Sport

TACKLING THE £2,000,000 MILLIONAIRE

TACKLING THE £2,000,000 MILLIONAIRE. Whilst you’re wading through more turkey than you know what to do with, get on board with our Millionaire and don’t forget to make use of your FreePlay game, giving you a £1 line FREE for the following six fixtures, you could win a million for absolutely nothing!

For your paid lines, you must still stake a minimum of £2 to be in with a shot at the lottery-sized top prize.

Let’s get straight into Boxing Day’s best…

Aston Villa v West Ham

The battle of the claret and blues and one where, at this venue at least, the hosts normally come out on top.

How Remi Garde would love to have three points as a slightly belated Christmas gift to Villa’s long-suffering fans.

Only the most fervent Villain will believe that the Midlands have any hope of staying in the Premier League.

At start of play, they are already 10 points from safety and with only one win in 17, are not in any kind of form to dig themselves out of a hole.

Slaven Bilic’s side are slowly, but surely sliding down the table and all of their good early season work is beginning to unravel.

Almost as if the West Ham of old is in fine fettle.

Such a shame for Bilic and his team who were surely dreaming of their highest finish in the top flight since 1986 after their spectacular opening.

Unlikely to be a Christmas cracker at Villa Park so I’ll plump for a dour 0-0 or 1-1 draw. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings…!

Liverpool v Leicester

Amazing how quickly fortunes can change in football.

Seven months ago Leicester were saving their Premier League bacon and now, here they are proudly, and deservedly, top of the table.

Jurgen Klopp’s eight wins in nine made him the toast of Merseyside but he too has seen a swift turnaround, albeit in the opposite direction.

No wins in four and goalless in three of those has really set the cat amongst the pigeons.

The way the Reds capitulated at Watford follows hot on the heels of a dismal showing at Sion and an uncharacteristically poor showing against West Brom.

It’s not what the Anfield faithful want to see.

If there’s one team that Klopp and his team could do without playing at this point, it’s a free-flowing and high-scoring Leicester side who will absolutely play without fear.

A wanton abandon to their play that is intoxicating to watch and which has seen Claudio Ranieri’s side out-play, out think and out-fight almost every side they’ve played so far this season.

Klopp will definitely be walking alone after this, their second 0-3 thrashing in two games. Take a 1-3 if you think Liverpool have a consolation in them.

Newcastle v Everton

Wins over Bournemouth, Liverpool and Tottenham in their last six matches has given Steve McClaren hope that he can turn Newcastle’s season around.

Just a couple of wins and results elsewhere going their way, would see the Magpies sitting pretty in mid-table.

That’s a wholly more acceptable scenario than just a few short weeks ago.

What a pity then that Everton are their next visitors.

A team full of international class personnel who are content to play a fast, attacking style that often overwhelms their opposition.

With Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku striking up a sensational partnership, goals are guaranteed at the moment when the Toffees are in town.

Indeed, Everton have only failed to find the net on three occasions going back to the end of August.

One loss in the last nine hints at the job that Newcastle have to do to be in with any chance of an upset.

I don’t believe they’re capable of stemming the blue tide so I’m plumping for a swashbuckling performance and a 0-2 away win for Roberto Martinez’s cavaliers.

At the halfway stage consider making use of our Partial Cash-Out service. If you’ve still got a 100% record but don’t want to risk it all, then bank some of your ticket now for some money to use in the January sales and play on with the rest.

Southampton v Arsenal

Arsene Wenger’s high-flyers are looking as good at this stage of the season as they have for some while.

What a pity that injuries to key players have struck again and threaten, once more, to derail the north Londoners charge for glory.

Once the January transfer window is open for business, the cacophony that will accompany the Frenchman wherever he goes will be deafening.

Mid-term purchases aren’t normally his thing, but in order to push on and give some extra competition for places, Wenger could make an exception.

St. Mary’s is a ground where traditionally the Gunners struggle.

No rhyme or reason because when Arsenal play at the venue they’re generally in good form. Just one of those bogey teams that every side has.
Ronaldo Koeman’s team are actually only four points off of fourth bottom despite sitting in 12th at start of play.

The message to his players will be clear.

Disrupt Arsenal’s free-flowing style, impose yourselves and take the chances when presented.

Easier said than done of course, but I’m still tipping a hard-fought 1-0 home win and Arsenal’s hoodoo to continue for another season.

Hearts v Celtic

Only Aberdeen are managing to keep pace with the superhoops of Celtic at present but even they are well off the pace in terms of the scoring stakes.

45 goals in their 18 games is at least 10 better than anyone else in the division and serves notice to the Hearts’ defence as to what’s coming.

Only 18 conceded by the hosts is the second best in the division so something has to give here.

Although Celtic have actually lost half a dozen times this season, including their last game against Motherwell, four of those have been in European competition.
Just twice have they been held goalless, and one of those was, ironically by Hearts.

Just three months have past since then, and in between Celtic have beaten Hearts again on their own patch.

With largely no real competition for them in the league, complacency is Ronny Deila’s biggest enemy as they go in search of another SPL crown.

Bizarrely after that first home defeat of the season just last week, supporters were calling for Deila’s head.

Quiet what they’ll do at full time when this one finishes as AOD is anyone’s guess.

Nottm Forest v Leeds

What a game in prospect at the City Ground.

Leeds are just a point and two places above their hosts and with almost identical records in terms of goals scored and conceded.

The visitors have actually lost just twice on their travels all season, once to Middlesbrough and there’s no shame in succumbing to the league leaders.

It’s their home form at Elland Road which has cost them and being away from a cranky and aggressive home support could benefit the team.

They’ll be given a decent working over by a Forest side who are unbeaten in the last five and lost just once in the last seven.

A congested and competitive midfield is likely to be where the game is won or lost and in many respects both sides will end up cancelling each other out.

Forest generally take the honours at home in this fixture and I’ll tip them to just shade this one again by the odd goal. 1-0 and 2-1 are my final selections this week.