Articles
Bookmakers Back Liverpool to Make Late Top Four Charge
Despite 2020/21 not being the season Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side were hoping for, confidence is high in betting circles that the Reds will finish the season strong enough to secure Champions League football next year. Fancied ahead of out-of-form Leicester and surprise package West Ham, Liverpool are 8/11 to make the top four after getting their season back on track with several good performances.
Manchester United’s long title drought, meanwhile, looks set to go on another year with Manchester City in pole position at the top of the table. With a top-four position basically sewn up, United’s season hinges on their Europa League campaign. Last year, they went out at the semi-final stage – a surprisingly common occurrence under Ole Gunnar Solskjær – but this year they sit evens with bookmakers to win it in the lastest UEFA Europa League odds.
Given the injuries that have crippled Liverpool this year, the Reds have done well to overcome a midseason slump and put themselves in contention for a place in the top four. They’re also well-placed to finish above an Everton side that had dreams of an unlikely title run after winning its first four games of the season – bookies have set the chances of Champions League football being played at Goodison Park as distant as 55/1 after the Toffees failed to beat Brighton in mid-April.
Losing talisman Virgil van Dijk to injury in the first Merseyside derby of the year, Liverpool have had to rotate a club-record 18 centre-back partnerships after both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip suffered season-ending injuries during the campaign. How they finish the season will rely heavily on keeping it tight at the back. Nat Phillips has stepped up well, in a season where he surely never thought he would be relied on so heavily, while Ozan Kabak has overcome some early jitters after his January move from Schalke to settle in beside him.
Indeed, in all areas of the pitch, this is a squad that has stepped up to meet the challenges of losing its star players. Alexander-Arnold, especially, has been playing with a chip on his shoulder since being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad and could play himself back into contention with a strong final run of games. Mohamed Salah has had a spotty season by his standards, yet is on course for a 20-goal season in the league and a shot at a second Golden Boot award. Diogo Jota has shrugged off injuries of his own to contribute a goal every 120 minutes, the best mark in the squad, and looks like an electric young player who could be the future of the front line at Anfield.
Next year, a fully-fit Liverpool side will undoubtedly be considered title contenders again. All that remains now is to show the fortitude necessary to save this campaign – locking down a place in the top four, and with it a place at Europe’s top table next season.
Written by Alan Spencer
Manchester United’s long title drought, meanwhile, looks set to go on another year with Manchester City in pole position at the top of the table. With a top-four position basically sewn up, United’s season hinges on their Europa League campaign. Last year, they went out at the semi-final stage – a surprisingly common occurrence under Ole Gunnar Solskjær – but this year they sit evens with bookmakers to win it in the lastest UEFA Europa League odds.
Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on the knee injury sustained during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at @Everton.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 18, 2020
Following surgery, Virgil will begin a rehabilitation programme to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible.
You'll come back stronger, @VirgilvDijk 💪
Given the injuries that have crippled Liverpool this year, the Reds have done well to overcome a midseason slump and put themselves in contention for a place in the top four. They’re also well-placed to finish above an Everton side that had dreams of an unlikely title run after winning its first four games of the season – bookies have set the chances of Champions League football being played at Goodison Park as distant as 55/1 after the Toffees failed to beat Brighton in mid-April.
Losing talisman Virgil van Dijk to injury in the first Merseyside derby of the year, Liverpool have had to rotate a club-record 18 centre-back partnerships after both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip suffered season-ending injuries during the campaign. How they finish the season will rely heavily on keeping it tight at the back. Nat Phillips has stepped up well, in a season where he surely never thought he would be relied on so heavily, while Ozan Kabak has overcome some early jitters after his January move from Schalke to settle in beside him.
Indeed, in all areas of the pitch, this is a squad that has stepped up to meet the challenges of losing its star players. Alexander-Arnold, especially, has been playing with a chip on his shoulder since being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad and could play himself back into contention with a strong final run of games. Mohamed Salah has had a spotty season by his standards, yet is on course for a 20-goal season in the league and a shot at a second Golden Boot award. Diogo Jota has shrugged off injuries of his own to contribute a goal every 120 minutes, the best mark in the squad, and looks like an electric young player who could be the future of the front line at Anfield.
Next year, a fully-fit Liverpool side will undoubtedly be considered title contenders again. All that remains now is to show the fortitude necessary to save this campaign – locking down a place in the top four, and with it a place at Europe’s top table next season.
Written by Alan Spencer
