of the bookies thanks to Liverpool failing to find the net and City’s key players drawing a blank in their defeat to Newcastle.

He also pointed out that Real Madrid’s (2/5) 2-2 draw against 10-men Elche (6/1) was the best result of the weekend for the operator.

He said: “A great weekend of results in the Premier League as we finally welcomed back domestic football after another international break.

“City and Liverpool both losing is always likely to mean things look good, and with City’s big names staying off the scoresheet, and Liverpool firing a blank completely, winning singles, accas and bet builders were all tough for punters to find there.

“Villa’s turnaround against Leeds saw punters finish ahead, but otherwise the Premier League went the way of the layers this weekend.

“The biggest event of the weekend overall came from Spain as Elche held on for a 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid, that being our best result of the whole weekend overall.”

West Ham’s (7/10) 2-2 draw against Bournemouth (4/1) was one of many fixtures over the weekend across Europe to benefit from bet365’s ‘2 Goals Ahead Early Payout’ feature, as highlighted by Freeth.

“We paid out on West Ham at the 35 minute-mark after Callum Wilson bagged a brace against his former club, triggering our ‘2 Goals Ahead Early Payout’. However, a fightback from the Cherries saw the game end 2-2 – the only draw in the English top-flight.

“This was one of many games across England where a team having gone two goals ahead and being ticked as winners were unable to win the game. Sides including West Brom, Derby, Chesterfield, Swindon and Tranmere.

“The European big guns flexed their muscles on Saturday as 1/6 Bayern Munich, 4/9 Barcelona and 2/9 PSG collectively scoring 13 goals.

“We ticked Freiburg as a winner in Bavaria when they went 2-0 up, but the inevitable comeback from an inspired Michael Olise saw Munich (who drifted to 6/4 in-play) fight back to win 6-2 – the sort of result that costs us plenty.”

Over at the races, Jango Baie showed why he was the 9/4 favourite in the 1.30pm at Ascot, impressing in a nine-length victory over Gidleigh Park who came in at second.

That win has left the six-year-old second favourite to take the King George on Boxing Day, while Gaelic Warrior remains the horse to beat.

There was also an easy win for Lossiemouth in the 2.10pm at Punchestown, and all eyes are on her future with the Champion Hurdle and Mares’ Hurdle both an option for the Willie Mullins-trained mare.

Firkins said: “It was a stellar weekend for racing, and Arkle hero Jango Baie returned to winning action at Ascot to put down a marker for the King George on Boxing Day, now in to 4/1 second favourite, behind Gaelic Warrior (6/4).

“At Haydock, Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man was equally impressive and is now 9/2 for the same race – and what a contest it’s shaping up to be, with the likes of Grey Dawning (impressive Betfair Chase winner on Saturday in the north west) and Fact To File likely to show up.

“Willie Mullins’ fabulous mare Lossiemouth won the Morgiana at Punchestown in a canter and it will be fascinating to see how she’s campaigned this term – she’s 3/1 favourite for the Champion Hurdle but could go down the Mares’ Hurdle route once again (9/4).

“Saturday’s upcoming, mouth-watering Fighting Fifth at Newcastle featuring The New Lion and former champ Constitution Hill could have plenty of bearing upon all that.”

Looking back at the weekend’s action, Midnite’s Willmott said it was a rough Saturday for the bookies as punters came out on top.

He remarked: “In racing, a day of favourites on ITV caused a customer-friendly Saturday and a tough day for the bookmakers with redemption for Grey Dawning obliged in the Betfair Chase with minimal fuss, cruising up under Harry Skelton to win easily returning an starting price of 10/11.

“The John Durkan turned into a two-horse race, with Willie Mullins’s Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File fighting out the finish. After going off hard in front, Gaelic Warrior managed to pull out more under Paul Townend, returning 13/8 to give Rich Ricci yet another Grade 1 success.”

Finally, Luke Littler showed why he is the new world number one by securing his first Players Championship with a 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the final.

Despite Aspinall throwing seven 180s compared to Littler’s six, the teenager took a 5-2 lead and held off a spirited comeback at 9-8 to secure the trophy.

Willmott added: “In darts, new world number one Luke Littler followed up his Grand Slam of Darts triumph by taking the Players Championship with an 11-8 victory against Nathan Aspinall in the final at Butlins in Minehead.

“The 18-year-old Littler is now 11/10 to retain his World Championship trophy at Alexandra Palace, which starts next month.”