Champions League Quarter Final Latest

Half time Champions League latest Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea ... the Battle of Britain has lived up to its expectations in the Champions League Quarter final tonight. The second half I think will go to the home side.....Bet on this game now


Quarter Final Champions League results 7th April

1st leg Manchester United 2 FC Porto 2
1st leg Villareal 1 Arsenal 1


Intriguing Champions League action tonight, this competition is really starting to come to life...shame you have to endure the group stages really!

Manchester United were outplayed by FC Porto and were fortunate to go in at half time 1-1. FC Porto controlled possession and broke quickly. Ronaldo and Rooney always looked dangerous on the break and Rooney scored from close range in the first half which saw my 'dead cert' Rooney to score anytime bet come in. Tevez scored a tasty little goal from a cool flick on from Wayne Rooney but FC Porto squared it to 2-2 which was the mininum that the visitors deserved.


Arsenal also struggled by all accounts in the first half of their 1st leg away at Villareal, with injuries to Almunia and Gallas rubbing salt into the wounds with Villareal scoring an absolute beauty rom Spanish international Marcos Senna. The Gunners had to be be happy to be in it at half time and were a completely different team in the second half. The could have scored several times but it was Adebayor who acrobatically equalised with a chest trap and bicycle kick finish, definitely one to youtube.

Champions League Quarter Finals news

Tonight's Quarter final (first leg) Champions League ties:

Man Utd v FC Porto
Villarreal v Arsenal

After the fun and games at Old Trafford on Sunday, you would think that Rooney will add the spark to the party and United will win at home against FC Porto. 17 year old Maceda's debut goal reminds you of a young Rooney hitting the Premier League scene in an Everton shirt...I think Rooney to score anytime is well worth a bet.

For a quick online SkyBet - click here and register now!

Arsenal have a real tough one away at Villarreal, I really wouldn't want to attempt predicting the result in terms of win/lose/draw but I think an under 2.5 goal bet is worth a go.

Tomorrow's matches:

Wednesday, 8 April 2009 Quarter final 1st Leg Champions League
Barcelona v Bayern Munich (Kick-off time: 19:45)
Liverpool v Chelsea (Kick-off time: 19:45)

Premier League action - Blackburn v Spurs 3rd April 2009

My personal highlight for this weekend's Premier League fixtures will be attending Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur at Ewood Park for a crucial 6 pointer...I still consider Spurs to be in the relegation dog fight. Blackburn Rovers have had a long, hard season with managerial issues. Paul Ince was appointed as Rovers boss in August just before the start of the 2009-2010 season and wasn't given a budget - which was his main complaint when being sacked just before the winter transfer window. Then ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce arrived back to Lancashire when Blackburn Rovers were in the bottom three and has definitely steadied the ship but between Pedersen, Santa Cruz and the gang they are still not out of it. This will be my fifth time to this fixture, both teams play good football so it is always easy on the eye. Blackburn's corporate hospitality is excellent, good food and ex-player guest speakers make the day extra special. I've also been pre-warned that we might be approached by one of the corporate hospitality, inviting you on to the football pitch to have a photograph taken with one of the Blackburn Rovers players. Now, my good lady and I are about to have a baby boy - is it fair that I see this as his first chance to go on to a Football pitch...a Premier League one at that?!

Any way, my money will be on with my heart - 0-2 or 1-2 to the Tottenham.

Watch this space for a match report and full details.

Shearer second-coming typical Toon thinking

Newcastle United’s imminent appointment of former hero Alan Shearer as boss until the end of the season will be lauded by the passionate Magpies fans as being a masterstroke – the man who can lead them out of the Premier League relegation mire and, hopefully, help usher in a bright new era at St James’ Park.

Don’t believe a word of it. On the face of it, it seems a logical decision to bring back the striking legend to stir the Geordies – both on and off the pitch –but surely Shearer’s short-term appointment smacks of more Newcastle short-sightedness plucked right out of the ‘Kevin Keegan-quick-fix’ box.

But at least Keegan had managed a Premier League football side or two before.

If KK couldn’t do the job second-time around then how they think Shearer, with his complete lack of experience in a role like this, will do any better is beyond me.

The former No.9 is likely to engender a superb atmosphere in the dressing room and will ensure the downbeat fans have something tangible to cling on to in the remaining eight games of the season, that’s for sure. And, while it might work in the next few weeks and Shearer may save their bacon and keep them in the top flight, surely then it’s time for some long-awaited long-term thinking in the north east. How about appointing an experienced, continental coach? And getting hold of Gerard Houllier or Sven Goran Eriksson’s phone numbers might be a start.

From the outside looking in, this huge provincial club always appears to be led by the heart with its all-singing and dancing ‘Toon Army’ dictating the direction. Keegan’s return last year was going to be the catalyst for another rebirth, but it failed dismally. I can’t help but think Shearer’s return will eventually end in similar embarrassment.

Guest Blogger Aidan Perkins is a sports journalist who writes regularly for Betfair.

England World Cup qualifier online odds 1st April 2009

Hmmm, as an after thought I might also have a couple of first goalscorer bets, on Rooney (4/1) and Terry (18/1) first to score. You can place bets online on tonight's England match with SkyBet.com by clicking here.

Even as a Spurs fan I'll be happy to see no Darren Bent in the starting XI tomorrow evening at the Wembley stadium. He is a true professional, very likable but....in Premier League terms I can't see him ever being a 20+ goals per season forward. That's not to say he can't contribute in a high level Premier League team but in the England set up we are already assuming that Rooney overall will never be prolific (that said under Capello he has scored in 8 in 5) so can we make allowances for other low scoring strikers? Unfortunately we have to, especially with the unfortunate fitness problems that Michael Owen suffers from. So Heskey/Crouch would be ahead of Bent due to experience and possibly confidence in front of goal.

So, England 4/9 on...is it worth it? I don't realy think so. 3/1 for the draw highlights some value I think - if you fancy it, click here to bet on England's qualifier against the Ukraine.

My prediction: 0-0 bore draw, potential for Capello's first slip up.

Has the lucrative Premier League killed the international game

As a life long Spurs fan, I always feel proud when any of our players get an England call-up. When I first heard that Tottenham central defender Ledley King had been given the nod by Cappello I really was delighted for a fantastic player who has fought hard against physical limitations with his knee injury and delivered great appearances this season alongside Jonathan Woodgate. This call-up then created a bit of a mess, with King leaving training after a rant from Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. This was possibly a reaction aimed at chairman Daniel Levy who the FA allegedly approached for permission for King to train. Now, this one is tricky because of the player's physical condition but even as a Spurs fan I fail to see what the club's form has to do with him representing his country. I think that if Cappello is demanding that he is available for these matches that he is well within his rights and also operating correctly in his role as England manager. The moment he bows down to Premier League managers whinging about their key players are being over played is the moment when our international game truly dies.

Alex Ferguson clearly has no interest in England's progress in European Championship tournaments or World Cups. His attitude to it is a reflection of what is at stake in the modern game, but has how has this affected our national team's chances of winning anything?

Liverpool odds to win Premier League

You've got to be in it to win it. After thinking it was all settled and decided, thanks to the Reds we do now have a title race again. So what do the bookies think?

Liverpool are now at 3/1 to win the Premier League after squeezing the gap on current Premier League champions Manchester United. Man United are 1/3 on ....all very tight - I'll be tempted to bet on Man Utd at this price.

Liverpool 5 - 0 Aston Villa... the title race is back on

Premier League Result Liverpool 5 - 0 Aston Villa 22nd March 2009

We know its been a dreadful week for the champions. This is Liverpool's time now - you have got to be delighted for Rafa Benitez who has had his critics but has stuck to his strategy.

After beating Real Madrid and Manchester United in spectacular style, Fulham gave both Chelsea and Liverpool an opportunity to close in on the Red Devils. Chelsea choked at White Hart Lane with a Luka Modric goal separating the two London rivals, but today it was Liverpool's chance at home against Aston Villa.

In previous seasons, Liverpool may have felt the pressure and drawn. However this Liverpool side is strong with much more team contribution than alot of people give them credit for. Today Liverpool passed the ball smoothly and looked considerably sharper in midfield than the Villa. The home side opened the scoring early on, with Kuyt scoring in the 8th minute after an Alonso header hit the bar and the Dutch international followed up to take the early pressure off.

In the 33rd minute, Riera made it 2 with a quick throw out from 'keeper Pepe Reina going straight to the midfielder who fiercely struck the ball into the net with his cultured left boot.

Albert Riera was then tripped up in the box by Nigel Reo-Coker, giving Liverpool a penalty which captain Stephen Gerrard converted just before half time. Going in 3-0, Villa had been thoroughly bossed and it could have easily been more even after 45 minutes.

Gerrard then added a nice free kick to make it 4, then Torres was brought down by Brad Friedel who was sent off giving the captain a penalty to give Gerrard his first ever Premier League hat trick. His club form could possibly push him into the England team, Barclays man of the match today and he is constantly dominating midfield possession in the Prem.

This victory takes the 'pool within 1 point of Man Utd - yes, Man Utd will still be the favourites with a game in hand but you have to admire the Anfield spirit this season. You never know...

Premier League accumulator odds this weekend

Premier League games Sat 21st March '09
Blackburn v West Ham, 15:00
Fulham v Man Utd, 15:00
Newcastle v Arsenal, 17:30
Portsmouth v Everton, 12:45
Stoke v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Tottenham v Chelsea, 15:00
West Brom v Bolton, 15:00

OK so why no go for a small stake on this one:

Bburn Stoke WBA Man Utd Chelsea QPR all Win 85/1

85/1!!! Obviously the weak ones here would be Stoke and West Brom who are both right in the thick of the relegation zone...but then they are both at home ...and at 85/1 I reckon its worth a small bet. OK, so Alan Hansen's football predictions don't quite match up, he has Stoke losing to Boro and West Brom drawing with Bolton but then the remaining games won't give you this odds. I'm thinking of maybe 2-3 variations of this accumulator.

For this multiple (and cash in on a free £10 bet) at Skybet.com CLICK HERE to go to place your bet

Another betting tip that I have had from someone is to bet on teams to win 2-0 or 2-1. So another step would be to take these winning teams (or maybe the obvious ones - Chelsea/Man U/Blackburn) and do that.

I love small stake gambling, accumulators I normally take a walk out to my locally bookmakers and place 1-2 lines on. However online gambling is so quick and convenient that its worth getting new accounts with all of the major bookies and taking their free bets such as the £10 deal with SkyBet....to register a betting account with Sky Bet today click here

Premier League relegation odds

Premier League match tonight 8pm West Ham vs West Brom...should be a bit of a scrap I reckon.

Will West Brom go down if the lose tonight at Upton Park?

Its been a hard season for Tony Mowbray's men, when I saw them at the Hawthorns I thought they looked like relegation fodder, but then they beat us (Tottenham Hotspur) and Spurs have really turned the corner with 10 points from the last 4 league matches.

Will the Hammers qualify for Europe?

Well, I have a distant hope that Spurs will nick a UEFA Cup spot but Zola's happy Hammers have a slightly better run in I think.

So who is going to go down? I'd be interested to know your views on who you think has 'relegated' written all over them and which of the big teams could well come close. My view is that West Brom, Stoke and Middlesbrough will go down purely because all 3 teams have struggled to score goals consistently. Its going to be a classic scrap, it could be worth picking 2-3 teams that you think could be close to that 3rd from bottom position (e.g Newcastle, Bolton, Hull) and putting some bets on all 3. Remember to balance your stakes though.

For the latest odds on who will get relegated visit SkyBet.com by clicking here.