Manchester City vs. Liverpool Pick to Win
Date:Saturday, December 31st 2016
Where: English Premier League Anfield – Liverpool, UK
by Keith, Professional Soccer/Football Handicapper, Predictem
Match Odds: Manchester City 21/10, Liverpool 71/50, Draw 13/5
Moneyline: Manchester City +210, Liverpool +142, Draw +260
Over/Under Best Market: NO PLAY
The Citizens of Manchester City and the Reds of Liverpool will square off at Anfield in another renewal of a storied rivalry between the North of Englands two prominent cities, Liverpool and Manchester. These two teams have both been battling for position in the top quadrant of the English Premier League table. For Liverpool, they sit in second behind table topper Chelsea with 40 points. The Reds are just six points back and certainly need a win here to keep pace with the Blues. The Citizens of Manchester City are just a point behind the Reds and undoubtedly this game will have humungous ramifications for both sides vying for the English Premier League title. This one will be subject of global discussion when the Blues and Reds will square off at Anfield in Liverpool on New Years Eve. Liverpool has been dominant at home particularly this season and this has been quantified by their most recent thrashing of Stoke City at Anfield.
Liverpool remains is fantastic form as of late. The Reds have won four of their last six, extending their winning streak to three. Most notably, the Reds have emerged victorious in The Friendly Derby a.k.a The Merseyside Derby with their cross-city rivals, the Toffees of Everton two weeks ago. As for City, the Blues are coming in off their third consecutive win as well, most recently taking down the Tigers of Hull City. Previous to this, the Citizens captured a key three points in a home win against Arsenal two weeks ago at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Manchester City was shocked on the road on the road at Leicester to comprise their last defeat, a few weeks ago by a score of 4-2. The defending English Premier League champions resorted toward doing what they do best, sneaking up on foes that underestimate them and coming away with a win. Since the upset, it has been all academic for the Blues as they have won three straight and looked dominant in doing so. Watford, Arsenal and Hull City have all felt the wrath of the Mancunians but now this game has a lot of consequence and will undoubtedly carry over momentum in to the New Year for any team to emerge victorious. For Pep Guardiola and his cast of starts, entering a hostile environment like Anfield will not be anything they havent dealt with already. This is a team that marched in to Old Trafford and took down their arch rivals and cross-town enemy Manchester United earlier this season. Liverpool also enters this contest on a shorter term of rest which plays well in to Manchester Citys fast paced attack. Both teams have had their woes on the defensive end of things so needless to say it could be a shootout in the making.
After reviewing the markets and reactions from the general public, the draw has the most value. First and foremost, the least of the consensus is playing the draw. Either the consensus has weighed in on Liverpool with conceived home pitch advantage or they have gone in another direction with Manchester City offered at a-typical inflated odds. This is the kind of contest by interpreting the odds where the home team or the draw seems most viable. Be that this contest is a huge fixture subjected to a lot of attention across the globe, the books are likely to be extra sharp in this contest and reluctant to make any errors. Additionally, mirroring what we endeavored for a week ago, we will not recommend any play in Over/Under markets for total goals be that it is a dicey initiative and potentially reduces the take back if the draw were to hit. In conclusion, we stand to risk one unit to bank 2.6 units on a draw between both parties which is certainly a plausible scenario given the fact both teams would be more afraid to lose this game than to take the point and move along forcing each other to play solid football down the stretch.
Liverpool Recent Form
W Stoke City 4-1
W Everton 1-0
W – Middlesborough 3-0
D – West Ham United 2-2
L – Bournemouth 3-4
Manchester City Recent Form
W Hull City 3-0
W Arsenal 2-1
W Watford 1-0
L Leicester City 2-4
D Celtic 1-1
Keith’s Prediction for the Game: DRAW 13/5 (+260) and NO PLAY ON UNDER/OVER
