World Matchplay Darts Day 4 Picks 2026 (Tuesday 21st July)

So many may have pencilled in another Luke vs Luke Final at the World Matchplay, but Cameron Menzies produced an exceptional performance to dump out Humphries and really open up the bottom half of the draw.

All eight players remaining in that half will now feel a big opportunity is in front of them, but it does look the weaker half after the demise of the World Number 2, even if the likes of Ross Smith, Menzies, Gian van Veen, Wessel Nijman and Rob Cross would have something to say about that on the form produced.

On Tuesday, the attention is on the top half of the draw and all four Second Round matches look like they could be of high quality.

There is every chance the fans are going to be getting to see some world class darts with former World Champions, Premier League players and Major Winners all ready to take their spot in the Quarter Final later in the week.

Jonny Clayton-Gary Anderson both over 4.5 180s & 2+ 100+ checkouts: Two veterans of the Tour who continue to perform at a high level are meeting in what could turn out to be a very good Second Round match.

Gary Anderson was definitely the more impressive winner in the First Round and once again aimed barbs at his critics after the win over Ryan Joyce, but he has not been playing as much as the likes of Jonny Clayton.

That may not be a factor that decides the outcome of the match, but Clayton has been keeping a high level going for much longer and in a potentially tight contest, that could make the difference.

Jonny Clayton needed some clutch finishing to hold off Damon Heta in the First Round, but that is more evidence that the darts he has been playing week after week will strengthen the resolve when things get difficult. We did not see Gary Anderson tested in the First Round, although that is much more to do with the level he produced on the day, but it does leave questions as to how his game will hold up under the pressure that the Welshman can bring.

Both players are not only very good treble 20 hitters, but they have shown in the First Round that the combination finishing remains a strength. Jonny Clayton had four ton plus finishes in the First Round, while Gary Anderson had two of his own, and these two players are more than capable of getting together for at least seventeen or eighteen Legs before a winner is decided.

That should mean there is enough time for five maximums each and at least two more 100 plus finishes in this Second Round contest.

Michael van Gerwen to win & over 4.5 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: One Dutchman will be playing in the World Matchplay Quarter Final at the conclusion of this Second Round match and it could be a really good battle between Michael van Gerwen and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Both came through tough tests in the First Round, although both may feel they allowed the opponent back into matches when they were in control.

Michael van Gerwen took control sooner than Dirk van Duijvenbode, who needed extra Legs to finally get past Chris Dobey, and the higher Ranked of these compatriots got the better of van Duijvenbode when they met at a Players Championship Final in May.

That was a high quality affair and this could be another with both showing flashes of what they are capable of in recent weeks.

The edge here has to be with Michael van Gerwen who may be able to sustain a higher level for longer than Dirk van Duijvenbode- the latter came right off the boil when it looked like he was about to win his First Round match. Anything like that again will be punished by MvG, although van Gerwen will be aware that his scoring will need to remain strong against an opponent who can go through incredible hot patches on the oche.

We should get to something like an 11-7 score and Michael van Gerwen will likely have needed plenty of maximums to earn a win if the match develops as it should.

Luke Littler-Nathan Aspinall over 12.5 180s & 2+ 100+ checkouts: There was a real feeling that Nathan Aspinall's friendship with Luke Littler had created a pecking order when it comes to the head to head on the oche.

Luke Littler has dominated the numbers, but it should be noted that Nathan Aspinall beat him in a couple of Masters events last season.

They have not faced one another since a meeting at the Players Championship Finals at the back end of 2025, which was won by Littler in this format.

Neither has been playing a lot of darts of late, but both looked in really good form in the First Round and it could be a Second Round match that features plenty of maximum hitting. You have to believe that combination finishing is going to be key at a couple of points during the contest, but Aspinall will need to find his scoring early to avoid getting too far behind Luke Littler.

Even a slow start rarely affects Luke Littler and he has become the clear favourite to win the tournament after the upset suffered by Luke Humphries in the opening Round. It is not a pressure that should hinder Littler's performance and both players can rack up the maximums and add a couple of 100+ checkouts to the match.

Stephen Bunting to win & over 3.5 180s v Josh Rock: Despite playing in the Premier League this season, Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting did not have too many meetings in that tournament as they both struggled for consistency.

That was the case in the opening wins here in Blackpool, although Josh Rock made much easier work of Luke Woodhouse than Stephen Bunting did of Niels Zonneveld.

More credit has to be given to Bunting for coming through some high pressure spots and thaet should leave him ready to get the better of Josh Rock at a major tournament. The Bullet will be looking for revenge for the loss at the UK Open and he will have noted that Josh Rock is still not finding his consistent best form.

The Northern Irishman is dangerous- he can be very strong around the treble 20 bed and Josh Rock was finishing well in the First Round. However, he was playing without being put under the kind of pressure expected and someone like Stephen Bunting should offer a much sterner test.

Stephen Bunting will need to improve his finishing, but he may have just enough to edge to a win and contribute at least four maximums to the cause in this best of twenty-one format.

MY PICKS: Jonny Clayton-Gary Anderson Both Over 4.5 180s & 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael van Gerwen to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler-Nathan Aspinall Over 12.5 180s & 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 6-8, - 1.80 Units (14 Units Staked, - 12.86% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2023 (July 21st)

A couple of early winners got the day off to a solid start, but the Jordan Thompson pick was a really poor one, although that is mainly down to the final result than the actual identification of a selection.

The Australian just had a really tough day in the office and these things can happen on a tennis court.

Overall it was at least another positive step forward after a really bad start to the week, but there is still more room for improvement with the tournaments entering the Quarter Final Round on Friday.

Yannick Hanfmann - 2.5 games v Hamad Medjedovic: A couple of days ago I was tempted to back Hamad Medjedovic to get the better of Dominic Thiem in the Second Round in Gstaad, but ultimately thought the odds were just about right and the value might not have been there.

That did prove to be a wrong decision on the day, although the young Serb, who had celebrated his 20th birthday the day before, battled back after dropping the second set to beat the former Grand Slam Champion.

It is a result that has been part of a big week for Hamad Medjedovic, although this is going to be another tough test for him in the Quarter Final. You might not think that after beating Dominic Thiem, who has reached the French Open Final at his best, but you also have to accept that the Austrian is still finding his way back on the Tour after injury.

This is not going to be the case for Yannick Hanfmann, who also needed three sets to win his Second Round match. The World Number 46 could seen reach a new career best World Ranking and a win in this Quarter Final will go a long way in doing that for Hanfmann, who has been a comfortable clay courter in his time on the Tour.

Beating those he has been expected to has been key to the rise up the World Rankings for Yannick Hanfmann who has a 16-3 record on the clay courts when playing opponents outside of the top 100 in the World Rankings. The numbers produced in those nineteen matches have been very impressive with Hanfmann holding 85% of service games and breaking in 38% of return games, although one of those losses came in the final Qualifying Round at Roland Garros before Yannick Hanfmann was given a Lucky Loser spot.

Yannick Hanfmann obviously would not have covered this line in those three defeats against players outside of the top 100, but he has overcome the line in the sixteen wins. He has lost just two sets in the victories and Hamad Medjedovic has already played a lot of tennis in Gstaad this week after coming through the Qualifiers to take his place in the main draw.

Hamad Medjedovic has two top 100 wins on the clay this week, but he was just 1-4 in those matches on the red dirt in 2023 prior to the run to the Quarter Final here. The numbers have made for tough reading with the Medjedovic serve being attacked and the pick here is that Yannick Hanfmann has enough to win and cover this line set.

MY PICKS: Yannick Hanfmann - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Juan Pablo Varillas - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Jaume Munar - 0.5 Games @ 1.87 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Lorenzo Musetti - 5.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Casper Ruud - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 Coral (2 Units)

Daria Kasatkina - 4.5 Games @ 1.87 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 9-10, - 3.26 Units (38 Units Staked, - 8.58% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (July 21st)

The weather in London reached ridiculous heights on Tuesday and it certainly meant I did not want to be on a laptop or computer any longer than I needed to be.

After the day for the Tennis Picks, it was easy for me to take a day off to recover.

Bad luck seemed to be flying all over the place over the first couple of days of this week and I needed the mental break of a day off just to cool down (mentally and physically).

What a day- I will make no excuses for the Cristian Garin and Diego Sebastian Schwartzman picks- but I have struggled to accept some of the other selections and the way in which they were undone.

Laslo Djere won his first set 6-1 and was up 4-2 in the second set having held onto serve all the way at that point of the match, but somehow was beaten 6-1, 6-7, 3-6.

Thiago Monteiro played poorly, but did have his chances in the second set which would have seen him cover.

Fabio Fognini was leading 6-3 after set one and looked to have momentum having recovered from a break down in the second set before once again losing focus.

Jaume Munar won the first set with a double break, but lost the second having dropped serve twice more than his opponent and then waited until the cover was impossible before winning four games in a row to secure the match.

And worst of all, Marc-Andrea Huesler who led 7-6, 5-4, 40/0 on serve and having not faced a Break Point in the match... Amazingly he failed to serve it out and ultimately lost the match.

Honestly it is tough to take a day like that when so many seemed to blow strong positions and it was frustrating to say the least.

While it likely means a losing week, I am expecting much better through the remainder of this week and month to back up what had been a solid grass court season.

Carlos Alcaraz - 4.5 games v Filip Krajinovic: These two players met in the Quarter Final in Umag twelve months ago and both were Seeded.

Back then Filip Krajinovic was the Number 3 Seed, but Carlos Alcaraz was the Number 7 Seed and Number 73 in the World Rankings... Now he is playing in Hamburg as the top Seed in the draw and the World Number 6 to underline the kind of progress that Alcaraz has made on the Tour.

Earlier this season he was playing like the World Number 1 and it was telling that so many were tipping Carlos Alcaraz to truly announce himself to a wider public by winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Ultimately he was narrowly beaten in the Quarter Final, but Carlos Alcaraz will be someone to watch out for at the US Open next month and especially if he can produce some confidence boosting tennis in the build towards that event.

The Spaniard is a confident hard court player, but the tournament in Hamburg will help build the Ranking, while Carlos Alcaraz has made it clear that his main ambition for the season is making sure he is playing in his first ATP Finals. He is well on course for that and I think Carlos Alcaraz will be all the better for the challenging win in the First Round having produced some of the best clay court numbers of any player on the Tour in 2022.

The Quarter Final win over Filip Krajinovic in Umag was far from easy last season, but Carlos Alcaraz has moved past the Serb who is an inconsistent clay court player. Filip Krajinovic had a solid win over Sebastian Baez in the First Round, but the latter had a deep run in Bastad and I think that ultimately made the difference in the match.

I do think this is going to be a much tougher match for Krajinovic who has not really returned as well as he would have liked on the clay courts with breaks in just 18% of return games played. Filip Krajinovic will likely feel the pressure on his own serve against a player like Carlos Alcaraz who wins plenty of return points and who has broken in 33% of return games played on this surface this season.

Carlos Alcaraz has improved on the Tour mainly because of his serve and I expect a much better performance on this side of his tennis than we saw in the First Round. He has been winning 65% of service points behind his serve on the clay courts and I think that will also build the pressure on Filip Krajinovic and to a higher extent than when they met last season.

It is a big spread to cover, but I do think Carlos Alcaraz will be much better than he was in the First Round and he has the return game to cover the mark that has been set.

MY PICKS: Carlos Alcaraz - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Andrey Rublev - 2.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Dominic Thiem - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Nicolas Jarry - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Matteo Berrettini - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Barbora Krejcikova - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Bernarda Pera - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (July 18-22)

The FA Cup Semi Final matches are to be played on Saturday and Sunday this week, but the Premier League is also entering its penultimate round of the season as GW37 begins on Saturday afternoon.

The four teams involved in the Semi Final have had their League matches pushed back to Tuesday and Wednesday and then the final games of the 2019/20 season will be played at the same time on Sunday. There is still plenty to play for at both the top and bottom of the table, but the tight window to fit in all the football needed to complete the season does mean that there is more thinking time for players to analyse what kind of results they need to achieve their ambitions for the campaign.

I am not sure that is helping or hindering, but teams are responding to the pressure in a better way than I may have imagined. That also goes for the Championship where Leeds United are a point away from securing their place back in the Premier League after a long absence and both West Brom and Brentford are still fighting to join them.


This week the top four race in the Premier League will see Leicester City try and set the standard for the results when they play on the same day Manchester United face Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi Final. A win for Leicester City will mean a draw on the final day is likely to be enough to earn a Champions League spot, but they face Tottenham Hotspur who are desperately trying to earn their spot in the Europa League.

Later this week Manchester United and Chelsea have big Premier League games to try and put themselves in commanding spots for the top four places too and there is a feeling the Cup Semi Final may give the winning team the momentum and the losing team in a poor spot going into the final week of the Premier League season.


Down the bottom both Bournemouth and Aston Villa may look at their remaining fixture list and believe the 'great escape' is still on. They've both earned big points over the last week and in their final home games they will be chasing wins that will put some serious pressure on the loser of the big West Ham United versus Watford game which is played on Friday night.

Watford need the win more on that evening with Manchester City and Arsenal to round out the season and that would also potentially leave a huge West Ham United versus Aston Villa clash to come on the final day of the season.


Things will definitely be a lot, lot clearer by the time this penultimate round of fixtures are completed- it is also a big round for those chasing points in the Fantasy Football game and I will have more thoughts on that below.

Before that you can read my thoughts on the upcoming Premier League games and the two FA Cup Semi Final matches below.


Arsenal v Manchester City Pick: Mikel Arteta has some inside knowledge of Manchester City, but passing that on to players that are clearly not as good as those that Pep Guardiola can call upon doesn't mean an awful lot.

Arteta's Arsenal team did start brightly when these teams met last month, but Manchester City ended up warming up to the task and were comfortable 3-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium. They were aided massively that day by David Luiz who made a mistake to allow Raheem Sterling in for the opener and was then sent off while giving away a penalty early in the second half.

Since the opening two games of the resumption, Arsenal have won 5 of 7 games in all competitions. However you do have to worry about the amount of chances they have given up in the last couple of games and I am not going to read too much into a very fortunate win over a Liverpool team that have seemingly come off the boil since winning the title.

The Gunners can't rely on that this weekend when facing Manchester City who have rested some key players and have been creating chances for fun. They were not at their best in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday, but Manchester City should have the confidence of Aymeric Laporte back in the team, while a fully rested Kevin De Bruyne is a real threat to Arsenal.

Kevin De Bruyne has already scored three times against Arsenal this season and I do think Manchester City are going to have large periods of control in this one.

Arsenal have been clinical in front of goal and have players who can produce the stunning finish, but defensively there are holes. They are going to need Manchester City to be as wasteful in front of goal as Liverpool were to have any chance, but I think that is a long shot.

Manchester City have beaten Arsenal 7 times in a row and I simply can't see that run ending here. All of those wins have come by two or more goal margins including a 3-0 win in the League Cup Final in 2018 and I do think the defending FA Cup Winners will have too much on the day.

I have to respect the fact that Arsenal have managed to stay in games where they have been put under intense pressure, but this Manchester City have been blowing past teams when they get the wind in their sails. I would worry for Arsenal if they concede first and I will back Manchester City to win by two or more goals in the first of the FA Cup Semi Finals to be played this weekend.


Manchester United v Chelsea Pick: The second Semi Final in the FA Cup this weekend looks to be a very competitive affair, although you can understand the reasons Manchester United are favourites to win this one.

They have beaten Chelsea in all 3 meetings in 2019/20 and Manchester United have found goals fairly easy to come by in those wins. They are also unbeaten in 6 against Chelsea since losing to them in the FA Cup Final at the end of the 2017/18 season, while Manchester United are unbeaten in 19 in all competitions and their last 12 away from Old Trafford.

Chelsea have been in anything but poor form having won 8 of their last 10 in all competitions, but they have lost 2 of their last 3 away from Stamford Bridge. A bigger worry is the amount of goals conceded in those games (8) and if the recovery time between games was the same for both clubs I would really like Manchester United to win this one.

I still give the favourites the edge, but I don't think it should be underestimated the advantage Chelsea potentially have with the way the schedule has worked out.

The Blues played at home on Tuesday, but Manchester United have had to travel down to London on Thursday and then return to Manchester before making another long journey down to the capital on Sunday. This comes at the end of a week when Manchester United also played on Monday night and there have been one or two signs of fatigue in a squad that has been heavily relying on their starting eleven.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can't really freshen up the team in the way he would like without weakening the starting eleven, but he will be confident his attacking players are performing well enough to expose Chelsea's soft underbelly.

However, it has to be noted that Chelsea are playing well going forward themselves and they managed to give some key players a bit of rest in their 1-0 win over Norwich City.

Neither manager is likely to play a cautious style and I do think the amount of football being played over the last month will have an affect in this one. The key for Manchester United is to get on the front foot early and make Chelsea open up, while Frank Lampard may want to ride out the early storm with the expectation that his team will likely have more in the legs the longer this game goes.

You can't ignore how well Manchester United have seemingly matched up with Chelsea this season, although the results have perhaps been a little harsh on the West London club. 10 of the last 16 FA Cup Semi Finals have ended with at least three goals shared out and both Manchester United and Chelsea have produced plenty of positive attacking football over the last month coupled with some iffy performances at the back to believe this could be the latest Semi Final to trend in the goals direction.

I still give Manchester United a narrow lean, but the scheduling alarms me and instead I will back goals to be the outcome of the second Semi Final.


Norwich City v Burnley Pick: It has been a hard month for Norwich City who have shown very little fight to avoid the drop.

This isn't down to a lack of effort, but Norwich City have simply been short of quality at either ends of the pitch at this level. They don't create enough chances and they don't defend well enough and ultimately that is not a recipe that will enable a team to avoid relegation.

Norwich City have lost all 4 Premier League games played here since the three month break and they have not scored in any of those. There haven't been a lot of chances for them, although they are facing a Burnley team who have been giving up some big opportunities without being punished.

Confidence is flowing in the away dressing room as they have battled through difficult moments to find big results. Burnley are unbeaten in 3 away Premier League games and have kept 2 clean sheets in that time so the feeling is that they will be a little too good for Norwich City in this one too.

Burnley have recently won at Crystal Palace and West Ham United and in the last three seasons they do have a 3-4-2 record away from home against those clubs that have been relegated. This season they have won at three of the five clubs that are sitting immediately above Norwich City and been unbeaten in the other League games.

The squad is stretched by injury, but I still think there is enough quality from set pieces that could give Burnley the edge here. I would expect Norwich City to put in a huge effort to end their losing run in the League in their final home game, but they have simply not been up to task of late and Burnley securing a narrow win looks the most likely outcome of this one.


Bournemouth v Southampton Pick: There is plenty more on the line for Bournemouth compared with Southampton in this South Coast derby, but the home team are going to get anything but an easy ride.

Despite having little to play for, Southampton have been playing with verve and attacking intent and that has helped produce a 5 game unbeaten run. They are also unbeaten in 4 away from St Mary's and have played their best football away from their own Stadium, while Southampton look to be creating chances for fun at the moment.

An injury hit Bournemouth defence is going to struggle to contain them if Southampton are anything near the standards they set in draws at Everton and Manchester United. With Danny Ings still hoping to chase down the Golden Boot I do think Southampton are going to provide plenty of threat here.

However, Southampton are far from watertight at the back and that has to be encouragement for Bournemouth who likely need two wins from their remaining two Premier League games if they are going to avoid the drop.

Eddie Howe will feel there is every chance Bournemouth can do that having seen his team impress against Leicester City and Manchester City over the last eight days. The team look to have suddenly have been given a huge shot of confidence and Bournemouth are producing the kind of attacking threat which had seemingly disappeared down the stretch.

A bit of good fortune helped on their way to the win over Leicester City last weekend, but that has encouraged the players and I do think Bournemouth will get forward and attack this game.

Everything is pointing to goals even though the South Coast derby at the Vitality Stadium has tended to be tighter affairs than the fixture played at St Mary's. Earlier this season four goals were shared out when these teams met at Southampton which means the last 3 at St Mary's have ended with three or more goals shared out, but the last 2 here have finished up with low-scoring draws being the outcome.

The situation should make this an open game and both teams have been creating plenty of chances to believe we will see goals here.


Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City Pick: This is a huge game for both Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City who are both aiming for European competition next season. At least Leicester City are secured of playing in the Europa League, but Brendan Rodgers and his team are hoping for a Champions League berth, while Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to at least be playing in the Europa League.

Both teams had impressive wins during the week against Newcastle United and Sheffield United respectively, but I think both Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers know this will be a much more difficult outing for their teams.

Chances may not be flowing in this fixture, but I do have to give the edge to Tottenham Hotspur who are playing at home.

Tottenham Hotspur have won their last 3 games here and deservedly so and now host a Leicester City who have lost 4 of their last 7 away games in all competitions and failed to win any of those. The absence of James Maddison is a real blow for Leicester City, although Jamie Vardy will be confident his pace can hurt an ageing Tottenham Hotspur back line.

Ultimately Leicester City have not been creating a lot of chances away from home of late and if you take away the nine goals scored at Southampton you would note they have only scored 22 goals in 17 away games.

In recent matches this is a team struggling to create good chances in the final third and Tottenham Hotspur have defended well enough at home to believe they can at least contain their visitors.

Jose Mourinho's tactics can be difficult to watch at times, but Tottenham Hotspur have created decent chances in their last 3 home games. They have won all 3 and the win at Newcastle United will have continued the good feeling around the club who can put the pressure on those around them by winning on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur have won their last 2 home games against Leicester City and they might have a narrow edge in this one. I just think Spurs are creating the better chances of the two teams of late and having home advantage may be enough to secure a narrow win here.


Brighton v Newcastle United Pick: There isn't as much on the line in this fixture as the thinking may have been back in August, but both Brighton and Newcastle United have performed well enough to earn their spot in the Premier League.

Brighton are not mathematically safe just yet, but they have a vasty superior goal difference to Aston Villa and Bournemouth and it would be a stunning turn of events that would send them down now.

That should give the players some freedom and Graham Potter has refused to change the style with his team looking to get forward and play enterprising football. It has been effective at bringing more entertainment for the fans, but Brighton have not been as strong defensively as they were under Chris Hughton.

However, the attacking style will work well against a Newcastle United team who have achieved all they can and who have looked shaky at the back in the last couple of weeks. Injuries have been piling up and Steve Bruce may already be thinking about the improvements he will need to make for the squad to perhaps push on next season.

At least his team have still looked a threat going forward and they will likely find some spaces to exploit too in a game that could be more entertaining than most would believe. Newcastle United have scored goals aplenty since the restart (at least when they are not facing Manchester City) and they do have players who can make a big difference for them.

Both teams should find a way to hit the net so the attacking players could be interesting 'cheaper' choices for those playing the Fantasy game. I honestly would not be surprised if we see at least three goals produced with a 2-1 scoreline either way looking the most likely outcome of the fixture.


Sheffield United v Everton Pick: It might have been a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium for Sheffield United, but Chris Wilder and the squad know it is not one that has ended their chances of playing European Football for the first time. They have to respond on Monday when they host Everton, but there is every chance they can do that when you consider some of the levels produced by Carlo Ancelotti's men over the last couple of weeks.

Reaching acceptable standards is the minimum Chris Wilder accepts at Sheffield United and I do expect a reaction from his team to their defeat at Leicester City.

The Blades will work hard and they might have too much intensity for Everton, especially at home. Sheffield United had won 3 of their previous 4 Premier League games before the loss to Leicester City, while they have won 4 home League games in succession and have looked very good in doing that.

I expect Sheffield United will have the better of the chances in this one and their visitors have just had a few issues at the back which have been exposed since their win over Leicester City. Everton have been conceding far too many chances and I do think the home team can expose those problems.

To make matters tougher for Everton, they have lost some consistency going forward and breaking down Sheffield United has been a tough task for many this season. The side have lost 4 of their last 5 away Premier League games and Everton have not scored in their last 2 on their travels.

The one concern for Sheffield United is that they have not always been clinical in the final third- the first goal will be huge in this fixture, but I do think Chris Wilder will have his team coming out with a lot more intensity than Everton and that can see them control the fixture and produce a big win.

All signs are pointing towards the home team being the more likely winner, although the last few games in any Premier League season can produce some surprising results. The pressure is on Sheffield United to win the game if they want to earn a place in the Europa League, but I think Chris Wilder will have them ready to produce.


Wolves v Crystal Palace Pick: Roy Hodgson will not want his Crystal Palace team to end the season with eight straight Premier League losses, but injuries are piling up at the back and this is a team who do not score a lot of goals to make up for that.

In their last 6 defeats, Crystal Palace have conceded at least twice in 5 of those. Their last 3 away defeats have all come by two or more goal margins at Liverpool, Leicester City and Aston Villa and the squad is stretched.

This should be the kind of game that Wolves take advantage of, although it does have to be said that Nuno Espirito Santo's team can be one that works hard and doesn't really blow teams away. They dropped two points last week at Burnley, but Wolves have had time to prepare for this fixture and they have won 4 of their last 6 at home.

The 3-0 win over Everton was helped by goals either side of half time, but Wolves will be confident they can create chances against a Crystal Palace team who have struggled at the back. Crystal Palace have been giving up some big chances through the last month and away from home they have really been struggling which can be exposed by Wolves.

The home team will have to bare their teeth and make sure they don't allow Crystal Palace to hang around when they can become very dangerous with nothing to lose.

I do believe Wolves can do that though with Raul Jimenez back amongst the goals and Crystal Palace slumping towards the end of the season. Wolves have kept clean sheets in 6 of their last 7 at home in all competitions and they have largely been able to contain their opponents.

Now they face a Crystal Palace team who have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 Premier League games including in each of the last 3 away from home. You can never discount the likes of Wilfried Zaha or Andros Townsend doing something special to change that, but Wolves have largely defended very well and I think they are more likely to win this game with a clean sheet to boot.


Watford v Manchester City Pick: After winning the domestic treble last season, Manchester City are 'only' going to win one of the three trophies they compete for in England this time around. It is a hugely disappointing season, but Pep Guardiola will be reminding his players that there is still the huge prize of the Champions League on offer.

The defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi Final is a huge blow for Manchester City and the final two Premier League games is a chance to earn some momentum before the Champions League resumes. They didn't play badly against Arsenal, but the attacking play was largely predictable and defensively Manchester City continue to offer out chances to opponents.

Away from home they have really begun to struggle with 4 losses in their last 6 games played away from the Etihad Stadium.

However no one can take anything for granted against Manchester City who have been creating plenty of chances and who thumped Brighton 0-5 at the Amex Stadium in their last away Premier League game.

Watford know all about the kind of devastating attacking football Manchester City can play having lost 4 of the last 7 against them by five or more goal margins. Even hosting the game at Vicarage Road hasn't helped much with 4 losses in a row to Manchester City and those coming by a 2-15 margin.

The home team have won back to back games here, but they were behind to both Norwich City and Newcastle United and recovering from a goal down against Manchester City is a completely different kettle of fish. Nigel Pearson will also have been disgusted to see the level produced in Watford's 3-1 loss at West Ham United on Friday evening and will know that it simply is not going to be good enough against a team as powerful as Manchester City.

Nigel Pearson may get a break if Manchester City make big changes to the starting eleven, but I expect a strong team to be selected as Pep Guardiola looks for a big response to the Cup defeat. They should be able to expose the issues Watford have had at the back, although the home team could play their part with the pace they have in the final third and with Troy Deeney up front.

Even then it is a big ask for Watford to contain Manchester City and I think they will be too good on the day. They have responded to their last 4 defeats by winning the next game by at least two goals and I would expect the visitors to be a little more clinical in the final third which can set them on the way to a comfortable win here.


[UPDATE] Since writing this preview the surprising news out of Vicarage Road was that Nigel Pearson was being sacked with two games left. It is very difficult to know how the players will respond over the last week of the season, while most fans and neutrals will feel the decision is very harsh on Pearson.

Ultimately Watford have usually made the right choices when it comes to changing direction with their manager, but this is going to be a tight finish. There was clearly some real disappointment in the performance at at West Ham United and Watford may need help to survive the drop considering which two opponents they have left.

We may see a big reaction from the home team with a new voice to listen to, but even now I would be surprised if Manchester City don't dominate the game and prove too strong when all is said and done.


Aston Villa v Arsenal Pick: This is not an easy game to get a read on, but it looks like being one that is arguably more important for Aston Villa than Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's men are desperate to return to European competition, but results have gone against them over the last two weeks and they may effectively be out of contention by the time this fixture kicks off. That would mean the focus is on the FA Cup and it is not out of the question that Arteta will rotate his first eleven who have put in a huge effort to see off Liverpool and Manchester City in back to back games.

Those are impressive wins at any time of the season, but Arsenal have not been dominant and perhaps been fortunate to have won both games. In terms of chances they have been dominated, but Arsenal do have clinical attacking players who have to be respected.

They are players who can cause a host of problems for Aston Villa, although I do think Dean Smith's team have defended much better this side of the three month break. 4 points from the last 6 available has given Aston Villa a shot in the arm in their fight against relegation and this is a team who have been creating chances and perhaps deserved more points than they have earned.

A part of the problem is that Aston Villa do not have a striker who can be relied upon to score the chances that do come their way, but I think they have players who can give Arsenal something to think about.

If Arsenal are perhaps just a little fatigued from the efforts put into the last two games, Aston Villa can take advantage here. They should be rested having last played on Thursday and Aston Villa have created chances against opponents at Villa Park while getting ready to face an Arsenal team who have looked vulnerable at the back despite the positive results earned.

Arsenal did win 3 away games in a row before the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur and they are a team who have world class talents in the final third that don't need too many good looks to score goals. That is a concern for Aston Villa, but I think the home team have been playing well down the stretch and can at least earn a point which should give themselves every chance of avoiding the drop as we enter the final weekend of the 2019/20 season.


Manchester United v West Ham United Pick: There were a couple of changes made to the Manchester United team to try and freshen things up, but tactically Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to have got things wrong in their FA Cup Semi Final defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

A change in system simply removed some of the attacking intent we have seen from Manchester United in recent weeks, but the defeat will be put to the back of the fans' minds if they can win this fixture. A win would put Manchester United in command of a top four place with a single game left to play and a big win would really put the side in a very strong spot ahead of the final game at Leicester City.

The first port of call for Manchester United will be making sure they win the game though and not to worry about the margin of victory. At Old Trafford Manchester United have scored plenty of goals in recent weeks and that has to be encouraging for the players as they look to bounce back from a poor performance.

David De Gea will be hoping to be given a chance to redeem himself after being to blame for the first two Chelsea goals on Sunday, but the attacking players should all be restored to the starting eleven. That is important for Manchester United who have to take the game to a West Ham United team whose back to back wins might have kept them in the Premier League.

The Premier League status could be officially confirmed without West Ham United needing to kick another ball if Aston Villa fail to beat Arsenal, but regardless David Moyes looks to have guided the team out of trouble.

In recent games West Ham United have looked menacing going forward, but there are still holes defensively which should be exposed by Manchester United. The Hammers may have nothing to lose, but that may also mean a slight drop in intensity and they are a team who do allow teams to build up some steam and create important chances against them.

Manchester United have won 3 in a row at home against West Ham United and I think they will be grateful for having this game on Wednesday. There have been one or two signs of some fatigue as the run of games might have taken a toll on what has been a small squad that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to trust, but I do think there is enough in the final third for Manchester United to win this game well.

I think it is fair to believe West Ham United will cause some problems with their own talented threat in the final third, but ultimately I think Manchester United bounce back from the defeat on Sunday. The home team might have too many goals for West Ham United and I think Manchester United win by at least two goals.


Liverpool v Chelsea Pick: There has been a slight drop in intensity in the Liverpool team since they won the Premier League title, but I do think some of the results have been a little harsh on them. They have dominated both Burnley and Arsenal in their last two League games, but a combination of poor finishing and strong goalkeeping has restricted the amount of goals Liverpool have been able to score.

To make matters worse, Liverpool have not defended very well with mistakes being punished at the back.

However, Jurgen Klopp has to believe his team are still playing at a good enough level to win a game like this one. He will be looking for his players to produce a performance fitting of a day on which Liverpool will pick up the top flight League trophy for the first time in thirty years and the players are well rested compared with Chelsea.

Liverpool last played a week ago and Chelsea just had a tough FA Cup Semi Final to complete on Sunday, although the win will have given Frank Lampard's team a spring in their step.

With Leicester City crushed just down the road at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea are now one win from securing their Champions League spot for the 2020/21 season. Frank Lampard would love to ease the tension on the final day by winning this fixture, and Chelsea have long had a decent record at Anfield before being beaten here last season.

Chelsea do produce an attacking threat away from home which will have to be respected, but they have been struggling defensively and that has to encourage Liverpool here.

The first goal feels like it would be very important on the day and I do think Liverpool are playing better than their results suggest. They are creating chances and I would expect the home team to do that against this vulnerable Chelsea defence, while the occasion should be one that Liverpool enjoy with their trophy presentation coming at the end of the fixture.

It should be a decent game, but I think Liverpool will have the edge and can end their 2019/20 season at Anfield in a manner fitting the rest of the campaign.

MY PICKS: Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap
Manchester United-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals
Burnley - 0.25 Asian Handicap
Bournemouth-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals
Tottenham Hotspur - 0.25 Asian Handicap
Brighton-Newcastle United Over 2.5 Goals
Sheffield United - 0.25 Asian Handicap
Wolves Win to Nil
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap
Aston Villa + 0.5 Asian Handicap
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap
Liverpool - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 37+

Every week I make a transfer I do look back and wonder if it was the right decision and the two made last week have turned out to be the correct choices.

Raul Jimenez did indeed get on the scoresheet as I was concerned about, but Roberto Firmino continues to be well off the pace. Replacing both with Danny Ings and Gabriel Jesus turned out to be good moves as both scored and combined for 15 points, while Captaining Anthony Martial continues to give me good returns.

It was another decent enough week for the Fantasy team selected, although I did miss out on Manchester United's clean sheet at Crystal Palace which hurt. I can't complain too much though and I have a team that looks capable going into GW37+ and knowing I have the Free Hit Chip to come in the final week of the season.

I already have some ideas as to who I am going to target in the final GW, but that will come in the next post.

My one transfer in GW37+ will be used and one of the two players I am likely to drop are either Michail Antonio or Christian Pulisic despite both being in good form.

It will mean losing out on some money if I want to bring them back for GW38+, but I am not overly concerned about that and those are two high priced investments played at Old Trafford and Anfield respectively. Instead I am looking to make sure I upgrade the spot with some names already in the reckoning.

Jack Grealish intrigued me in a home game against Arsenal who will have played a big Cup game on Saturday while Aston Villa were resting. He has looked threatening in recent games and is close to breaking his run without a goal, while Arsenal might already be out of Europa League contention if results have gone against them.

Another young Englishman who could pay off is Phil Foden, although I am a touch concerned that the majority of his recent minutes have come in home games. He hasn't made a big impact in the last two of those compared with the early games out of the restart, so instead an additional Manchester City threat could come from David Silva.

The veteran Spaniard has started three of the last four Premier League games, but second guessing Pep Guardiola is hard enough from his press conferences the day before matches, let alone after a FA Cup Semi Final ahead of which the deadline for GW37+ has already closed.

Looking at my thoughts for the weekend games, David Brooks could provide a telling difference- as well as Southampton have been playing, they are vulnerable at the back and you would have to think Bournemouth are going to be forced into going all out for the win regardless of the result on Friday between West Ham United and Watford. Brooks scored against Manchester City as a substitute and has to be given a start here, although the better option from that team could be Junior Stanislas who is a potential penalty taker if Josh King is not on the pitch.

Junior Stanislas has looked a more consistent attacking threat in the minutes he has been getting for Bournemouth and might be a decent option in the hope the game with Southampton develops into the attacking one expected on paper.

Another game which has the potential for an attacking fixture is the Brighton versus Newcastle United fixture on Monday evening- both look to be safe and neither have defended well, while offering a decent threat in the final third.

I have Dwight Gayle starting this week with that in mind, but Leandro Trossard could be a major threat for the home team in that one.

As you can see, I am targeting these mid-range midfielders because I don't have the funds to go big, but I do think those all have chances of decent returns and certainly more than I expect from Pulisic or Antonio. If I don't pick David Silva, I can keep Christian Pulisic in the squad and have him down as my first sub against a Liverpool team who have not looked completely focused in their last few Premier League games.

It will mean a strong looking eleven on paper and once again I will stick with the Manchester United options in the Captaincy and Vice-Captaincy positions. The risk is that they play the Cup Semi Final first, but it would be a huge disappointment if both Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes are missing on Wednesday.

The importance of the top four race should mean both start if they are to play any part in the fixture against a West Ham United team who might have secured Premier League Football before the game kicks off. David Moyes' team have been looking a little better defensively, but this is a very good Manchester United attack being faced and Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United have all managed at least two goals against The Hammers.

Manchester United have scored at least twice in their last 6 Premier League games since the draw at Tottenham Hotspur and their attacking options look much more secure as starters than the Manchester City players selected, even though they love demolishing Watford.

My starting eleven for GW37+ is likely to be this one:

Alisson (Liverpool v Chelsea)

Harry Maguire (Manchester United v West Ham United)

Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool v Chelsea)

Willy Boly (Wolves v Crystal Palace)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City v Watford)

Anthony Martial (Manchester United v West Ham United)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United v West Ham United)
*Midfielder- lean is towards Bournemouth, but there is time until the deadline and I will have that final choice up on Twitter*

Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United v Brighton)

Danny Ings (Southampton v Bournemouth)

Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City v Watford)

Bench: Emiliano Martinez, Christian Pulisic, James Justin, Federico Fernandez

Tennis Picks 2018 (July 21st)

I am spending the day away from the computer as I’ve booked tickets for an event which takes place this afternoon, but I did manage to research the Tennis Picks for Saturday’s Semi Finals.

It has proven to be a difficult week for the Picks after a poor Friday with the Quarter Final matches letting me down.

However I am going back to the well with one player who did secure a win for me on Friday and who is on the brink of a second clay court title on the main Tour in 2018. Marco Cecchinato is still perhaps a little overrated thanks to a great run at the French Open, but he has been playing well enough to win his Semi Final at the kind of level this tournament in Unag is operating at.

This has not been a deep field and I do like Cecchinato today as my sole pick from the Semi Final matches to be played.

I am having to write this out on a mobile today so unfortunately the thread has a different feel to normal but I will be back to the usual feel tomorrow. If I’m back before this match begins I will update the weekly totals too.


MY PICK: Marco Cecchinato - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2018- Oleksandr Usyk vs Murat Gassiev (July 21st)

2018 has been a really good year for Boxing fans but the best fight we may get to see in the calendar year may be the Cruiserweight Final of the World Boxing Super Series.

That is a big shout when you think Canelo vs GGG 2 is yet to take place and I have no doubt that may produce the bigger numbers, but this Cruiserweight Final looks really good and features two boxers who could be mixing with the big boys of the Heavyweight Division.

The winner absolutely will be propelled into a big time title shot at Heavyweight within eighteen months, while whoever loses will have the time to rebuild considering the performances produced in the World Boxing Super Series.


There was some scepticism about how the tournament would work in practice when it was first announced, especially as previous tournaments had not really worked as well as the organisers had hoped. But the Cruiserweight and Super Middleweight events were strong and it has all led to this moment as the first of those tournaments is concluded.

The success has whetted the appetite of the fans and the announcement of two very good looking fields at Bantamweight and Light Welterweight is only further good news for the fans. I am writing this before the Draft Gala has been completed, but I think both tournaments are going to set up some huge fights over the next twelve months which is great news for us Boxing fans.


The Usyk-Gassiev fight absolutely is stealing the headlines, but Liam Smith is also in action this weekend as he takes on Jaime Munguia for the WBO Light Middleweight World Title. Smith is a former holder of that belt and has some huge fights in front of him if he can upset Munguia who announced himself in a big way by hammering Sadam Ali back in May.

Munguia is clearly looking to fulfil his mandatory and then take up some huge fights in a stacked Division, but Smith has every chance of upsetting the odds in my opinion. Beefy has already spoken about fighting at Anfield and defending a World Title there, but I don't think he is overlooking the man in front of him and Munguia still has a lot to prove before people really have to accept he is for real.

Fedor Chudinov vs Nadjib Mohammedi

One of the main undercard bouts for the Usyk-Gassiev card features a former World Champion in Fedor Chudinov defending his WBA International Title against an opponent who has mixed in some very prestigious company.

Nadjib Mohammedi has fought the likes of Sergey Kovalev and Oleksandr Gvozdyk at Light Heavyweight, but he is coming back down in weight to take on Chudinov at Super Middleweight.

The last three fights Mohammedi has had have been back down at Super Middleweight, but this is another step up from the kind of level he has been operating at.

Chudinov is best known in the United Kingdom for being stopped by George Groves for the WBA World Title but he has come back strong and this kind of level is one on which he is comfortable. I am not sure Chudinov will ever be a World Champion in what has traditionally been a tough Division, but a win will get him back into position to have another shot perhaps against the World Boxing Super Series winner and a rematch against George Groves or even a chance to take on new Regular Champion Rocky Fielding.

I think the Russian will be able to win this fight on home soil and I think Mohammedi has found it tough when he has taken the step up in competition. Being stopped by the likes of Kovalev and Gvozdyk is no shame for any boxer, but that does mean four of his five losses have come with a stoppage and Chudinov has enough pop to do the same.

I will be having a small interest in Chudinov getting it done inside the distance in this undercard bout.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Murat Gassiev

This has to be the most exciting fight of the year as the World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight tournament comes to a close with the potential to unify all four titles in this Division.

This will be the second Division which has all the belts being held by one fighter having seen Terence Crawford do the same at Light Welterweight earlier in the year, but the potential for the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev is arguably even bigger than Crawford's.

Ultimately the Heavyweight Division is the star Division in Boxing and the winner of this one will propel themselves into that Division and into the big fights from the off.

I'm guessing most Boxing fans are feeling what Usyk did before his Semi Final against Mairis Briedes.

'I am feel. I am very feel'.

No one will be underestimating Murat Gassiev who has had two impressive wins to move into the Final himself and the closer the fight has come the more people seem to have fallen behind the young Russian. Being trained alongside Gennady Golovkin has only helped Gassiev who has all the tools to come back even if he was to lose this fight.

With that in mind I do feel there is more on the line for Usyk who has to be a road warrior for the third time in this tournament and being Ukrainian will be put under more pressure by the Russian home crowd. I don't think that will bother Usyk at all and I think he is the all around superior boxer, although Gassiev may have the edge when it comes to the power stakes.

Usyk is the older man and it will be that much tougher to rebuild with a strong reputation he has from the amateurs when opponents simply won't want to fight him coming off a loss. He still has time to do that, but I think it will be 'easier' for Gassiev to bounce back and that additional motivation for Usyk may just tip him over the edge in what looks like being a 'Fight of the Year contender'.

The layers are finding it hard to split the fighters now and I think it will come down to one of two scenarios.

Either Gassiev finds the big punches to slow down Usyk and stop him late or I think the Ukrainian will just use his superior angles and shot selection to just pepper Gassiev back and win this one on points.

Controversy is a concern with a Ukrainian fighting in Moscow and all the political tensions between the two countries, but I think the World Boxing Super Series banner will erase the chance of a 'dodgy scorecard' from ruining what has been a fabulous tournament.

My feeling from day one of this tournament was that it was a coming out party for Usyk before the move up to Heavyweight to take on the really big challenges out there. I still lean towards him, although Gassiev has arguably been the most impressive fighter in the tournament and I think Usyk does enough to win this one on points.

However I will just back him to win the fight in any way at odds against.

Jaime Munguia vs Liam Smith

The WBO Light Middleweight Title is on the line in Las Vegas as Jaime Munguia defends the Title he won by hammering Sadam Ali back in May.

It should have been Liam Smith taking on Ali, but the British fighter had to pull out just two weeks before the event and Munguia took full advantage.

That was the end of a remarkable month for the young Mexican who was deemed 'not worthy' to fight Gennady Golovkin for the Middleweight Title in replacement of Canelo Alvarez. He then showed enough against Ali to really raise his stock and now he is a huge favourite to beat Liam Smith, far shorter than he was against Ali when he was a slight underdog.

I am not sure I buy into that just yet.

Liam Smith may not be a world beater, but he is a former World Champion and his one loss has come against Canelo. He hasn't exactly lit things up since then with his three wins, especially as two of them were very close against Liam Williams.

In saying that he is the toughest fight Munguia would have had and I think Beefy is not as big an underdog as the layers think he should be.

This is the toughest test Munguia would have had and I am not going to anoint him the next big thing in boxing for obliterating what was effectively a Welterweight at Light Middle. I expect Smith to weather an early storm and then perhaps see a tired Munguia down the stretch struggling once his power is perhaps not what it was and I will back the Liverpudlian to once again become a World Champion.

MY PICKS: Fedor Chudinov to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oleksandr Usyk @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Liam Smith @ 7.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018 Update: 17-32, + 4.90 Units (75 Units Staked, + 6.53% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2017 (July 21st)

I've just had a few things to do on Thursday which means I am not able to produce the full breakdowns of the Tennis Picks from the Quarter Final matches that are scheduled for Friday.

For this thread I will simply put the picks down below and I should be back with a proper thread for the Semi Final matches as long as I have any picks from those matches.


MY PICKS: Diego Sebastian Schwartzman - 2.5 Games @ 1.73 Bet365 (2 Units)
David Ferrer - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Carla Suarez Navarro - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Julia Goerges - 2.5 Games @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-4, + 1.72 Units (18 Units Staked, + 9.56% Yield)