Boxing Picks 2026- Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez (Saturday 22nd August)

There has been a lot of back and forth about the conditions for the Tyson Fury fight against Anthony Joshua and I cannot be the only person who is getting bored of all the talk.

In reality, it feels like this might be more 'exciting' than the fight judging by the last performances produced by both, but we just need to hear an announcement about what is going to happen either way.

At least this weekend there is a decent main event over in the United States and that comes after some British action in London.

Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez

These two fighters have been involved in plenty of big nights throughout their careers and the WBA Welterweight World Title is going to be on the line when Rolly Romero defends against Teofimo Lopez.

Earlier this year, The Takeover failed to materialise when Lopez was beaten very comfortably by Shakur Stevenson, but he has chosen to move up in weight and bid for another World Title.

If you are going to be critical of Teofimo Lopez, you would have to say the inconsistent performances have been a blight on his career and the loss to Stevenson suggests he is not quite at elite level. However, Teofimo Lopez has been able to raise his level to beat a number of very solid fighters and that makes him the right favourite in this bout.

Credit has to be given to Rolly Romero for the win over Ryan Garcia, although plenty will have criticised the performance produced by the latter back in May 2025.

That is also the last time Romero has been out in the ring and the lack of activity is one issue.

The other is that Rolly has not really ever been an elite fighter and his two losses to Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz back up that statement. Beating Ryan Garcia is a creditable win, but you have to factor in the level produced by the opponent and it is unlikely that Teofimo Lopez will drop as significantly.

A bigger question is whether Teofimo Lopez can follow the likes of Davis and Cruz and force a Stoppage? Rolly Romero is pretty predictable with the way he approaches his boxing and Lopez has a left hook that looks like it will be tailor-made for this bout.

Four years have passed since Teofimo Lopez last produced a finish, but he should have his opportunities in this one and backing him to do so is worth an interest.

On the undercard, Yoenli Hernandez should continue his path towards the top of the wide open Middleweight Division.

Winning on Saturday should mean Hernandez is fighting for a World Title next time out and he should be too big and too strong for Francisco Daniel Veron who is moving up from the Light Middleweight Division with a solid looking 17-1 record.

However, the one step up at that weight saw Veron dropped and beaten by Brandon Adams on the cards and Yoenli Hernandez has shown he has the power to go through the gears to force a Stoppage here.

In London, a couple of the Matchroom prospects can continue the development with solid wins.

George Liddard is further along than a mere prospect as he fights for the European Middleweight Title having already been a British Champion.

The 33 year old Italian Dario Morello arrives with a decent looking 26-1 record, but he is fighting outside of his home country for the first time and this feels like a step up compared with the usual level of opponent.

It is also telling that he has been dropped early in each of the last two fights in 2025 and is heading out for a maiden outing in 2026 and George Liddard may have enough pop to produce a decisive win.

The same is expected from Jimmy Sains who is fighting for the Commonwealth Middleweight Title that was vacated by George Liddard as he continues to chase his stablemate.

He has shown plenty of power and Tom Cowling may not be able to keep Sains from coming forward and showing leather.

The underdog has a decent record, but this is the first time he is fighting over Twelve Rounds and Tom Cowling could struggle to contain Jimmy Sains who can go through the gears and find a way to get this one done inside the distance.

MY PICKS: Teofimo Lopez to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Yoenli Hernandez to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Coral (2 Units)

George Liddard to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Jimmy Sains to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Boxing 2026: 21-37, - 10.80 Units (89 Units Staked, - 12.13% Yield)

Cincinnati Masters Tennis Picks 2026 (Saturday 22nd August)

The last couple of days at the Cincinnati Masters are to be concluded this weekend and the Semi Final selections can be read below.

It has been a difficult tournament, but there is still hope for a flying end to take some momentum into the US Open after a rough month for the Tennis Picks.

Arthur Fils - 3.5 games v Flavio Cobolli: While one of these players looks to be peaking towards the end of the Cincinnati Masters, the other is scrambling in earning his place in the Semi Final.

You cannot use that as a stick to beat someone, but Flavio Cobolli has to know that the level needs to be lifted if he is going to beat Arthur Fils for the first time.

Flavio Cobolli has won all four matches in a third set, so there is no doubt that he has played a lot of tennis this week already. In the last two Rounds he has had to dig deep and come from behind to win both matches played and the Italian has spent eight hours on the court to earn his spot in the Semi Final.

However, it should be noted that the numbers have dipped in each of the last three wins compared with the victory before and Cobolli has been on the right side of some fine inches within matches.

On the other side, Arthur Fils has improved in each of the last three Rounds compared to the one before and the Frenchman crushed Thiago Agustin Tirante in the Quarter Final.

There is so much to like about the Arthur Fils style, but it is an aggressive one that can lead to mistakes when he is slightly off and that is perhaps a reason he has not reached the second week of any Grand Slam on more than the sole occasion it happened at Wimbledon in 2024.

It is also a concern at the back of the mind when backing Fils and this is a wide spread.

That aside, Arthur Fils has been crushing the serve and has really piled on the pressure on the return and that could be the case in a match against an opponent he has beaten twice before. There is also a difference between the players when it comes to overall hard court performances in 2026 and Arthur Fils looks capable of going one better than he did in Miami earlier in the year and that is reaching a maiden Masters Final.

Iga Swiatek - 3.5 games v Jessica Pegula: Winning matches is what tennis players want to do, but Iga Swiatek will not have wanted to beat Elena Rybakina in the manner the Quarter Final ended.

A potentially serious injury was picked up by Elena Rybakina, which leaves her participation in the US Open in doubt, but Iga Swiatek has to move on and she is now two wins away from winning both the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters.

This will arguably place Iga Swiatek as favourite to win the US Open and there is a suggestion that she could be facing a compromised Jessica Pegula.

It certainly looked the case as she struggled in the second set against Amanda Anisimova in the Quarter Final and some felt Jessica Pegula may even be contemplating withdrawing from the match. She then moved a double break up in the final set decider, but Pegula threw that away before rallying in a competitive tie-breaker and ultimately getting the better of her compatriot yet again.

Jessica Pegula did tell the press that she had been feeling better the longer she was on court, but the issue could have flared up before the Semi Final and this has always been a tough match up.

She has plenty of wins over Iga Swiatek, but also a number of defeats including a one-sided Quarter Final defeat on the clay courts of Rome earlier this season. Jessica Pegula has won three of the last five hard court matches, including stunning Iga Swiatek at the US Open two years ago, but the Pole has been in fine form over the last two weeks and will be the fresher player.

This is an important factor and it may just give Iga Swiatek the edge in the sets that ultimately will lead to a cover of this handicap mark set.

MY PICKS: Arthur Fils - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Iga Swiatek - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Frances Tiafoe @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Coco Gauff - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Update: 17-19, - 4.81 Units (32 Units Staked, - 15.03% Yield)

Australian Darts Masters Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 22nd August)

The Australian Darts Masters may have lacked some of the upsets that some may have expected, but that is not to say that the top PDC representatives had an easy day.

Ross Smith will certainly feel he drew the short straw after suffering another First Round exit at the two World Series events played in New Zealand and Australia.

Plenty of other top names were pushed all of the way, but the Quarter Final line up has been put together with seven of the eight players that are familiar to most.

Gerwyn Price & over 2.5 180s v Josh Rock: Recent form makes it difficult to believe anyone other than Gerwyn Price will win this Quarter Final, but it would be foolish to dismiss the chances of Josh Rock.

The last Premier League meeting between these players ended in a 6-3 win for Josh Rock, but Gerwyn Price reached the New Zealand Masters Final and he has a level that may be tough for the Northern Irishman to reach.

Josh Rock is a talent that needs to be respected, but the feeling here is that Gerwyn Price can produce the maximums that eventually puts him in a position to win this Quarter Final.

Over the last couple of weeks, Price has found a level that has been consistently stronger than the one that Josh Rock has reached and that may be the case again.

James Wade v Stephen Bunting: A relatively poor performance did not stop Stephen Bunting getting through the opening Round at the Australian Darts Masters, but he is going to have to be a lot better to win this match.

Some of the Legs played have been dominated by Stephen Bunting, but he has thrown in too many poor Legs and that has meant being in the midst of a poor run of form.

James Wade was in exceptional form in his First Round win, and it is almost certainly going to be tough for him to reach that level once again.

However, The Machine remains a steady force on the Tour and one who feels he should have been invited into the Premier League and he can get the better of one of those eight players involved in that tournament earlier this season.

Jonny Clayton-Damon Heta over 4.5 180s: When these two players met at the World Matchplay, they shared out nine maximums in seventeen Legs played.

Both Jonny Clayton and Damon Heta are very strong maximum hitters and this is a total that can be reached as long as there are at least nine Legs played.

Damon Heta may deserve the edge in the match considering the improved form he continues to show and he will also have the home crowd behind him. That can give Heta a boost as he looks for a big day to conclude the World Series events played Down Under and The Heat has been comfortable here.

In saying all of that, Jonny Clayton is a stronger finisher and scores well enough to to give himself a chance to win any match he plays.

The Welshman is the favourite, but he may need to score well to secure the victory and that may lead to plenty of maximums hit.

Both players are capable of getting stuck into the treble twenty bed and there is every reason to believe these two players can combine for at least five maximums in this Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Gerwyn Price & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton-Damon Heta Over 4.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Australian Darts Masters: 2-3, - 0.70 Units (5 Units Staked, - 14% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2020- Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin (August 22nd)

Fight Camp has been every bit of a success for Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom promotion and the final card is set to take place on Saturday with the best card of the lot ready to go.

Things have worked out so well for Hearn over the last month that he has suggested he will run the four week event again next summer even if the Coronavirus outbreak is contained to the point where fans are allowed back into Stadiums.

It has been fun for the fans over the last month too with some very good fights put together and I do think there are some quality bouts in this weekend's event too.

Jack Cullen vs Zak Chelli

The opening bout in the final Fight Camp card of August comes from the Super Middleweight Division as two fighters look to bounce back from losses and turn their careers back into a positive direction.

Jack Cullen was beaten for the second time in his career by Felix Cash in what was a real gritty fight. Even in the loss Cullen's reputation was improved and that has seen him given this opportunity as he moves up to the Super Middleweight, although he will be the naturally smaller man in the fight.

The Boxer from Bolton has an edge in terms of height, but Zak Chelli is coming down from Light Heavyweight where he suffered a loss in his last fight against Kody Davies. That is the first defeat that Chelli has suffered in the professional ranks having opened with seven straight wins and the Londoner is confident that his power is going to make the difference.

Zak Chelli did manage to put down Davies before suffering an Unanimous Decision defeat and he does believe that power can tell against Jack Cullen who was put down multiple times by Felix Cash. The latter thinks the move up will make him more durable and he might not respect the power of an opponent who has three stoppages in his seven wins, but Cullen is going to be tested.

The fact of the matter is that Jack Cullen doesn't mind mixing things in a firefight and it may mean he gives Chelli the chance to unload something big on him. Both of Cullen's previous losses have come in stoppages and that makes this a fight that is more difficult to read, but I do think the slight underdog has a bit better in-ring experience that can aid him through some difficult moments.

He showed enough against Felix Cash to believe Jack Cullen can still have a very positive career and he has to show that in this effectively 50-50 bout.

Both fighters are young enough to come again, but my feeling is that Cullen is going to have a slight edge in the bout. Being able to back him as the underdog is fine by me here.

I do worry that Jack Cullen may get into a firefight that could see him caught by a heavy enough hitting Zak Chelli, but I think the former can out-box Chelli and that may lead to a win on the cards even if he has to ride out a storm or two.

Alen Babic vs Shawndell Winters

There was a real bit of needle between two Heavyweights fighting on the undercard at Matchroom HQ on Saturday.

At one point in the presser it felt like Alen Babic and Shawndell Winters might get up to trade blows days before they are due to meet in the ring, but ultimately things calmed enough.

Alen Babic is the up and comer at 3-0 who has yet to hear the bell for the Third Round in his short professional career. He has been working with Dillian Whyte and Babic is seen as someone who can be built in the Division, but this is also a considerable step up for him.

No one will confuse Shawndell Winters with a contender at this weight, while at 39 years old the American is probably past his best. His fights have tended to be exciting with only two of the sixteen professional bouts hearing the final bell.

Shawndell Winters is 13-3 as a professional and has twelve stoppages on his record, but he has also been stopped twice in his three defeats. One of those defeats came in the Fifth Round against Joseph Parker, but Winters could easily have been stopped before that and Babic has made it clear he wants to get the job done quicker than the former Heavyweight Champion.

That outing against Parker came earlier this year before the suspension of sports, and Babic has not been in the ring since October 2019. It might mean the Croatian Heavyweight has to take a couple of Rounds to build his rhythm, but I don't think he will have to go looking for Winters in this Eight Round bout.

It should mean an entertaining scrap for as long as it lasts and my feeling is that Babic is going to be able to put his shots together to get the job done before the end of the halfway mark of the contest. He might have to show off his own whiskers, but Babic should be able to get the job done a little quicker than Parker to show his intent at 29 years old to start making some real leaps in the Rankings.

Luther Clay vs Chris Kongo

Another pick 'em fight on the card comes from the Welterweight Division as Luther Clay looks to defend his WBO Global Title against the avoided Chris Kongo.

The man from South London is unbeaten in eleven fights and has found six stoppages, but Chris Kongo is taking a big step up compared to the other Boxers on his resume. Dillian Whyte has taken over the management of Kongo's career and that has given him a chance to showcase his talent on a big card as he looks to win a belt and then call out some of the big names in the Division at British and European level.

Chris Kongo very much believes he should be at that level already, but he is an awkward height for the weight and I think that does make Kongo well avoided.

He has the size in this bout against Luther Clay who has won eight in a row since his sole loss as a professional. The last five wins have all come against Boxers who held a winning record when Clay met them, while the Champion has also shown some power and strong Boxing in beating two opponents with a combined 32-2 record.

Luther Clay has also shown he can do the Ten Rounds scheduled for this bout, while Chris Kongo has not been beyond Six. I do think the latter will be ready to fight the full thirty minutes considering who has been training him, but there is still something different about going into territory you are unfamiliar with.

Both fighters will likely show some toughness as they get forward and look to meet in the middle of the ring and I do think the underdog is worth backing at the prices. The Champion has shown he can take on and beat opponents who have more experience than Chris Kongo and Luther Clay may just bite down on the gumshield and force the favourite to have to find something that has not been asked of him before.

I would not be surprised if it goes to the cards and it might be difficult to earn a Decision against an opponent who is under the management of the headline act. Even then, Luther Clay might just show he is ready to take the next step forward in his career and he can earn the win over Chris Kongo who is potentially rusty having not fought since April 2019.

Luther Clay has had twenty Rounds in the bank since then and could use his experience to edge to the win.

Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon

It was probably the best women's Boxing bout I have seen and one in which I thought Katie Taylor was very fortunate to receive a Decision win when she saw off Delfine Persoon on June 1st 2019.

The upset should really have come in that night, although eventually we did see the big one when Andy Ruiz Jr stopped Anthony Joshua.

Katie Taylor has long suggested she deserved the win, but most watching had Persoon winning and I was certainly no different. It was a bout that was fought on Persoon's terms, but I would be very surprised if Taylor was to allow that to happen for a second time.

This time I am expecting Taylor to stick and move and try and build up the Rounds and I do think the fact she has seen the Persoon style once will help her. The Belgian has long campaigned for a rematch and she won't really offer anything different as she looks to get on the front foot and make this a scrap.

Delfine Persoon was beaten in the Olympic Qualifiers which suggests she can be out-boxed by someone with the speed and skill that Katie Taylor has.

I do tend to lean towards the narrative that Taylor is past her peak and I do think she is going to be a vulnerable favourite in the weeks and months ahead. However I think it will take someone a little better than the rugged Persoon to do that and the two minute Rounds should help Taylor keep out of the kind of scrap she was dragged into last time.

No fans will also help the Irishwoman as she will be looking to put a win on the board without risking too much and the feeling is that Taylor wins this one fairly comfortably.

There will be one or two moments for Persoon where Taylor will look to fight fire with fire, but I expect her to have the Rounds in the banks and a Unanimous Decision looks to be on the cards.

That looks the best play in this one even if Katie Taylor looks to be on the downside of her career- I don't think she can stop Delfine Persoon, but I think Taylor will comfortably take six of the Ten Rounds scheduled and she can end the controversy which came out from the first bout.

Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin

The WBC mandatory position is on the line when Dillian Whyte takes on Alexander Povetkin in what looks to be a very good main event in the final Fight Camp of August 2020.

It has been a long wait for Dillian Whyte to receive the shot at a World Title which he believes is overdue, but the British fighter has taken on all challengers rather than waiting out for his shot at the belt.

Dillian Whyte has won twelve bouts in a row since losing to Anthony Joshua and has rebuilt his career and reputation thanks to some strong wins. The likes of Dereck Chisora (twice), Joseph Parker, Robert Helenius and Oscar Rivas have been seen off, but there is a feeling that Alexander Povetkin may be the biggest challenge of the lot.

At 40 years old I do think Povetkin has long seen his best days behind him and he is 1-1-1 in his last three fights having also lost to Joshua before a win over Hughie Fury and a slightly fortunate Draw with Michael Hunter in Saudi Arabia last year.

Michael Hunter perhaps showed that Povetkin is not the fighter he once was having hurt him multiple times and this from a former Cruiserweight. Now Alexander Povetkin is going to be taking full blooded shots from a big Heavyweight having been stopped for the only time in his career by Anthony Joshua.

If some of the punch resistance has gone I do think an in-shape Dillian Whyte is going to be too strong for Povetkin. The latter was hurt against David Price too and unlike Hunter I do think Whyte will be strong enough to finish the Russian if Povetkin is hurt as badly in this one as he was the last time we saw him in the ring.

Dillian Whyte also fought on the Saudi Arabia card, but he will be the first to admit he was out of shape in the Decision win over Mariusz Wach. The British fighter looked in great shape on the scales on Friday and has dropped 19 pounds from his last bout and I do think Whyte will be too strong for Povetkin.

It wouldn't be surprised if Whyte is hurt at some point too because Povetkin still punches plenty hard enough, but I think the Russian will struggle to stay out of range for the full Twelve Rounds. At some point I expect he will try and stand his ground and that is where a heavy hitting Whyte can become the second fighter to earn the stoppage over Povetkin.

There is no doubt that Dillian Whyte would love to get the job done quicker than Anthony Joshua, but I think it might be a wearing out job. He has shown he can punch very hard even late in fights and I think Whyte will find the stoppage at some point as Alexander Povetkin struggles to get out of the difficult moments this time as he did against a lighter hitting Michael Hunter.

MY PICKS: Jack Cullen to Win @ 2.30 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Alen Babic to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Luther Clay to Win @ 2.25 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Katie Taylor to Win by Unanimous Decision @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Dillian Whyte to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Cincinnati Masters Tennis Picks 2015 (August 22nd)

I have a very early start today as I am getting ready to head off to Old Trafford for the Manchester United-Newcastle United Premier League game, but I do have a couple of picks from the Cincinnati Masters Semi Finals that I would like to get out.

It was a decent Friday for the picks despite Tomas Berdych's defeat as the other three Quarter Final picks came in, so hopefully a strong end to the week can see the picks finishing in the positive and improve the season totals which have been decimated over the last six weeks.


Roger Federer - 2.5 games v Andy Murray: It says a lot about the character and strength of mind that Andy Murray possesses that he has reached the Semi Final here this week in Cincinnati. After an emotional win over Novak Djokovic in the Montreal Final last Sunday, Murray has looked short of physical well being all through the week, but has managed to dig himself out of some big holes.

He has saved match points against Grigor Dimitrov and Murray also dropped the first set against Richard Gasquet, but has still pushed himself through. This all despite looking like he has had very little left in the tank both physically and mentally.

By contrast, it has been a serene tournament for Roger Federer who missed Canada last week and instead wanted to play in his favourite Masters tournament in Cincinnati as the only preparation for the US Open. It has looked a good decision as Federer has breezed through his first three matches for the loss of just 17 games and he has yet to drop serve.

The one concern for Federer fans might be that he hasn't played in the day conditions all week and might take time to adjust to perhaps a speedier court. However, he looks stronger physically and I am not sure Murray has enough to recover if he falls behind against one of the best front runners in the game.

Federer needs to serve well to keep himself in the driving seat, but doing that should help him beat Murray for the second season in a row in Cincinnati and I like him to win this one 64, 64.


Jelena Jankovic + 3.5 games v Simona Halep: It is a shame for Simona Halep that she looks to be carrying some sort of leg injury at this stage of the season with the final Grand Slam of the season just a week away. She barely looked like she could serve properly at the end of her win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Friday and all of this should give Jelena Jankovic a chance for some revenge.

Jankovic has been beaten by Halep at the Indian Wells and Canadian Premier Events, but I think she can make this match more competitive like the former was rather than the straight sets loss she suffered last week. She is a player that gets stronger the deeper she goes into a tournament and confidence has to be high after a gruelling straight sets win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Friday.

However, she didn't look as physically spent as Halep and Jankovic is the kind of player that can punish the Romanian by producing a set where she dominates as she did in Indian Wells. Halep has shown considerable fight to suggest she can find a way to battle into another Final, but this number of games could be very useful if Jankovic can make a strong start and win a set.

There is little time for Halep to recover after three tough matches already this week and Jankovic has enjoyed success in the past in Cincinnati. She should be the stronger player physically and that can be decisive in perhaps securing the upset, although I will be content with a competitive match where Jankovic can keep things tight on the scoreboard.

MY PICKS: Roger Federer - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Jelena Jankovic + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Cincinnati Masters Update: 14-12, + 0.68 Units (52 Units Staked, + 1.31% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2015 (August 22-24)

Late goals, big misses and some strange results... So just a normal August really in the world of European football as pre-season remains a bigger factor at this time of the season than you may think.

I had a few thoughts out of the Premier League games last week which can be read here.


Manchester United v Newcastle United: The failure to sign Pedro looks to have knocked some of the supporters off balance at Manchester United, but the start made to the season has to have given them some positives to hold onto. It hasn't always been the best football to watch, but Manchester United looked better against Club Brugge, although the Belgian side might have shown teams that there is still some vulnerabilities to be exposed at Old Trafford with an attacking approach.

Steve McClaren was a former Assistant Manager at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson and he heads to Manchester United in charge of Newcastle United who still need some confidence restored. The squad played well in their first game of the season, but they didn't look that good against Swansea City and Newcastle have now lost 7 in a row away from home in the Premier League.

McClaren has to find a consistent attacking threat in their away games if Newcastle United are going to finish away from the relegation dogfight, but their signings suggest they will be able to do that once integrated into the team. However, we might not see the best of Newcastle United away from home until after the next international break once the transfer window is closed.

I expect Newcastle United to pose more of a threat at Old Trafford than they did at The Liberty Stadium, but I still think Louis Van Gaal is trying to make sure Manchester United are not giving too much away defensively. They have held Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at arm's length in the first couple of League games and only a twice deflected cross beat Sergio Romero in the Champions League tie.

There are still some issues at the back that need resolving, but Manchester United at least looked a little more fluid going forward against Club Brugge. They will hope to push on against Newcastle United, but I still believe the first port of call is to take away what their opposition are going to offer with the expectation that a goal will come.

A very strange goal cost Manchester United a clean sheet on Tuesday, but I think they get back to basics and win their third Premier League game in a row without conceding.


Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Pick: Last season saw Aston Villa struggle away from home and Crystal Palace struggle at home, especially against teams from the bottom half. That can be accounted for my the counter-attacking style Crystal Palace employ and the lack of space was hard to exploit although they hope Yohan Cabaye is going to give them more of a cutting edge with passes from midfield.

The start of this season has also seen Aston Villa perhaps change the trend from last season after they beat Bournemouth 0-1 at the Goldsands Stadium, although the loss of Christian Benteke is going to be hard to deal with. A lack of goals and perhaps ideas going forward have been a feature of their first couple of games, but Aston Villa have the pace to hurt Crystal Palace on the counter-attack in this one and that might be a big factor in the match.

Getting a consistent goal threat from the players on the books is going to be something of an issue for Aston Villa, but they might be able to double their away League wins if they can ride out the storm in this one. Crystal Palace do push forward at home but the key for Alan Pardew is seeing his team break down those teams that come to Selhurst Park looking to defend deep.

Crystal Palace have pace and they have power in the forward positions to cause a lot of problems for teams, but they have to prove they can deal with the expectation too. Now they have had a decent season behind them, teams might not be willing to come here and play open and expansive football and that was one of the reasons they only won 2 of 10 home games against teams in the bottom half who defended in numbers.

This has the makings of a tight game as both teams look to hit the other on the break, but I think Crystal Palace have shown they have more goals in the side than Aston Villa. That might just give them the edge in the contest, although they have to be aware of the threat Aston Villa pose from set pieces especially once Rudy Gestede is on the pitch.

I can't see either team winning by a wide margin, but will look for Crystal Palace to earn what has been a rare Premier League home win over the last twelve months.


Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: I can completely understand why the Tottenham Hotspur supporters get so frustrated with Daniel Levy as he continues to play hard ball with any signing that their club wishes to make. Levy is a businessman so saving money where he can is what he does, but it disrupts the start to the season when the manager is waiting for all the signings he wants to be made and the latest of those is Saido Berahino from West Brom.

There is time to bring in Berahino before this game at the weekend, but that looks a transfer that might need every hour until September 1st to be pulled off and Spurs will have to visit in-form Leicester City with what they have.

It is going to be a difficult afternoon for Tottenham Hotspur to keep Leicester City at bay if the home team plays like they have been for a few months in the Premier League. Claudio Ranieri is known as the 'The Tinkerman' and I do wonder if he is getting a little itchy and whether a game against one of the better teams in the League sees him change tact.

The Italian can't failed to have noticed that the Tottenham Hotspur defence has shown vulnerabilities in their opening two games that Leicester City can exploit with the pace they have provided in their games. However, I do think Ranieri will be disappointed that his team have conceded three goals in their first two games and he might be tempted to make Leicester City a little harder to beat against the higher quality opponent they are facing.

Ranieri didn't ask his team to take a backward step against West Ham United though and I can see chances created at both ends in this match from what we have seen so far. Tottenham Hotspur were decent going forward last week and the 1-2 scoreline was a popular in their away games last season.

Spurs have also looked like they might struggle for clean sheets as they try and find the right balance in the squad and backing at least three goals to be shared good pay off in this match.


Norwich City v Stoke City Pick: This looks to be one of those games in the Premier League that might not be expected to be put first on 'Match of the Day' on Saturday evening, but has more prospects than it may look. Norwich City have played well in their first two Premier League games back in the top flight, while Stoke City are not the kick and rush team of past years and actually play some decent stuff too.

Both teams have begun the new season in positive manner and that has shown up in the goals scored and chances created. One concern for both Alex Neil and Mark Hughes might be the defensive performances, but Stoke City held Liverpool at bay for much of their first game and will believe they can travel to Carrow Road and prevent Norwich City building up some momentum.

I think the edge is with Stoke City in this match, but Norwich City showed character in trying to come back from 0-2 down against Crystal Palace in their first match here. A better decision from the referee and that game would have got back to 2-2, while the same character helped them bounce back by dismissing Sunderland at The Stadium of Light.

Alex Neil has got his Norwich City team scoring goals and they have only had two home games since the end of September where they have failed to find the net. However, there has also been a lack of clean sheets in that time with only 5 in 25 home games and now Norwich are at the higher level of the Premier League compared with the Championship.

It does look a match that could produce goals with the way the teams have begun the season and picking both teams to hit the back of the net is my call.


West Ham United v Bournemouth Pick: There will be some negatives and there will be some positives that both Slaven Bilic and Eddie Howe will be putting to their West Ham United and Bournemouth squad respectively during the week. West Ham United failed to back up their win over Arsenal with a disappointing home defeat to Leicester City last week, but they played much better in the second half and that kind of performance over ninety minutes will keep Bilic happy.

Bournemouth lost for the second time in the Premier League to join Sunderland as the only teams without a point, although Howe might also be concerned with the two games without a goal. However, Bournemouth showed enough in the first two games to suggest they are not that far away from cracking their Premier League duck and perhaps beginning to turn things around in the table.

Matt Richie played well against Liverpool and looked a threat, but Callum Wilson and Josh KIng have to show they can get goals at this level if Bournemouth are going to avoid the drop. Eddie Howe will at least be encouraged by the fact that West Ham United will let Bournemouth play in this match and his side can express themselves against a team that has looked vulnerable defensively in home games where they are expected to push forward.

On the other hand, West Ham United will also feel they can create chances against a Bournemouth team that is relying on a defence that was effective in the Championship but that doesn't have Premier League experience. The injuries to Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia has taken away some of the firepower that Slaven Bilic can call upon, but there are still goals in the West Ham United squad and I expect them to pose some questions of Bournemouth.

I do think Bournemouth just need a slice of luck to go their way in front of goal too, but they have the pace that Leicester City used to good effect here last week. I see both teams giving the other something to think about and this could be an entertaining game that produces at least three goals to be shared out.


Everton v Manchester City Pick: It has been an impressive start to the new season for Manchester City as they look to recover the Premier League title they lost last season. Back to back 3-0 wins would be impressive against any teams, but the fact that Manchester City have won at West Brom and then beaten Chelsea at home is very impressive results on paper and it is no surprise they have been set as the new favourites to win the title.

However, they are in for a real test of those credentials this Sunday as they travel to Everton to take on a team that is fresh off an impressive 0-3 win of their own at Southampton. That result will have been a huge relief for Roberto Martinez who has been under pressure at Goodison Park, while the owners are also being heavily criticised.

Martinez has to keep John Stones focused on the game at hand as Everton have rejected yet another bid for him from Chelsea and they have to give the fans more than the 2-2 draw against Watford here. Those defensive issues will be punished by this Manchester City attack, although Everton will also feel they can get to the City backline that hasn't been tested fully over their first couple of games.

It might be the perfect game for Everton as they will be able to employ the counter attack against Manchester City who have enjoyed the lion share of possession in their first couple of games. With David Silva, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero all likely to start, Manchester City will feel they can out-score any team in the Premier League and they won't be intimidated by heading to Goodison Park having won once and drawn here in their two visits under Manuel Pellegrini.

In both of those previous visits, both Everton and Manchester City have scored and these are two teams that will believe in their attacking ability to score goals again in this one. However, I think the edge in the opening performances is clearly with Manchester City and I believe they can win a high-scoring match in which both teams score at least once.


Watford v Southampton Pick: On another day, Watford would most certainly have scored against West Brom, but better finishing from the away side might also have seen them steal a point in a goalless draw last week. The opening two draws for Watford have shown this is a team that is more than capable of staying in the Premier League after promotion and they will look to take advantage of any tired legs in the Southampton team.

The latter had to play in the Europa League on Thursday and settled for a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Midtjylland which puts their future in that competition in doubt. Unlike some English clubs, Ronald Koeman has put a decent stock into doing well in the Europa League, but he might have to settle for an early exit barring a turnaround next week in Denmark.

It is part of a disappointing start for Southampton who have now conceded six goals in their last three games in all competitions and who were looking to bounce back from a 0-3 home defeat to Everton last weekend. That followed a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United and now Southampton might be feeling some pressure into getting a result at Watford.

There has been enough decent play from The Hornets to suggest they can expose any defensive mishaps Southampton have. I expect Watford will look to get on the front foot in this match as they took the game to West Brom last week, but Southampton might also find more room to create chances than they have in their last two home games.

A lack of creativity was an issue in both games against Everton and Midtjylland, but playing away from home makes their pace a little more dangerous and there are goals in the Southampton squad.

Games between Watford and Southampton have usually provided goals too with the last six at Vicarage Road all seeing at least three goals scored on the day. With slightly more room for the away side to use their pace and Watford showing a little more composure with the chances that will likely come their way, this game could produce at least three goals to be shared by the teams.


Arsenal v Liverpool Pick: The big game this weekend takes place on Monday Night Football as Arsenal and Liverpool meet in another early clash between teams that will expect to be fighting for top four positions. In all honesty, Arsenal are expecting a real title challenge this season as they got back on track with a 1-2 win at Crystal Palace last weekend which followed a shocking 0-2 defeat to West Ham United.

Now they return to The Emirates Stadium where they were beaten on opening day with the confidence restored and Arsenal should be too good for Liverpool. That is no disrespect to Liverpool who have made the perfect start to the season with back to back 1-0 wins over Stoke City and Bournemouth.

The side were fortunate to beat Bournemouth who had a goal disallowed, while Liverpool's clearly offside goal was allowed to stand. They were solid at Stoke City, but keeping Arsenal out is a whole different challenge and I think Liverpool will struggle to do that.

Liverpool are changing the way they approach games, but Brendan Rodgers will need them to ride their luck if they are going to keep Arsenal at arm's length. The Gunners have Alexis Sanchez back in the starting line up and seem to have more options coming off the bench so Liverpool will look to play a containing game and perhaps hit them on the counter-attack or from set pieces.

This has been a fixture that Arsenal have performed well in in recent seasons and they have three straight wins over Liverpool including a crushing 4-1 win last season. For all the positives surrounding Liverpool's start to the season, I am not convinced they have been at their best and this is a big test for them in just the third game of the season as they integrate new faces.

With the added creativity and attacking options on the bench, Arsenal should have enough to win this game.
MY PICKS: Manchester United Win to Nil @ 2.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Crystal Palace @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Leicester City-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Norwich City-Stoke City Both Teams to Score @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)
West Ham United-Bournemouth Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Both Teams to Score and Manchester City to Win @ 3.25 Betfair Sportsbook (1 Unit)
Watford-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Arsenal @ 1.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

August Update: 5-18, - 23.22 Units (46 Units Staked, - 50.48% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks (August 21-23)

The first weekend of the new season is already in the history books, but it is a fast start as we get into the European qualifying games, another full set of fixtures from the lower Leagues in England ahead of the next weekend of a full schedule.

My 'Final Thoughts' from the first weekend of the season can be found here

Picks from the midweek schedule can be found below:


Spartak Moscow v Fenerbache Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14701-Spartak-Moscow-v-Fenerbache.htm)

Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14698-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Birmingham-City.htm)

Middlesbrough v Burnley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14696-Middlesbrough-v-Burnley.htm)

BATE Borisov v Ironi Kiryat Shmona Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14708-BATE-Borisov-v-Ironi-Kiryat-Shmona.htm)

Blackburn Rovers v Hull City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14706-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Hull-City.htm)

Hearts v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14713-Hearts-v-Liverpool.htm)

Atromitos Athens v Newcastle United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14715-Atromitos-Athens-v-Newcastle-United.htm)


MY PICKS: Spartak Moscow @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Sheffield Wednesday-Birmingham City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Burnley + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
BATE Borisov @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers @ 2.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.25 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Atromitos Athens-Newcastle United Draw @ 3.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)

August Update: 3-4, + 0.34 Units (15 Units Staked)

Monday 22nd August Football Picks (Manchester United v Tottenham)

It was a bad Sunday as late goals and penalty misses end up costing me in what looked like being a decent day... The goal at West Ham for Leeds United with a minute left was the one that left me with a losing day, but football can be so hard to predict at this early stage.

This week will begin with Manchester United's first game at Old Trafford in the new season, and it looks like a tough game to get involved in. I have a pick and preview up below.

After tomorrow, the week is packed with Champions League, Europa League and Carling Cup action before we get back to the Premier League action at the weekend.


Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-11406-Manchester-United-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)


MY PICK: Wayne Rooney to score first @ 5.50 Victor Chandler (1 Unit)


AUGUST FOOTBALL PROFIT/LOSS: 15-19, - 3.83 Units