The column took out a 7/1 winner after we correctly tipped Everton to beat Burnley 2-0. It’s all about the Champions League again this week as Tottenham try to overturn a one-goal deficit against Ajax.
Running total: -£37.71
The Banker
Ajax have produced some truly mesmerising displays in Europe this season and have scored in all but one of their 16 Champions League matches to this point. Whether the club can keep hold of brilliant youngsters such as Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt after the summer is another matter but for now this team just keeps getting better and better and they look a bet at 21/20 to finish the job against Tottenham on Wednesday. They outplayed Spurs during a scintillating first half in London and, while the second period was a much more even affair, they emerged with a priceless 1-0 win. Spurs need to score in Amsterdam and their cause will not have been helped by the fact a lot of their star players had to play half of their game against Bournemouth on Saturday with nine men. Spurs have lost 19 times this season and the fact they have to go for it could play right into Ajax’s hands.
Selection: £6 on Ajax to win at 21/20 with bet365.
The First Goal Flutter
Despite Liverpool’s crucial weekend win on Tyneside, Manchester City remain masters of their own destiny with two games to go. They are a 1/6 chance to see off Leicester on Monday night and that looks short given they’ve not been at their scintillating best in recent weeks. Raheem Sterling has found the net first in six Premier League games at the Etihad this season and it would perhaps be fitting if the recently crowned Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year set them on their way against the Foxes. Brendan Rodgers will know all about Sterling from their time together at Anfield but knowing about him and stopping him are two different things entirely.
Selection: £3 on Sterling to score first at 4/1 with bet365.
The Euro Wager
Barcelona looked the stand-out team in last year’s Champions League right up until they blew a three-goal first-leg lead at Roma. Jurgen Klopp is hoping for a repeat but it’s a huge ask when the Reds don’t even have an away goal. Liverpool will come out gunning and Anfield will be rocking, and even without Mohamed Salah you’d fancy them to break a mediocre Barca defence. But gaps will be left and the Catalans are irresistible on the counter. The first goal will dictate the shape of the game but whoever gets it, it looks inevitable that both keepers pick at least one out over the evening.
Selection: £7.50 on both teams to score at 1/2 with bet365.
The Wildcard Tip
Chelsea are big favourites to join Arsenal in the final of the Europa League after claiming a creditable 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. On another night the Blues might have won in Germany, but they should finish the job at Stamford Bridge in a game that could see a few goals. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a colossus in that first leg and should keep his place for Thursday’s return. The Germans like to attack but don’t have the strength in depth that Chelsea do so a punt on 3-1 at 10/1 could be the way to go.
Selection: £2 on Chelsea to win 3-1 at 10/1 with bet365.