Tennis Picks 2024 (Friday 23rd February)

This has been a decent enough week, but there are still those matches that 'got away' and it is very hard to make much sense of the way Marketa Vondrousova was beaten in her Quarter Final against Sorana Cirstea.

Leading 6-2, 5-1, the Wimbledon Champion missed multiple Match Points and failed to serve out the match on three separate occasions in a defeat that will potentially linger for some time.

She will have an opportunity to recover over the next month with some big hard court events to be played, but it is frustrating for the Tennis Picks to not have a stronger day when a loss like that one hits the board.

It was better in other events, but there is still a couple of days to negotiate before this week can be stamped as the first positive one of the season or not.

Selections from the two ATP events in Los Cabos and Rio de Janeiro will be added to this thread, if there are any selections, and the week totals will be updated at that time too.

Iga Swiatek - 5.5 games v Anna Kalinskaya: A dominant run through the Middle East in the last couple of years would have made Iga Swiatek the favourite to win the tournament in Dubai this week and the World Number 1 has not let anyone down.

With her main rivals all exiting before the Semi Final, Iga Swiatek is now a very strong favourite to pick up the title on Saturday.

However, she made it clear in her post match interview on Thursday that Swiatek is taking nothing for granted and she will have to give Anna Kalinskaya plenty of respect considering the start the Russian player has made to the 2024 season.

She reached the Quarter Final at the Australian Open and Kalinskaya has won six matches in Dubai after coming through the Qualifiers to make the main draw. Her win over Coco Gauff in the Quarter Final on Thursday will have really gotten people to take notice and Anna Kalinskaya has only dropped the one set in her run at this WTA 1000 event.

The World Number 40 is making good use of a heavy serve and strong groundstrokes and those really make a big impact on the courts here in Dubai. It is certainly going to make Anna Kalinskaya a threat to Iga Swiatek, although the Polish player is on very strong form and has a pretty solid serve of her own.

The difference is that Iga Swiatek has been a little more productive on the return of serve and she may be a bit more solid than Coco Gauff if she is able to get in front as the American did in the Quarter Final.

One of the best front runners on the Tour, Iga Swiatek can find a way to break down the Anna Kalinskaya game and the return of serve may prove to be a bit too strong for a much improved player. When she was beaten in Melbourne, Anna Kalinskaya just fell away against Qinwen Zheng and the feeling is that Iga Swiatek will be able to break her down in this Semi Final.

Cameron Norrie - 3.5 games v Thiago Seyboth Wild: The defending Champion has made serene progress through the first couple of Rounds in Rio de Janeiro, but Cameron Norrie has to be expecting a much sterner test in the Quarter Final.

For starters this will be the first time this week that he will be facing a home player and the crowds in South America can really play a big part in the outcome of matches.

His opponent, Thiago Seyboth Wild, has been doing just enough to make his way through his opening two matches and that will have built up some confidence. While he will need to be a lot better than he was in the First Round, Seyboth Wild was stronger in the Second Round win and has shown plenty of promise on the clay courts over the last twelve months, even if the start to 2024 has been underwhelming.

Serving well will be very important for Thiago Seyboth Wild to just make sure he is keeping his side of the scoreboard ticking over. That is certainly going to at least put some pressure on Cameron Norrie, who has loved the conditions at this event and who has been dominant behind serve so far this week.

Anything below par will give Cameron Norrie the opportunity to attack Thiago Seyboth Wild and the World Number 23 has just shown a bit more sign of returning to his top level.

Beating a home player who has built up some momentum is never easy, but Cameron Norrie did beat Brazilian Thiago Monteiro on his way to winning the title in Rio de Janeiro last year and he can get the better of this home hope.

MY PICKS: Iga Swiatek - 5.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)
Cameron Norrie - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Week Update: 17-12, + 5.84 Units (58 Units Staked, + 10.07% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2021 (February 23rd)

The Australian Open is over and two dominating players have won the titles.

That is the first Grand Slam of the 2021 season in the books, but the Tours have already moved on with four tournaments taking place in different countries and continents around the world. A clay court Golden Swing has begun in South America and the early indoor tournaments that are usually played in Europe have also gotten going.

We do have two new events on the schedule this week compared to normal times, but there are plenty of decent names out there this week as players look to earn some decent Ranking points before the system resorts back to the one year Rankings rather than the two year spot we have now.

The Tennis Picks haven't had the best start to the 2021 season, but I will have a fuller thread for the Wednesday matches.

With First Round action to be played throughout the day from around the globe, I am going to place my picks in this thread.

MY PICKS: Yasutaka Uchiyama - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Shelby Rogers - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Andy Murray - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (February 22-24)

It feels like the last Fantasy Football deadline was 'months' ago with the Winter Break meaning the last GameWeek was spread over two weekends.

The week wasn't a bad one, although it was also not a great one and I will have more thoughts about that below. Before that I will have a few thoughts about the Premier League fixtures to be played this weekend.


Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Most people will be predicting goals when Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the early fixture on Saturday afternoon, but there are likely going to be some key attacking players missing for both teams.

Both clubs are coming in off a loss and there is just a point separating them in the Premier League table so this is a very big game for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea have had longer to prepare, but Frank Lampard is struggling to find the balance he wants from his team, while Tottenham Hotspur are still being moulded into a shape Jose Mourinho will like to see. It makes it a tough game to predict, but Chelsea as odds on is as baffling as I thought it was when they hosted Manchester United on Monday.

However neither team is creating a lot of chances at the moment which is perhaps not a surprise considering the kind of players missing. It could mean both Lampard and Mourinho are looking to set their teams up to be hard to beat and try and steal something from set pieces or asking for a player to create a moment of magic to separate them on the day.

At odds against I will look for fewer than three goals to be produced with the feeling that one of these teams might actually struggle to hit the back of the net.


Burnley v Bournemouth Pick: Both Burnley and Bournemouth have had some recent successes in the Premier League which will give them some belief, although Bournemouth are coming off a two week break in which they will have been thinking about blowing the lead at Sheffield United.

This is a difficult test for Bournemouth who have not played as well away from home as they have in front of their own fans, although the attacking options that are available to them makes them dangerous. The Cherries have Josh King back and they have been creating chances, although defensively there remain some major concerns that have to be fixed.

Eddie Howe has had two weeks to work on improving the defensive performances of the side, but Burnley have also been creating a few chances. However, the bigger factor for Burnley is they have been clinical in front of goal which means they should be able to punish their visitors.

Teams are still creating chances against Burnley too and 7 of the last 9 between these clubs have finished with both teams scoring. The more recent fixtures have seen Bournemouth fail to score in 2 of the last 3 against Burnley, but with Callum Wilson and Josh King up front they should have opportunities in this fixture too.

Both teams should have enough in the final third to at least hit the back of the net in this fixture and that is the best angle to approach this game.


Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: This is honestly one of the toughest games to call this weekend as neither team can point to a consistent avenue for goals.

At the same time neither has been watertight at the back and it may take a VAR intervention or an unfortunate bounce of the ball to separate them on the day.

Gun to the head I would probably back the draw, but it is a very difficult match to be confident about.


Sheffield United v Brighton Pick: Coming from 0-1 down to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at home two weeks ago was an important result for Sheffield United who have sometimes lacked goals despite their obvious good play into the final third. It is a result that will give the players belief that they can finish this exceptional season with a European place, and some will even be thinking of a potential Champions League spot if the CAS upholds the decision to ban Manchester City from the top competition in European club football.

Chris Wilder is a straight talking kind of manager though and I very much doubt any European prospects are not discussed on the training ground and instead it is all about focus. The Blades have had two weeks to prepare for this game and they will believe any kind of consistent end to the season will bring its own rewards.

The same can be said for Brighton who will have spent time trying to recharge batteries and get ready for the relegation fight that is in front of them. They have not won any in 7 games in all competitions which will put Brighton under pressure, but the points earned against West Ham United and Watford prior to the Winter Break could still be all-important when the final standings are produced in mid-May.

Games like this one are important for Brighton even if anything they earn will be considered a bonus- with twelve games left any against a team that is not called Liverpool or Manchester City have to be seen as ones from which points can be earned.

Brighton have played well at times and they do create chances, but the defence has suffered with the new style of play and Sheffield United can take advantage. For all the praise the home team deserve, they are a team that will offer up chances as they take risks getting forward, and I would not be surprised if this is a fixture that produces three or more goals shared out.

Neither is a team that is scoring a lot of goals, but the 1-1 might only suit Brighton and Sheffield United's attacking instincts could see them rally as they did against Bournemouth two weeks ago. Backing at least three goals to be shared out at odds against looks the play.


Southampton v Aston Villa Pick: This is a very important game for both Southampton and Aston Villa and I have no doubt at all that both managers will send their teams out fully believing this is a winnable fixture.

6 points separate these teams and with twelve League games to play there is no doubting how important the three points on offer can be.

Southampton have had a strong couple of months which has seen them progress up the standings, but recent results and performances have just come off the kind of standard they had been producing. They have not been creating as many chances and that is a problem when coupled with the fact that Southampton continue to look vulnerable at the back.

They will feel they can hurt an Aston Villa team who have not been able to put consistent defensive performances in all season. However it does have to be said that Dean Smith's team have really shown some strong attacking potential of late and in Mbwana Samatta they look to have someone who can lead the line and give the attacking players around him the chance to play off him.

Aston Villa have struggled away from home which can't be ignored, but they have been competitive in recent weeks. They have looked the stronger team in the final third when attacking of late, and I think that gives them a chance against what looks a very short priced Southampton team.

Backing Aston Villa with a full goal start should be enough to at least earn a push, but I would not be stunned if The Villains can earn something here.


Leicester City v Manchester City Pick: All of the talk coming out of Manchester City is that they are positive they are going to overturn the UEFA ban that was handed out last week and will mean two seasons without European competition. Pep Guardiola is trying to make sure his players are focused on the field and he has set out a target of winning the last three competitions they have a realistic chance of winning.

He has also pointed out he wants Manchester City to finish 2nd in the Premier League and a win on Saturday will go a long way to doing that. However you can't deny that the focus has to be on the Cup competitions and Manchester City have a huge game against Real Madrid to come this week which could be a big distraction on the day.

They might be facing Leicester City at the right time though with Brendan Rodgers' team just struggling for consistent results in recent weeks. However The Foxes will be able to put their full power into winning this game and that could see them extend their recent strong run against Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City will look to counter attack and there is no doubt that Manchester City remain vulnerable at the back. The visitors do create chances, but they will offer Leicester City chances and if there are changes made with the Real Madrid tie in mind it may give the home team more of an edge.

I have to be concerned by their record against the top two this season as Leicester City have lost all 3 of those games and two by wide margins. However the situation may just give them a chance in this one and I think Leicester City might have enough in them to earn a positive result so backing them with a start on the Asian Handicap looks to be the play.


Manchester United v Watford Pick: This is a very important game for both Manchester United and Watford who will know they can't afford to keep dropping points as they enter the final quarter of the Premier League season. The home team are still very much hoping to return to the Champions League, while Watford are desperate to avoid the drop and so the three points available on Sunday are very important to both.

Since Watford earned a 1-1 draw at Brighton two weeks ago they have been on their Winter Break while Manchester United have played at Chelsea and Club Brugge. It could mean Watford are fresher, but some teams have struggled with this first time Winter Break and Nigel Pearson will be demanding a big performance from his team.

His arrival has seen Watford's performances improve, but they have not won any of their last 5 games in all competitions. The Hornets have not won any of their last 4 in the Premier League, but they have led in each of the last 3 games and somehow managed to lose two of those.

It will have knocked some of the confidence from the players and I do think that could play a part here. Manchester United will restore some key players, although I am always a touch concerned in backing the home team when you think of how they play against teams who will look to sit in and make things difficult as I imagine Watford will try and do.

However Watford have struggled for clean sheets and they are giving up too many chances for Nigel Pearson's liking. So even a low block defence may not be enough to contain Manchester United who will have Bruno Fernandes back in the line up to produce the creativity that has sometimes been lacking for the home team.

Goals have been a problem for Manchester United too and that is another factor that can't be easily put aside. They have beaten Watford 8 times in a row at Old Trafford though and I do think the match fitness may see the home team being a little sharper on the day and they can find a way to break down this Watford team.

Backing the home team to win a game featuring two or more goals looks the play considering Watford's recent poor performances at the back.


Wolves v Norwich City Pick: After dismissing the challenge of Espanyol on Thursday night, Wolves will be looking to keep another avenue into the Champions League open to themselves by seeing off another club that is bottom in one of the top European Leagues.

This fixture is against Norwich City who have looked overmatched when it comes to the Premier League and who need to find wins sooner rather than later. The Canaries are as healthy in the squad as they have been at any point this season, but they are struggling at both ends of the field and I do think a team like Wolves can expose those issues.

Wolves are not an easy team to back simply because they can be a little lacking in the final third. They are hard to beat, but Wolves don't score a lot of goals even with the 4-0 win over Espanyol in mind and I do think that makes them a hard back at times.

Despite that, I do think Wolves can hurt Norwich City with the attacking players they can call upon.

Norwich City might have their moments if they can play as they did against Newcastle United prior to their Winter Break, but Wolves are a much more solid team all around than Steve Bruce's team. I expect that to show up here and I think backing Wolves to win a game featuring two or more goals has to be the call.


Arsenal v Everton Pick: The home team have picked up a couple of big results this week which has to give them confidence, but Everton are playing well enough to offer a lot more threat than Newcastle United or Olympiacos posed to Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal tougher to beat which means the layers are about right to have them as favourites, but I would not rule out Everton getting a result here.

Arsenal have not been dominant in front of goal under their new manager and that has led to a lot of draws. They have shown a little more defensive resiliency which makes this a difficult game to predict, while the layers are well on top of the 'Both Teams to Score' and 'Over 2.5 Goals' markets.

Again I would not be surprised if this game ends in a draw, but I don't think there is an angle to recommend here.


Liverpool v West Ham United Pick: There have been a couple of signs that Liverpool are just struggling through the full ninety minutes of fixtures at the moment as they try and maintain the standards they have been setting for the last twelve months.

A battling win at Norwich City was followed by an uninspired defeat at Atletico Madrid, but Liverpool have had almost a full week to prepare for this fixture.

That should help as they look to bounce back and if David Moyes employs the same tactics he did at Manchester City on Wednesday it is going to be a one sided game for much of the evening. Liverpool will be happy if West Ham United sit back as this is not a team who have been that strong at the back and unlikely to prevent chances like Atletico Madrid do.

It will be good preparation for the Second Leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie, but I also think Liverpool will want a reaction to a defeat. They have scored four times in each of the last two West Ham United visits to Anfield and I think the home team will be too good here.

Liverpool have won 9 games in a row here and the last 7 have come with a clean sheet. They have sometimes done just enough to secure the points and backing them to win another fixture with a clean sheet looks a good price at close to odds against and especially if West Ham United are as negative as they were on Wednesday evening at Manchester City.

MY PICKS: Chelsea-Tottenham Hotspur Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Burnley-Bournemouth Both Teams to Score @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Sheffield United-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Aston Villa + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.84 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.73 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.00 Coral (2 Units)
Wolves & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.86 Coral (2 Units)
Liverpool Win to Nil @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

February 2019/20: 8-10, - 3.74 Units (36 Units Staked, - 10.39% Yield)
January 2019/20: 5-12, - 14.66 Units (34 Units Staked, - 43.12% Yield)
December 2019/20: 16-14, - 0.58 Units (60 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)
November 2019/20: 9-16, - 12.66 Units (50 Units Staked, - 25.32% Yield)
October 2019/20: 16-14-2, + 6.14 Units (62 Units Staked, + 9.90% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 27

The Winter Break caused problems for managers as the Fourth Round FA Cup Replays were scheduled to be played at a time when some Premier League clubs were supposed to be having the break promised to them.

It was also not ideal for FPL players who have had a long wait between GameWeek 26 and 27 and during that time there have been some key players that have gone down with injuries which could be important to any decisions on transfers that need to be made.

My choices are fairly simple with a couple of members of the squad needing to be moved out, while we have yet to hear about any potential DGWs that are going to be played later this season. Those games won't really come to light until the FA Cup Fifth Round is completed, although I think it should be noted that we may get very late notice for an earlier than expected DGW if Manchester City make it through to the FA Cup Quarter Final.

It would mean Manchester City have potentially three games to make up and there would only be two potential midweeks to come after the March international break if the team continue to progress in the Champions League too. This issue is something to keep in mind, although you would also have to factor in the potential rotation that Pep Guardiola will use in the Premier League down the stretch as they are almost assured of finishing in the top four, but also out of the title race.

My GW27 Team

I might have gotten it slightly wrong in GW26 by removing John Lundstram from my squad considering he came on and scored the winning goal against Bournemouth, but the long-term starting prospects of the cult Fantasy Player means it is the right play for me.

The next player out of the squad is going to be Pablo Fornals who is out of favour with David Moyes at West Ham United. The fixture list for West Ham United was unappealing anyway, but not getting any minutes makes this an easy choice for the Free Transfer I have this week.

My main plan for the rest of the season remains the use of the Free Hit in GW31 and that means I can pick a short-term option for Fornals. The likes of Wolves, Leicester City and Newcastle United have perhaps the most favourable fixture list which includes fixtures in GW28, an important weekend when four of the twenty Premier League teams will not be in action.

The choice I ended up making is picking Adama Traore who is cheaper than Fornals and means I can stick with my plan of upgrading Troy Deeney if I choose to do that next week. I am still toying with the idea of removing Jack Grealish who will be having a blank week, especially with the fixtures Aston Villa have coming up, but the potential make up game with Sheffield United could be played before GW31 if the latter progress in the FA Cup and I think Deeney may be the next player on the way out of the squad.

I will have more on that next week.

Alisson- home game against West Ham United, easy choice even if I had to make one.

Harry Maguire- scored last week to go with a clean sheet for some huge points. Home game against Watford presents a chance for another clean sheet.

Enda Stevens- I think the Sheffield United game against Brighton might be more entertaining than the layers think, but a home clean sheet would not be a massive surprise.

Federico Fernandez- tough away game, but I feel Newcastle United have a better chance of a clean sheet than Serge Aurier and Caglar Soyuncu.

Adama Traore- brought in and has been a revelation for Wolves who look to be entering a favourable stretch in their fixture list.

Mohamed Salah (C)- home game against West Ham United makes the Egyptian an easy choice as Captain.

Kevin De Bruyne- a big game with Real Madrid to come during the week which may see Manchester City rotate the squad, but the Belgian is a key figure for them and should get 60-70 minutes.

Jack Grealish- Aston Villa need their Captain to perform and they are facing a porous defence Southampton bring.

James Ward-Prowse- hasn't produced as many points as I would have liked and Southampton been a little weak in the final third in recent games which makes him a vulnerable member of my squad.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin- an away game at Arsenal is tough on paper, but Everton have been playing well and the young English player has been in great form under Carlo Ancelotti.

Roberto Firmino- hasn't scored a League goal at Anfield in a long time, but as good a chance to snap hat run as he will have when facing West Ham United.

Bench- Michael McGovern, Serge Aurier (tough away game at Stamford Bridge), Troy Deeney (I won't rule out a Watford goal at Old Trafford, but it won't be easy), Caglar Soyuncu (maybe a better chance of a clean sheet than I think considering Manchester City's recent results and upcoming match against Real Madrid, but I like the other two outfield subs a bit more).

Boxing Picks 2019- James DeGale v Chris Eubank Jr (February 23rd)

The last Boxing Picks of 2018 took place in early December after I returned from Los Angeles and the amazing Deontay Wilder versus Tyson Fury event and the year ended with a small profit.

I still wanted to sit down and think about how I could improve as I didn't pick as many winners as I would have liked and that would have made a huge difference to the overall numbers. Of course you can never be unhappy if you end with a winning number at the end of the day, but evolving and working out ways to improve is paramount to long-term success.

With that in mind I always felt I was going to sit out the first couple of months of the 2019 year even though there were a couple of fights that really intrigued me. The Manny Pacquiao UD over Adrien Broner was one I was keen on, but I also thought Keith Thurman would return with a real statement win and that was far from the case.

January and early February had some other decent fights too and I have been settling down and enjoying the events as they have been put on. However my feeling has been that the James DeGale versus Chris Eubank Jr card from the O2 Arena in London was going to be the one in which I made my first selections from the 2019 year.

I feel this is the start of a number of weeks where we see some huge names coming out to their first bouts of the year, although the excitement levels of late December 2018 to enter 2019 have diminished some.

You may ask why and the answer is simple- the fights that were expected to be made in the first half of the 2019 year have just not materialised at the time of writing. The main one is of course the rematch between Wilder and Fury, but I am convinced the Tyson Fury deal with ESPN means both will go a different direction before meeting up later in the year instead of the April or May dates we thought.

Tyson Fury deserves the deal and the exposure he is going to get, but you can't help feel disappointed if the rematch does not happen in 2019 and at the moment we really don't know what is happening even if my feeling is that it will be put together.


At the same time Anthony Joshua has scrapped the long held Wembley date on April 13th and instead heads to New York City to take on Jarrell Miller on June 1st. That has left Dillian Whyte without a dance partner after a fantastic 2018 and I do feel sorry for a fighter that has long deserved a shot at the World Title but yet feels as far away from that as ever.

Lower down we are yet to see what Gennady Golovkin has planned, but the fight between Danny Jacobs and Canelo Alvarez is about as good as you could want in the Middleweight Division.

Another fight that hasn't come to fruition like expected is the Amir Khan versus Kell Brook domestic grudge bout- instead Khan decided to head to America to challenge Terence Crawford and Brook looks to be going the same way.

The World Boxing Super Series has been a revelation over the last eighteen months, but even that tournament has had financial issues attached and all in all 2019 has yet to open with the kind of bang that 2018 delivered.


It is also something of a downtime for the UK fans- most of the big names are heading to the States, including Anthony Crolla, while the cards scheduled for this side of the pond have yet to really ignite for the fans. This weekend's at the O2 Arena may be about as good as it gets, but that is yet to sell out and there is very few cards coming up that really gets the blood rushing.

The best of the lot has to be Josh Taylor's World Title bid on May 18th in the World Boxing Super Series which also has Naoya Inoue attached to it, but the tournament isn't exactly prospering and who knows if that actually takes place?

For those watching on television there are plenty of fights to enjoy, but the UK being the heart of boxing like some many promoters have stated just doesn't feel the case at the moment.


This week we do have a good card in London and it should be a fun night especially the main event which looks a good one on paper. The fights will go on through the night as Anthony Dirrell looks to pick up a World Title again, while Brandon Rios headlines a card in Mexico too, but the main fight I am looking forward to is the one between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr.

Joe Joyce vs Bermane Stiverne

The main support to the top of the bill is the Heavyweight return of Joe Joyce who is back in the United Kingdom and back in a Boxing ring for the first time since early December. The British fighter has built a decent reputation in the United States where he has based himself in the last few months and this is seen as another step in his development which is being accelerated because Joyce decided to turn pro after he had already turned 30 years old.

There had been some talk of Joe Joyce taking on Luis Ortiz, but his trainer Abel Sanchez decided it would be better for more experience to be earned.

Instead the attention has turned to Bermane Stiverne who is a former World Champion, but someone who has not had many fights since losing the WBC belt to Deontay Wilder. That defeat on a Unanimous Decision came in January 2015 and Stiverne has only been out twice since then with the most recent of those being in the First Round blow out that Wilder handed to him in November 2017.

Now Stiverne has hit 40 years old and his best days look way behind him. A win would bring him back into World Title contention with the WBA attaching a 'Golden Belt' to this fight which means the winner will be in line to take on Regular Champion Manual Charr and then perhaps become the mandatory for a shot at Anthony Joshua.

However this feels like a crossing of the paths kind of fight where Joe Joyce is on an upward climb to the top of the mountain and Stiverne is on the way down.

The fight has been selected for Joyce to make a statement by cruising past a former World Champion and I am not sure Stiverne has the kind of punch resistance he will need to make this a long, tough night for the British fighter. The long fight with Wilder which ended on points seems to have taken something from Stiverne who was knocked down in the First Round of his comeback bout after losing to Wilder the first time before the WBC Champion crushed him in the rematch.

This is the eighth pro fight for Joe Joyce and he has won all seven by stoppage. Only two of the previous seven fighters facing Joyce have gotten out of the Second Round and I think he will give the home fans something to smile about with a big early finish in this one too. The talk is already about Joyce being back out in May so he won't want to spend too long in this one as people look to compare how he handles Stiverne compared with Wilder's last win over the Haitian.

It is unlikely it will be quicker than the Wilder finish, but I don't think Joyce will need to be working Overtime to get paid. Backing Joyce to finish this in the first three Rounds at odds against looks a very good price and I think he can be backed to get the fight concluded in those Rounds.

James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr

I'll admit that when this fight was first rumoured for the end of 2018 I wasn't that interested in seeing it, but since the announcement was made that James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr will be getting in the ring with one another in February I have slowly begun to become more and more intrigued by it.

I do think it is always a different feel when two British fighters with a bit of needle between them face off and the Super Middleweight Division has given us some very good domestic bouts over the years.

Much is on the line for both DeGale and Eubank Jr, although I do think it is a more important fight for the former to show he still has something in the tank. At the back end of last year DeGale decided to give up the IBF World Title he had won back from Caleb Truax and it was a decision made to chase the big fights with the most financial rewards even though DeGale won't be bringing a belt to the table.

Beating Eubank Jr opens up the possibility of a huge fight with Callum Smith who is considered the best Super Middleweight in the world after winning the World Boxing Super Series last October. Billy Joe Saunders is another who has moved up to the 168 pound Division and he could have a WBO World Title behind him, but those doors will shut for DeGale if he loses this one.

It has to worry me that he has used 'retirement' in the build up to the fight because no Boxer can really think that way and then motivate themselves to push themselves as hard as possible in the gym. The irritation of Eubank Jr should focus DeGale to give whatever he has left and I am still not convinced that Eubank Jr is able to put his best together in these big fights.

Twelve months ago Eubank Jr was a pretty strong favourite to beat George Groves in the World Boxing Super Series, but he struggled in the step up like he did against Billy Joe Saunders. Things have changed with an official trainer brought in, but Eubank Jr has to humble himself to listen to instructions if he is going to win this one.

I can see the fight developing like the Groves-Eubank Jr fight from last year. I expect DeGale to be able to outbox Eubank Jr during the first Six or Seven Rounds, but I also hope to see more from the former World Champion than what he was able to produce in his two fights with Truax, while DeGale can't afford to take as much time off in the latter Rounds as he has tended to do throughout his career.

I think a leopard can't really change its spots though and I think DeGale will drop some of the later Rounds to Eubank Jr due to conserving energy and perhaps not moving around the ring and boxing like he should do earlier in the fight. However DeGale has shown he can rally late to win a couple of Rounds to make the difference and I believe the fight goes something like that and sees the Olympic Gold Medal winner coming through with a tight Decision win.

You do have to wonder how much DeGale has left in the tank and he has been in a number of tough fights in a row when it has begun to look like he is not the same fighter as he once was. Of course you're going to hear great things coming from DeGale himself about how he feels, but we heard the same from David Haye prior to both fights with Tony Bellew and you can't take a fighter at face value when those statements are made.

However I still think DeGale should be technically too good for Eubank Jr and if he boxes like he can and is not dragged into a scrap I would favour the naturally bigger man to find a way to get this done. Stopping Eubank Jr is close to impossible at the moment, but DeGale can win this one on the cards and I will back him to show there is still one more huge night in him by beating this rival and perhaps sending Eubank Jr down to Middleweight to fight at a more natural weight for himself.

Anthony Dirrell vs Avni Yildirim

David Benavidez was stripped of the WBC Super Middleweight Title and the organisation quickly decided they would crown the winner of the Anthony Dirrell and Avni Yildirim bout as the Champion.

This was one of the fights showcased by the Premier Boxing Champions promotion and it is no surprise that Dirrell is the favourite.

Anthony Dirrell is a former WBC Super Middleweight Champion who lost his belt in a Majority Decision to Badou Jack after holding onto it for nine months. He always felt he should have gotten a rematch, but Dirrell has managed to win all five fights he has had since April 2015 with the most notable being a very early stoppage of Caleb Truax.

It can be said that he has not been as active as you may have wanted him with this being his first fight in ten months, while I always have concerns when boxers are talking about life after they hang up the gloves. Does that mean Dirrell is as focused on this fight as he should be or is it one last payday before heading off into the sunset?

Personally I think Dirrell is not going to go on for much longer than this year, but he can have at least one major fight later in 2019 by getting past Avni Yildirim.

The Turkish fighter is perhaps most well known for being beaten by Chris Eubank Jr in their World Boxing Super Series Quarter Final, but he has rebuilt from that Knock Out defeat. Since then Yildirim has won five fights in a row although his quality of wins are questionable with the best one being a Majority Decision over 46 year old Lolenga Mock back in September.

Even then it is something of a surprise that he is Ranked as highly in the WBC to earn the chance to fight for a vacant Title. Avni Yildirim is pretty basic with his movements and I do think if Anthony Dirrell has anything left in the tank this is a fight he should win quite comfortably.

A Division that is a popular one is not exactly blessed with a lot of talent at the moment, but it is top loaded and the winner of this bout could have a very big Unification fight to come later this year. I still think Dirrell is going to have too much for a pretty predictable fighter and I believe he will stop Yildirim at some point.

Anthony Dirrell has some decent pop and I think he will be able to time Yildirim onto something like Eubank Jr did and that should set up the American for at least one more big fight down the line.

Brandon Rios vs Humberto Soto

The main event in Tijuana on Saturday evening sees two veteran fighters in what should be a crossroads fight. The losing fighter won't really have a lot of avenues to tread to get back into contention at this stage of their careers, but the winner could at least set themselves up for one more big opportunity.

Brandon Rios is always a joy to watch for the fans, but he has been involved in plenty of wars which makes him an old 32 years. He has been stopped in two of his last four fights, but he has bounced back from those defeats to Timothy Bradley and Danny Garcia to stop the next opponent he has faced.

The last time we saw Rios he was walking down and breaking down Ramon Alvarez and he will be looking to do the same here against an opponent who should have the majority of the support.

Humberto Soto is going to be involved in his eightieth fight on Saturday evening and at 38 years old he has to be feeling it these days. Soto is on a run of three wins in a row and he has proven to be a tough out with only two stoppages on his record and the last one of those was back in 2012 since when Soto has lost just one fight on a Decision.

I am fully expecting these two proud warriors to give as good as they get and it should be a fan friendly fight, but a tough one for the two men sharing the ring. My feeling is that Brandon Rios might be the harder puncher and is perhaps going to be in a position where he wears down Soto over eight or nine Rounds like he did to Alvarez back in November.

I do think Rios has seen something taken away from him by the difficult fights he has been involved in, but he might just get himself another big bout in the months ahead by working his way past Soto. There is no way this Mexican warrior Soto is going to want to do anything but go out on his shield in this fight, but at some point the age should catch up with him and his corner or the referee may step in to save him and I will have a small interest in Rios winning this fight in the second half of the contest.

MY PICKS: Joe Joyce to Win Between 1-3 @ 2.20 William Hill (2 Units)

James DeGale to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Anthony Dirrell to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Brandon Rios to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018: + 5.14 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.23% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2019 (February 23-24)

The Premier League is back this weekend which also means the return of Fantasy Football which we will get to below.

This weekend is also the set for the League Cup Final as the first domestic silverware of the season is competed for by Manchester City and Chelsea. The former are still very much in with a chance of winning all four trophies they are competing for, while the latter may have a big decision to make about Maurizio Sarri sooner rather than later.


Below you will be able to read my selections from the weekend fixtures in the Premier League and League Cup Final, but I will also continue to highlight the top two potential stars from a Fantasy perspective from each game.

I have written before that I intended to just fine tune the way I prepare the Fantasy Picks from each Game Week and I have decided I will offer the three best players at two different values going forward. For goalkeepers that may only be a couple of players, but I have decided to split between the two best 'cheap' options and the two best 'pricey' options because it is clearly important in the official Fantasy game to have a blend of players and their values spread across your team.

No one can pick four top defenders and add the likes of Mo Salah, Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero to one team without going over the limit so by offering up three players per position at a high/low price bracket will at least give the reader some options to play with. This is still a work in progress as to how to offer this advice the best so keep that in mind too if changes are made to the approach in the weeks ahead.

The next two rounds of Fantasy deadlines are both coming on a midweek day with this week's being a Friday and next week's being a Tuesday so this thread will be posted on my Twitter page twice on those days and with at least a couple of hours before the deadline (as far as I can make possible).

Then we will be back to the 11:30am deadline for the Saturday 2nd March round of fixtures which means that thread for those games will be out several hours before giving more time to those who wish to take on board any advice written out.

Remember this week it is a 6:45pm Friday deadline with two Premier League games to be played that evening.


Cardiff City v Watford Pick: The Premier League had a two week break thanks to the FA Cup Fifth Round which was scheduled for last weekend, but teams will have to be ready for three League games to be played over a ten day period beginning on Friday.

There is a huge game being played in Cardiff on Saturday when England visit Wales in the Six Nations Rugby and that has meant Cardiff City were asked to play Watford on Friday evening.

Neil Warnock will be very pleased with the way his players have reacted to the Emiliano Sala situation as Cardiff City have won back to back Premier League games, but the off field stories about the whole Sala deal has to be having a negative impact somewhere. The manager has to make sure the players who are not coping with the situation are perhaps not used so much until they are ready to fight for the club, and so far Warnock has managed that very well.

Home advantage is going to be huge for Cardiff City if they are going to upset the odds and remain a Premier League club at the conclusion of this season. They have what many would consider to be 4 winnable games left at home and I would imagine Cardiff City need to target at least 10 points from those games which could mean they need just a couple of away wins to maintain their top flight status.

First up is Watford and Cardiff City may be facing them at the wrong time with Javi Gracia's men in a strong run of form and off a confidence boosting FA Cup Fifth Round win to take them one game away from Wembley Stadium. The Hornets have lost 1 of their last 10 overall and just 1 of their last 9 away from home in all competitions and Watford have plenty of goals in the side which makes them dangerous.

However I do think Cardiff City are an appealing home underdog this weekend.

They have won 4 of their last 7 Premier League games at home and the 2 defeats suffered in that time have come against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur who are both in the top four at this time. In that run Cardiff City have beaten Brighton, Wolves, Southampton and Bournemouth and they will feel they have enough determination to find a way to break down this tough Watford team.

You can support Cardiff City with a start on the Asian Handicap which will produce a positive return as long as they don't lose and I think that is the best way to approach this fixture. As difficult as it has been to beat Watford in recent weeks, they are a side who have won 1 of their last 4 away Premier League games and I think Cardiff City can avoid a defeat at home at the very worst.

Fantasy Star: Neil Etheridge- The goalkeeper has been huge for Cardiff City and is something of a penalty saving specialist. If they are going to get something here, Etheridge may need to be at his best.

Alternative: Ben Foster- the same can be said for Watford as I did for Cardiff City. Ben Foster has been huge in goal for The Hornets and a key reason for the success Watford have been having and could have a big say in where the points end up in this Friday night fixture.


West Ham United v Fulham Pick: The first televised game from the Premier League this weekend is a London derby between clubs from the East and West of the city.

A few weeks ago when the match was selected the feeling was that Fulham would be searching for the points to take them out of the bottom three, but instead they have begun to be cut off from those teams above them. An 8 point gap has developed between Fulham in 19th place and Cardiff City in 17th and you have to think another defeat may almost be curtains for the club in their bid to avoid the drop back into the Championship.

It is a big ask for Fulham to put a run of wins together like they need when you think of the amount of goals they are conceding and the struggles for a consistent threat in the final third. That really is a terrible combination for any club to have and Fulham have been miserable away from home.

Fulham have lost 10 of their last 11 away games in all competitions and they have conceded at least twice in 9 of those games as they have dug themselves into a big hole.

The only saving grace for Fulham this week is they are visiting a West Ham United team who can be streaky and who have not won any of their last 5 in all competitions. The home form has been better for West Ham United, but 1 win in 4 Premier League games does not make for very good reading if you are backing a team at odds on to win a game of football.

In reality I can't see beyond a West Ham United win as they look to have talent in the final third that will surely get some big chances to score goals against this porous Fulham defence. They have already won 0-2 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League this season and West Ham United should find the spaces to continue Fulham's poor defensive trend away from home.

Backing West Ham United to win a game which features two or more goals is my pick from this live fixture as The Hammers place another nail in the Fulham coffin as far as survival in the top flight goes.

Fantasy Star: Marko Arnautovic- the Austrian has had a couple of weeks to rest his injury which has prevented too much action in a month when it looked like he would be leaving. Marko Arnautovic should have plenty of chances against a porous Fulham defence.

Alternative: Felipe Anderson- as with Arnautovic, I expect West Ham United to create chances against Fulham and Felipe Anderson is an integral part of their attacking threat.


Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The Saturday lunchtime live offering from the Premier League comes from Turf Moor and both Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur will be feeling good about how this season could go for them in the remaining months of the campaign. They have both had a number of days to rest and recover in time for another Premier League push over the next three weeks and I think the players in both dressing rooms will be confident in earning a big win in this one.

Burnley have really turned a corner in their form after what had been a poor opening to the season as they struggled to match the kind of performances they produced in 2017/18. That poor form saw them drop into the bottom three, but 15 points from a possible 21 has seen them climb 3 points clear of the relegation zone and they look like a club that has gone back to the basics that had made them successful last year.

This is a big test for them as they host Tottenham Hotspur who can put themselves firmly into the Premier League title mix if they can win here on Saturday. Despite injuries to key players, Mauricio Pochettino has been extracting some top performances from his squad and that has seen them win 4 League games in a row and also beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

However it has to be noted that Tottenham Hotspur have played plenty of their recent games at Wembley Stadium. In fact all of their games this month have been played at the national Stadium so this is a different test for the players.

Tottenham Hotspur have won 4 away League games in a row though and Harry Kane could have recovered in time to at least be in the match day squad which will be a huge boost for his team-mates. All season Spurs have been very good away from home with 11 League wins from 13 away games and they have also won on their last couple of visits to Turf Moor.

I do think Burnley will test Tottenham Hotspur in the form they are in and this will be far from an easy game for Spurs, but the team look to be in good shape at the moment. Even without Dele Alli and Kane they have found goals in the squad and I think Tottenham Hotspur will edge to a win here despite Burnley looking like they will play their part in an intriguing fixture.

My feeling is that Spurs will need at least two goals to win here and I am going to back them to win a tough fixture that features at least two goals on the day.

Fantasy Star: Heung-Min Son- Harry Kane could be back to lead the line, but Tottenham Hotspur have not missed their talisman as much as expected thanks to Heung-Min Son and he can continue his goal-scoring form here.

Alternative: Ashley Barnes- Tottenham Hotspur are on a good run, but they have not always looked secure defensively. Ashley Barnes has three goals in a row for Burnley and may have one or two opportunities to add to that here.


Bournemouth v Wolves Pick: It would be a big surprise if we don't get to see some good looking football when Bournemouth take on Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Both managers like their team to get forward and attack and the conditions should be conducive to that style being played. When they met at Molineux earlier this season a deluge of rain made it a little more difficult for both clubs to produce their best, but Saturday looks like being a fine day to play football and I think both Bournemouth and Wolves will entertain.

The absence of both David Brooks and Callum Wilson is a real blow for Bournemouth though and if Junior Stanislas is also ruled out it could be very difficult for the home team to blend their attacks together as they can do at their best. Even with that in mind, I do expect Bournemouth to have their successes as they have been much stronger at home than on their travels and Eddie Howe will expect his players to cause Wolves a few problems.

Nuno Espirito Santo knows what to expect from his Wolves players though and they showed great heart to come through a very difficult second half in beating Bristol City in the FA Cup Fifth Round last Sunday. Wolves have been a revelation in the Premier League with pleasing football leading to goals and solid results throughout the campaign.

They are not quite prolific yet, but that will be the next step in the evolution of a football club that is making some big investments to close the gap to the top six. Wolves look the best of the rest already, and in recent weeks they have begun to put a few more goals together which is going to give them the edge here as far as I am concerned.

Wolves have scored 17 goals in their last 7 games in all competitions since losing 3-0 at Manchester City, while 9 of their 14 away goals in the Premier League have come in their last 5 on their travels. Those signs are very positive for Wolves who want to finish at least 7th in the Premier League table this season and they may have too many goals for Bournemouth missing key attacking players.

I still think the home team will have chances simply because of the way they approach games, while they have been better at home anyway.

I have been torn between recommending at least three goals to be shared out and backing Wolves on the Asian Handicap which returns the stake in the event of a draw and my feeling is that the former will need to happen to make the latter a winner. Bournemouth can produce plenty of chances at home when they are on form and they should be well prepared having had two weeks since their last Premier League game and I think both teams will likely score once here but neither manager is one that settles for a draw.

At odds against backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the call.

Fantasy Star: Raul Jimenez- I can't look beyond the Mexican striker who has led the Wolves line brilliantly and should have chances to get on the scoresheet here.

Alternative: Joshua King- Bournemouth have injuries up front, but Joshua King is still available and Eddie Howe's attacking style should mean chances come his way.


Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town Pick: With the way the season has panned out for Huddersfield Town I would expect almost every team they play to be odds on favourites to beat them between now and May 12th when the final round of Premier League fixtures are scheduled to be played.

Keeping that in mind, I am not surprised to see Newcastle United as clear favourites to win this one but my one nagging doubt about the home team is that are not exactly blessed with a lot of goals. The situation is also different for Newcastle United as they will be expected to get forward and score goals unlike some of their recent games when they were considerable underdogs against Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves and Rafael Benitez could set them up to be hard to beat as they tried to nick points.

It is not in the style of the manager to really get after opponents, but Newcastle United did crush Cardiff City 3-0 here last month and they are playing a goal-shy Huddersfield Town team that have barely threatened.

A new manager with a similar plan to the previous one means Huddersfield Town are still pretty predictable in what they are trying to do and so I think Benitez will have prepared his team very well for this fixture. Newcastle United have managed to beat Huddersfield Town twice in a row in the Premier League by the same 1-0 scoreline and my feeling is that they have a striker in Solomon Rondon who could make the slight difference on the day that can turn a draw into a win.

It won't be easy for Newcastle United because they don't score a lot of goals and one for Huddersfield Town may be enough to steal something. However the home team have won back to back Premier League games here and I think they can make it a hat-trick as I simply look for the home team to earn a victory by hook or by crook on the day.

Fantasy Star: Solomon Rondon- his goals could keep Newcastle United in the Premier League and he is the main threat for the home team against a poor travelling Huddersfield Town.

Alternative: Jamaal Lascelles- can be a threat from set pieces and must have a very good chance of securing a clean sheet.


Leicester City v Crystal Palace Pick: This is not an easy fixture to get a good read of considering both Leicester City and Crystal Palace are going to want to try and play in a similar manner. I think both would be happy to let the other come onto them and then spring with pacy forward players who will look to expose the spaces left behind and it might develop into something of a game of chess between the managers.

The pressure is on Claude Puel to be a little more proactive in this one as the Leicester City players and fans continue to tire of the manager. However you would feel that would play into the hands of Crystal Palace who have scored at least twice in recent visits to Manchester City, Wolves and Liverpool before a 1-1 draw at Southampton in Premier League games.

Wilfried Zaha is back and along with Andros Townsend, Michy Batshuayi and Christian Beneteke this Crystal Palace have some teeth going forward. They have certainly matched up well with Leicester City having won 3 Premier League games in a row against them and I am a little surprised by how short the home team are to win this one.

Leicester City have lost 3 games in a row at home to Cardiff City, ten man Southampton and Manchester United and they are not scoring a lot of goals here. The feeling is that one goal for Crystal Palace could be enough to at least avoid defeat and I think backing the visitors on the Asian Handicap is the way to go.

Before the 1-1 draw at Southampton, Crystal Palace had scored two or more goals in 4 away Premier League games in a row and I will look for The Eagles to earn a positive result to move a little clearer of the drop zone. It will have people once again questioning the future of Claude Puel, but Crystal Palace look the right side to be behind in this one.

Fantasy Star: Andros Townsend- Crystal Palace will be a threat on the break and Andros Townsend has two goals in his last four away starts in the Premier League.

Alternative: Wilfried Zaha- he is back from suspension and Crystal Palace have more threats in the final third which could mean more space for Wilfried Zaha.


Arsenal v Southampton Pick: The top four and the bottom three positions in the Premier League will be affected by the result that comes out of the Arsenal versus Southampton game this weekend.

It is a Premier League game that both clubs will look at and see the chance of a potential result, but I really do think Arsenal are deserved favourites. They might be a little inconsistent at the moment, but in general Arsenal have managed to put their best performances and results together at the Emirates Stadium and I think home comforts will suit them again this weekend.

Southampton have not been an easy touch under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but the manager has to be fuming that he has overseen both League defeats to Cardiff City. Those six points lost to the Welsh club are the reason that Southampton are in the bottom three and a point behind Cardiff City, but there has been enough in the performances to think Southampton will work their way out of trouble.

Under the Austrian's guidance, Southampton have earned a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge and won at the King Power Stadium so they won't be intimidated by playing here.

However I think Arsenal seem to thrive going forward at home and they have scored plenty of goals during a run where they have won 8 of their last 10 games here. That includes 6 straight Premier League wins at the Emirates Stadium and 4 of those wins have come by two or more goals.

I expect that to be the outcome on Sunday as Arsenal keep the pressure on the top four places ahead of a very important March where they will face two of the four teams currently above them in the League table.

Fantasy Star: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang- is due a goal and has scored plenty at the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks.

Alternative: Sead Kolasinac- I don't know why he was not starting against BATE Borisov during the week, but I would expect the left wing back to be restored for this one. Always in with a chance of an assist or two in the system.


Manchester United v Liverpool Pick: Make no mistake about it- Manchester United versus Liverpool is still the first pair of games I look out for whenever the new season's fixture list is published and this remains the ultimate rivalry game for both clubs.

There is plenty on the line on Sunday just over two months since they met in the Premier League at Anfield as both Manchester United and Liverpool have so much to gain by winning this fixture.

For Liverpool it is simply one of the last really big hurdles in front of them as they look to win their first English title since 1990 which is a remarkable length of time for a club of this size to have not been crowned Champions. They have had a couple of really good chances to snap that in recent years, but some will argue this is their best chance with the destiny of the title firmly in their hands.

Manchester United have a lot more than simply playing spoiler to aim for themselves- finishing in the top four is the ambition and currently United are just a point clear of Arsenal and Chelsea for the final Champions League spot in what is surely going to be a battle until the very end of the season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make sure the home players know how much it will mean to the fans to have a measure of revenge for the awful defeat at Anfield which was Jose Mourinho's final game as manager of Manchester United. So much has improved in terms of atmosphere around the club since then and even the 0-2 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League has not lingered after United saw off Chelsea in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.

The home team look to be in very good form going into this fixture, but Liverpool have just stumbled of late despite a 6 game unbeaten run in all competitions. 4 of those games have ended in draws as they have allowed Manchester City to close what was once a 7 point gap between the clubs and Liverpool will be under some real pressure to make a statement on Sunday.

I have to say I was very surprised to see Liverpool priced up as favourites and that may have plenty to do with the injuries Manchester United are dealing with in forward areas. Virgil Van Dijk is back from a European suspension, but Liverpool have not been at their flowing best going forward and the defence has been a little creaky of late so there is a real opportunity for Manchester United.

Manchester United have not been at their best at home in the last couple of games, but they have a decent recent record at Old Trafford against Liverpool. There will be plenty of tension around with both sets of players and fans recognising what is on the line here, but I think Manchester United might be in the better overall form.

If they can defend as well as they did at Arsenal and Chelsea in wins over those clubs, I do think Manchester United can contain the front three of Liverpool to some extent. They are also playing with a positive attitude which will test Liverpool's defensive resolve and I am going to back Manchester United with the start on the Asian Handicap to avoid a defeat here.

My feeling is that Manchester United can make a mockery of being the home underdog and I would not be surprised if the injuries to Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have been overplayed and one, or both, are involved here. Liverpool have not scored more than once in any of their last 4 away games in all competitions and that may not be enough to win here so backing the home underdog with a start looks the right play for me.

Fantasy Star: Paul Pogba- been in magnificent form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the key to all of Manchester United's hopes in this one.

Alternative: Virgil Van Dijk- he was missing on Tuesday evening, but is a key figure for Liverpool at the heart of their defence. If Liverpool are to win at Old Trafford, Van Dijk has to have a huge game containing Marcus Rashford and the runs of Pogba through the middle.


Chelsea v Manchester City Pick: The first English domestic trophy of the 2018/19 season will be handed out on Sunday afternoon when Chelsea face Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

History could be made by Manchester City who have never retained a trophy but have the chance to do that with a League Cup success having beaten Arsenal 3-0 in the Final last season. This will also represent the chance to win the League Cup for the third time in four years and it is going to take a brave person to oppose Manchester City considering what they did to Chelsea earlier this month.

The 6-0 home win will have given the Manchester City players huge belief and it also has to worry Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri who has overseen some real collapses over the last three weeks. A heavy loss to Bournemouth and a defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup when Chelsea looked lost after falling behind means Sarri will be under pressure to do something different to avoid another collapse against Manchester City.

However it has to be said that Sarri seems a stubborn manager who is willing to take the pain now if it means his players will improve for the future. That means he won't move too far away from the system he feels he wants to enforce onto the club and I think that will play into the hands of Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's men are scoring plenty of goals and while he will deny it, I do think there is a real mental edge for Manchester City after beating Chelsea so convincingly at home. I don't think they will match the six goals scored in that win, but I do think Manchester City will have too much for Chelsea and they will be difficult to peg back if they go in front when you see how short of confidence the Chelsea players seem to be.

Earlier this month I thought Manchester City would be too good for Chelsea and could win by a couple of goals if they scored the first goal and nothing has changed in the last two weeks. Last season Manchester City beat Arsenal 3-0 in the League Cup Final and I think they are going to be comfortable winners on Sunday against another London club this weekend too as the first of a potential four trophies is taken home.

Fantasy Football Advice

So this is where I am going to list up to three players from each position and with two price options who can make a difference in your Fantasy Teams this week. I'll note the split for each position and they could be players that potentially open up more funds or those you can use additional funds you've got in the bank on.

Goalkeeper 4.8 million or Above

Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City- 5 million): Leicester City have a very good run of games coming up and Schmeichel is a guaranteed starter assuming he is not being punished for comments father Peter made about Claude Puel two weeks ago. He could be kept in the squad for the foreseeable future barring injury.

Martin Dubravka (Newcastle United- 5 million): Next two games are at home to Huddersfield Town and Burnley with West Ham United, Everton and Bournemouth to follow. Cheaper than keepers from the big six and bound to start even after his cock up against Wolves.

Goalkeeper 4.7 million or Below

Rui Patricio (Wolves- 4.5 million): That's a great price to get involved with the Wolves defence, although they don't keep as many clean sheets as you would perhaps assume. Tough game this weekend, but a nice set of fixtures to come when points could be racked up.

Artur Boruc (Bournemouth- 4 million): If you want to invest heavily elsewhere a current starter for 4 million can't really be ignored. Bournemouth are not the best defensively, but could be an option to free up funds.

Defender 5 million and Above

Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal- 5.1 million): Granted this is a lot to spend on a player whose team don't defend very well, but there is a real attacking threat offered by Sead Kolasinac and Arsenal do have a couple of games in which they can at least come close to a clean sheet.

Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace- 5.4 million): He hasn't scored as many goals as he usually can, but Crystal Palace could be a much more balanced attacking threat with their new additions. That could help Patrick van Aanholt to get forward and be involved in assists, while defensively Crystal Palace look pretty good in recent games.

Defender 4.9 million and Below

Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United- 4.6 million): I mentioned him in as my Alternative in the Fantasy Star portion for the Newcastle United game this weekend. Cheaper option than Dubravka if you want to get behind Rafael Benitez and The Magpies defence.

Declan Rice (West Ham United- 4.5 million): Plays in midfield but listed as a defender and has been a threat from set pieces in recent games. Scored against Arsenal at home and should have done the same against Liverpool.

Jonny Otto (Wolves- 4.3 million): Matt Doherty is a doubt this weekend so Wolves may focus their attacking threat from the other wing back. Jonny Otto has not been as productive as Doherty but can cause problems getting forward and might be ready for a run of assists and goals.

Midfielder 6.6 million and Above

Heung-Min Son (Tottenham Hotspur- 9 milion): Everyone is on board with the South Korean who has been in fine form and may be leading the line for Tottenham Hotspur again despite Harry Kane almost being ready to return. His price is only going one way at the moment so might be the last chance where he is still value to pick up.

Paul Pogba (Man United- 8.8 million): Not much you can say about Paul Pogba and the form he is in. Might be another whose price is beyond the reach of many if he has another big week. I bought him for 7.8 million in the game in the match week Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over so a million pound rise in just over two months for the Frenchman. However he is pivotal to the team and still a decent pick up.

Felipe Anderson (West Ham United- 7.2 million): Could be the key man for West Ham United who should have plenty of chances against a Fulham defence that can't, ummm, defend.

Midfielder 6.5 million and Below

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal- 5.4 million): He is still very inconsistent, but Iwobi is playing in the front three/four for Arsenal and they have been a real threat at home against teams lower down the Premier League table.

Leander Dendoncker (Wolves- 4.3 million): He has earned his place in the starting line up in recent weeks and Dendoncker is not being held back to solely protect in the Wolves team. A cheap option who will start and could be much better than the price-tag indicates.

Forward 6.5 million and Above

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal- 11.1 million): It is a big price, but may be a real option for those who have Sergio Aguero or who are waiting for Harry Kane to return to action. Has scored four goals in last three home Premier League games for Arsenal.

Raul Jimenez (Wolves- 6.8 million): He has been my personal signing of the season in terms of value for money. In recent weeks Raul Jimenez has begun adding more goals to the assists and he should have chances this week to improve on both at Bournemouth.

Forward 6.4 million and Below

Solomon Rondon (Newcastle United- 5.8 million): The main threat for Newcastle United who should lead the line against a Huddersfield Town team heading for the Championship. No need to replace him during the week when Newcastle face Burnley here too.

Joshua King (Bournemouth- 6.4 million): The main man up front with all the injuries at the club and should be involved in a potentially high-scoring game against Wolves on Saturday.

Ashley Barnes (Burnley- 5.8 million): Another cheap option to free up funds in other areas and has scored in three games in a row for Burnley. They don't get many penalties but Barnes is on duty for those too.

MY PICKS: Cardiff City + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor
West Ham United & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.25 Ladbrokes
Tottenham Hotspur & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes
Bournemouth-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Betfair Sportsbook
Newcastle United @ 1.85 Bet Fred
Crystal Palace + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.03 Bet Victor
Manchester United + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet Victor
Arsenal - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor
Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor