WAYNE ROONEY was the last Man United player to score a winner in the league at Anfield. In 2016. Yep, that long ago.
Those were the days when United fans were moaning they only finished fifth that season.
It’d be a dream come true these days.
The odds on any United player emulating Rooney and leading United to victory in Sunday’s blockbuster at Liverpool is just north of 4-1, with MGM going a best-priced 21-5.
That seems more than a bit skinny on a side that’ve beaten only promoted Burnley and Sunderland, along with 10-man Chelsea, this season.
Bet Balls

- Chelsea to win 3-0 at Forest is 14-1 with BetGoodwin
- Arsenal to win at Fulham, BTTS, is 12-5 with BetGoodwin
- Spurs to win from behind v Villa is 8-1 with BetGoodwin
- Liverpool to win both halves v Man United is 14-5 with BetGoodwin
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On the road, United haven’t beaten anyone, and went out of the Carabao Cup on penalties at League Two Grimsby.
But that 2-0 win over the Black Cats before the international break does give Ruben Amorim another chance to win back-to-back games in the Prem for the first time.
I know what you’re thinking: “Be fair, he’s only been in charge since last November.”
SunSport’s Kevin Dunne sent in another Dark Horse winner before the international break, tipping Estevao and Cody Gakpo both to score anytime in Chelsea v Liverpool. The Blues’ Brazilian star landed the 13-1 gamble with a 95th-minute winner.
The omens are not good, though, as under the Portugueser, United have lost eight of their last nine attempts to go two-in-a-row.
Talking about in-a-rows, champions Liverpool have lost three – to Palace and Chelsea in the league and at Galatasaray in Europe.
After spending £400million in the summer, it’s turned out, so far, that more is less for Arne’s Slot machine.
They’ve lost the fluency, balance and coherence they had last season when they ran away with the title.
All this means Arsenal are now 10-11 title-favourites, despite only leading the table by a point, with the Anfield side trading at a best-priced 11-4 with Coral, Bet365 and William Hill.
So what does Coral’s Dave Stevens make of it all? He said: “I thought Liverpool did some brilliant business in the summer, and I still think that. They’re second, they’ll click into gear at some point. Arsenal odds-on? That feels wrong.
“As for United, without Bruno Fernandes, they’re a bottom-six side. If you’re thinking of backing them at 11-8 for a top-six finish, go and lie down in a dark room! Tomorrow, I’ll take home win and BTTS at 17-10.”
Top of their to-do lists for Alexander Isak and Mo Salah are getting back on the scoresheet, as William Hill’s Lee Phelps pointed out.
He said: “Salah’s scoring boots have gone missing and he’s 6-5 to end his goalless run, while £125m Isak is Evens to net his first league goal for the Reds.”
Surprisingly, four of the last nine of these clashes have ended 0-0, a 20-1 shot with Star Sports.
But with Bryan Mbeumo, Mathias Cunha and Mason Mount all fit, I see the visitors scoring. Liverpool only go forward.
Liverpool and BTTS, however, is too short for me, so Reds and over 4.5 goals in the game at a best-priced 4-1 with Paddy Power and SkyBet is the selection.
Translated into correct scores you’re looking at 20-1 the pair with bet365 on 3-2 and 4-1.
A case of it never Wayne’s but it pours for United.
DARK HORSE
11-2: While Palace have had a brilliant start to the season, with that comes expectation.
And underdogs Bournemouth, who’ve lost only once all term and are fourth, can give the home side a taste of their own medicine this afternoon.
Cherries to win at Selhurst and BTTS is a boosted 11-2 with BoyleSports.
SMALL BET
Thomas Tuchel might be getting stick off England fans but it has nothing to do with the results he gets in the matches that matter.
Six games, six wins, guaranteed to finish top of their World Cup qualifying group with two games to spare.
The Champions League-winning boss cares little about reputations and even less about what other people think.
This single-mindedness also means he comes up with some surprise picks and omissions from his squads – Jude Bellingham out, Ruben Loftus-Cheek being the latest example.
So who might come in from the cold to make the World Cup squad?
Top of my list would be Ivan Toney, a 3-1 punt with BetVictor.
Still only 29, he got 23 goals in Saudi Arabia last term, two behind Golden Boot winner Ronaldo, and has three in four games this term. And his penalty prowess is legendary.
Also worth a look is Jack Grealish, having a renaissance at Everton, at 2-1 with Coral.
Chelsea skipper Reece James at evens with BetVictor anyone? And surely Newcastle’s impressive Valentino Livramento at 11-8 with the same firm.
GOODWINNERS’ ENCLOSURE
Last week certainly was a quiet one over here at BetGoodwin Towers, even with the launch of our new website!
International football never draws the crowds and it says a lot that Cape Verde’s World Cup qualification was the highlight of the week.
But just before the international break, one of our lucky phone punters managed to cop a life-changing £82k with seven out of seven winners on a £2 Super Heinz.
Four of those winners were at Ascot, where there’s a great card for Champions Day today.
Hopefully, we can keep some money in the hod this time!
Turf luck of another kind has hit Arne Slot’s Liverpool machine of late, as they finally came a cropper after a speight of last-gasp wins.
Tomorrow, they host Man United on the back of three straight defeats.
United can’t get a run going but they did look good beating high-flying Sunderland before the break.
However, Ruben Amorim’s side are too hot and cold for us to consider anything but another mid-table finish this season.
The Anfield side will surely start clicking soon and, with both teams fairly open at the back, we can see it being a high-scoring game at Anfield.
So Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals looks a good price at Evens.
Ange Postecoglou would love to be Evens in the Sack Race but he’s our overwhelming 2-5 favourite to be next Prem boss on his bike.
Forest’s just-appointed gaffer Big Ange says he always wins something in his second season… we’re not sure he’ll even make it past his second international break!
Elsewhere, Palace v Bournemouth could be the game of the weekend. The Eagles are flying, while the Cherries look sweeter by the week under Andoni Iraola.
With a win at Spurs on the road under their belts already, we think the visitors can nick a result here.
Bournemouth Double Chance and BTTS is 13-8.
And finally our Nap Acca for this week is Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Charlton and Coventry all to win for a massive 9-1!
TV Previews
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie… out, out, out” is not what Ange Postecoglou expected already when he got the Forest job on September 9.
But he’s without a win in seven games and his side have lost four of five Prem games without scoring.
If no one gets sent off, Chelsea can beat anyone as they showed against Liverpool last time out.
Away win and Joao Pedro to strike first at 11-2 with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 0-3
Fulham v Arsenal
Saturday’s trip to Craven Cottage is a handy barometer for assessing Arsenal’s title potential.
The Gunners have not won on their last two trips to Fulham. That said, Mikel Arteta’s side have only lost one of their last 18 London Prem derbies.
With Bukayo Saka back in the side, they’re a different proposition and are taken to win here – with Saka a very decent 15-2 with Unibet to bag the opener.
FORECAST: 1-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Putting a bit of steel into Spurs is something managers have been trying to do since the likes of Graham Roberts and Paul Miller in the 80s.
But it was in evidence as they won at Leeds and new boss Thomas Frank has lost only once since taking over. Villa have won four straight but Spurs can end that run.
Mohammed Kudus is the 17-2 tip to score first with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 3-2
Top Tips
Pro bet: Charlton to beat Sheff Wed, Bradford to beat Barnsley, Doncaster to beat Northampton, Barnet to beat Notts Co, Chesterfield to beat Fleetwood.
Acca pays 24-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet: Bournemouth to win at Palace, Swansea to win at Southampton, Preston to win at West Brom, Hull to win at Birmingham, Wimbledon to win at Plymouth, Mansfield to win at Luton, Oldham to win at Salford, Gillingham to win at Grimsby.
Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 76,242-1 with MGM.
Away day: Leeds to win at Burnley, Wolves at Sunderland, Wycombe at Blackpool, Swindon at Accrington.
Acca pays 37-1 with Betfred.
Top draw: Sheff Utd v Watford, Norwich v Bristol City, Lincoln v Stevenage, Shrewsbury v Crawley.
Acca pays 132-1 with Coral.
TV Special: Chelsea to win at Forest, Arsenal to win at Fulham, Spurs to beat Villa, Liverpool to beat Man United, West Ham v Brentford draw (Mon).
Acca pays 35-1 with MGM.
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