Super Spurs

As predicted, there were a lot of goals in the Spurs - Liverpool game; 6 to be exact, as Spurs put on a exhibition in redemption to win 4-2.

Happily meaning our over goals bet was a comfortable winner.

Result

Spurs v Liverpool over 2.5 goals @ 2.02

Win 4.04

Current Pot: 99.01

Don't like long shots

Arsenal's kids emphatically outplayed Wigan, and Stoke had too much for Rotherham, to put paid to our two outsiders tonight.

Moving swiftly onto tomorrow, the big game is Liverpool v Tottenham. Liverpool are putting out their second string - will a fired up on-a-roll Spurs have too much for them/ Can Redknapp's midas touch extend to the cup (remember last season?). Will home advantage be enough to see Liverpool through?

So many questions - we advise stay away from the match betting.

But, with both sides with nothing to lose and anxious to please, not to mention Spurs dodgy defence and potent attack, there could be goals in this one; we recommend over 2.5 goals, currently available at 2.02 on Betfair.

Advised Bet

Liverpool v Tottenham over 2.5 goals @ 2.02 - 2 points

Current Pot: 96.97

Midweek Carling Cup

Two medium shots tonight.

1. Wigan to Qualify v Arsenal @ 4.1

Wigan are taking this competition seriously and will name a full strength team - Arsenal quite the opposite. Although Arsene's young guns are undoubtedly class, against a physical, bruising yet talented Wigan side (think Valencia, Palacios, Zaki) they will struggle. 4.1 (Betfair) about Wigan progressing seems very big to me.

2. Rotherham to Qualify v Stoke @ 4.3

Different reasoning for this; Rotherham have a good record in cup competitions this season, and Stoke have already announced a weakened side:

Stoke will be without Mamady Sidibe for the tie with Rotherham following an ankle injury suffered by the striker at Wigan on Saturday.

Liam Lawrence is out after having an ankle operation, while Tom Soares and Michael Tonge are both cup tied. On-loan Andrew Davies, out all season with a succession of injuries, returns to training later this week.

Tony Pulis will rest several of his senior players ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United, and bring in the likes of goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, Leon Cort, Glenn Whelan, Dave Kitson, Richard Cresswell and Danny Pugh.

Bearing this in mind, the 4.3 available on Rotherham again looks generous - perhaps not so much as Wigan, but good enough value for a punt.

Advised Bets

Wigan to qualify v Arsenal: 1 point @ 4.1
Rotherham to qualify v Stoke: 0.5 points @ 4.3

Hmmmm....

Leeds were held 1-1 by Northampton, despite dominating throughout - but Torquay did the business, with Sills notching twice to record a 2-0 victory.

Hopefully you lumped on Liverpool in accordance with our advice to cover the shortfall!

Results
Leeds @ 4/7 - 2 points - return: 0
Torquay @ 2/5 - 2 points - return 2.8

Current pot: 98.47

One from the depths...

An obscure tip this weekend, that seems to offer some value, is Torquay at home to Evesham in the FA Cup First Round.

Torquay are in a rich vein of form - they are unbeaten in 12 matches, and top scorer Tim Sills is fit after scoring twice in midweek.

Although Evesham had a great result in the previous round - beating Rushden and Diamonds - they have lost convincingly to Gloucester City and Stourbridge since then.

Both teams will be fired up for this; but Torquay's extra class, and great form, should carry them through comfortably.

Torquay are a best price 2/5 with Betfred.

Advised Bet: Torquay @ 2/5
Advised Stake: 2 points

FA Cup Weekend

This doesn't affect the Premiership as its only Round 1, but its FA Cup weekend with the potential for a few upsets. Picking a stand-out winner is difficult - but bearing this in mind Leeds are a decent pick this weekend.

They sit second in League One, and have won their last seven consecutive home games.

Northampton, on the other hand, have won 1, drawn 2, and lost 5 of their 8 away games in League One, and sit 14th. Plus, Northampton's Adebayo Akinfenwa, Luke Gutteridge and Abdul Osman are all out injured, while Colin Larkin is a doubt - so they have a few injuries.

McAllister's assertion that Leeds want to progress in the cup, plus their superior record and undoubted extra class is enough to recommend they progress to the next round.

Leeds are available at 4/7 with Boyles and Ladbrokes.

Advised Bet: Leeds to beat Northampton at 4/7
Advised Stake: 2 points

Weekend Picks

Its been a tough betting week this week - nothing has jumped out, nothing has been blindingly obvious - and most accumulators have gone down, bar the UEFA cup last night.

If we were heavy odds on backers, Liverpool look as solid a bet as you get in the Premiership. The reasons being:

Liverpool have won their last 10 league and cup meetings with West Brom, and are unbeaten in 17 (16 league) against them.

Albion's most recent victory over the Reds was a 2-0 top flight triumph at the Hawthorns on 7 February 1981, when Bryan Robson and Cyrille Regis helped themselves to a goal a piece.

The Baggies have not won at Anfield in 41 years, since prevailing 0-1 in the old First Division on 22 April 1967. They have drawn four and lost 15 of their 19 subsequent league visits.

West Brom have won six of 62 away matches in their Premier League history.

West Brom have picked up just one point out of 12 from a 2-2 home draw with Blackburn on 1 November.

West Brom have lost their last eight Premier League matches against 'Big Four' clubs, and not taken a point off the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United since winning 2-1, home to Arsenal on 15 October 2005.

Liverpool are undefeated in 16 home Premier League matches, and the only club still to lose a home top-flight game in 2008.

Liverpool have failed to score in only one of 16 home league games; the exception being the goalless draw with Stoke on 20 September.

Liverpool have won 13 of the last 16 league outings at Anfield (four of five this season); dropped just six points out of 48 since losing 0-1 to Manchester United on 16 December 2007.

However, at time of writing, the best price available on Liverpool is 1/4 (Stan James, BetFred, Paddy Power, Bet Direct, and Sky Bet).

We are always advocates of a winning bet being better than a losing bet - however short the odds - but the risk reward ratio here tilts it slightly toward a 'no'.

A little more value and we'd be on - as it stands, we'll leave this for the heavy odds on backers.