rafa benitez

It has been a short six months in charge of Inter Milan for Rafa Benitez. After running out on Liverpool after a poor season, Inter have been rapidly slipping backwards under his guidance, and now the Italian club has lost patience with the Spaniard. The reason being cited was because Benitez was asking for money to go shopping with, and this came after Inter had lifted the Club World Cup on the weekend. Even though he won that, he clearly wasn’t happy about the support he was receiving from the board at Inter, saying that the club could carry on and blame him solely for poor performances, or the club could stump up the money to buy a handful of better players. The players there didn’t do a bad job last season, so Benitez himself really has to be looked at. He has certainly shot himself in the foot now, and it will be interesting to see where his next job would be. With a history of very poor signings at Liverpool, which subsequently sunk them, he hasn’t been able to take a strong team and even solidify their status. Inter have lost three of their last four matches, including a 1-0 defeat at home against leaders AC Milan. So who will be willing to take a chance on him next? How damaged is his reputation? There is some time for Inter to get a new boss, as the Italian league is on a winter break.

The biggest problem was that Benitez had been trying to fill the big shoes that Jose Mourinho had left behind at Inter Milan. Mourinho won Serie A, the Italian Cup and the Champions League last year, and now Inter are a long way short of that. They are a massive 13 points behind rivals AC Milan, who top the Italian domestic league, and Inter could only finish second to Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League qualification group. With a tie against Bayern Munich to come, there are tough times ahead for Inter. But to Benitez himself. Where will he end up? He is 10/11 at SkyBet to stay in La Primera Division, and out slightly at 9/4 with SkyBet to make a move back to the English Premier League. With West Ham reportedly pressuring Avram Grant, and Blackburn looking for a new permanent manager, and Gerrard Houllier struggling at Aston Villa, is there room back in the English top flight for Benitez? In a twist of irony, with Roy Hodgson struggling at Liverpool, the Reds are the favourite English club at Stan James priced at 8/1, but that is highly unlikely. So too, realistically is a move back to the Premier League, although Blackburn seems the best fit if it were to happen. The Spaniard will likely stay in mainland Europe, and a move to the Bundesliga, perhaps to take over from Steve McLaren who is under pressure at Wolfsburg, seems plausible enough. There are likely to be openings for him at Atletico Madrid, Seville and in particular Valencia (where he really made his name before moving to Liverpool), but the big question is, how desirable is his services now, following his outburst? Back me or sack me? He got his answer.

Inter Milan v Spurs Champions League Betting Odds

Inter Milan to win: 3/4 at Boylesports
Draw: 14/5 at Bwin
Spurs to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

Online Bookmaker Promotion: Unibet 0-0 Refund. This highly popular online bookmaker, which offers an extremely professional betting service, are offering cash back on Champions League matches. Unibet will refund all losing Correct Score, Halftime/Fulltime and First Goalscorer/Last Goalscorer bets on any Champions League match that finishes 0-0. Well worth taking this coverage bonus in your football betting. You can also sign up and get yourself £20 worth of free sports bets bonus as a welcome from this this highly recommended bookie.

Inter Milan v Spurs Betting and Match Preview:

This is a battle for supremacy at the top of Group A, after both Inter and Spurs have won one match and drawn one. This is one of the highlight matches of match day three on Wednesday, and if Spurs give a good account of themselves, then there is every possibility of seeing an upset here. Redknapp needs the kind of displays which saw his Tottenham side beat Benitez’s Liverpool three times in three home matches in the Premier League. Inter do have a good record against English teams at home though, winning seven, drawing three and losing just two. But there is great incentive for Spurs in the stats, because until Mourinho plotted the downfall of Chelsea at the San Siro last season, Inter hadn’t won in four home matches against English opposition. Spurs have enjoyed strong starts to their matches in the Champions League this year, including the qualifying matches. That is exactly what they need to do against the Italians. For your football betting on this one, a draw is a realistic and viable option as an outcome. The online bookmakers have Spurs as rank outsiders to win this match, and that is understandable, as the San Siro can be an intimidating place to travel to. Perhaps Spurs will be looking for a draw themselves, as that would keep them in a strong position, and will then look to take their chances against Inter at White Hart Lane. The outright draw price is tempting enough to back outright, alternatively look for Spurs plus in Asian handicap betting. A plus 0.75 is around evens at Bet365, while a +0.25 is 6/4 at Bet365. Backing a score draw at Boylesports brings a nice 4/1 price, while home side Inter to win by one goal is 11/4 at Bet365.

Inter Milan v Spurs Betting Tip: Tottenham +0.5 Asian Handicap 6/5 at Bet365

Inter Milan Betting:

With Rafa Benitez at the helm, Inter Milan really aren’t expected to go out and defend their title. That is the frank upshot of the Champions League this season. Inter have managed just one goal in their last three matches, which included a defeat by leaders Roma. Inter are third in Serie A, but are falling short in the goal scoring charts compared to the teams around them. They did turn on the style a bit on match day two when they beat Bremen 4-0 at the San Siro, but the frailties which were seen in their opening 2-2 draw against Twente are there. They are not as solid a team as they were last year, and they are there for the taking. There is nothing for Spurs to fear here, although Inter have all the pedigree and are expected to win the group. Both teams are on four points, and that means one of them will be able to stretch their legs a little bit with a victory. Benitez holds the better of the head to head record against Redknapp, and while he was in charge at Liverpool, he won on both occasions when Spurs visited Anfield. He will be happy enough being in the relative safety of his own back yard, and on a current streak of five straight home wins in the Champions League, there is big expectations for Inter do deliver against Spurs. They will find the challenge a little different in Spurs, who should provide a faster opposition than what they have faced before. Inter like it slow and steady, and if this were still Mourinho in charge, they would be a lot sounder defensively and you would have little problem in backing them. However, there is a air of uncertainty about them, and they have shown glimpses of vulnerability about them. They need Eto’o to fire for them, because there isn’t too much goal scoring threat coming from elsewhere. Eto’o is 7/5 at Unibet as Anytime Goalscorer. Sneijder is 11/4 at Unibet in the same market. The ever dangerous Wesley Sneijder needs to be kept an eye on as well. Inter should be safe for a draw at the very least here. Home advantage counts for a lot, and often saves teams from total embarrassment.

Spurs Betting:

Huge Champions League match for Spurs in their first season in the competition. Arguably they have played their best football of the season in the Champions League this season, as boss Harry Redknapp starts to feel his way into Europe’s elite club competition, playing the balancing act between domestic and European matches. Spurs have won one and drew one so far, but it could have been even better reading for the North London side as they blew a 2-0 lead away to Bremen in their opening match. They followed that up though by giving the home fans their first taste of Champions league group stage football by beating FC Twente 4-1. Spurs have actually been quite fearless in their matches and on the large part, despite the lapses in concentration against the Germans, have looked pretty strong. There were doubts coming into the competition as to how well they would hold up on their first attempt, but they have played their way into contention, and with Bremen struggling for form, there is a great opportunity here for Spurs. They will now face their toughest test of the campaign as they head to Italy to face the defending Champions Inter Milan. While Milan have only conceded one goal at home this season, they haven’t been what you would call prolific in the goal scoring department. That will give Spurs a lot of hope, even though they aren’t in top goal scoring form themselves. Spurs are still with Jermain Defoe, which has been a big blow for them, and new signing Rafael van der Vaart has been stepping up to the plate, but Spurs need a little more from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch if they are going to progress. Crouch is best priced as a Spurs Anytime Goalscorer for 16/5 at Unibet. They are going to be the main sources of goals for Spurs for the time being. This isn’t just another Champions League group match, this is for supremacy at the top of Group A. A win for Spurs away at Inter would be huge and they are in with a good chance, as Harry Redknapp takes on Rafa Benitez, and will look to get another one over the Spaniard after keeping Liverpool out of the top four in the Premier League last year. Do Spurs have enough in them to take down the Italians? Yes, but it will need a big night for them, and they have to be brave again. The most likely method of a victory is a Draw/Tottenham halftime/fulltime bet which brings 16/1 at SkyBet. They have found a good goal scoring touch in Europe and they don’t want to find themselves chasing a game. Spurs need to keep the tempo high and throw Inter off their more conservative game. The only thing which may be worrying Redknapp, is the problems that Spurs are having keeping a clean sheet, which hasn’t happened in the Premier League since their opening fixture. This truly is a big test of their Champions League potential now, and the Spurs defence will have to keep a close watch on Samuel Eto’o. Every chance of a shock here, as long as Spurs don’t get overwhelmed or dragged into a slow match.

Inter Milan v Spurs Football Betting Prediction: Draw

Next Fulham Manager and Specials on Torres and Gerrard

With Liverpool set to announce the arrival of manager Roy Hodgson into the hot seat at Anfield, the next round of managerial musical chairs in the Premier League, falls on Fulham. Hodgson, who did a great job of saving Fulham from relegation and then took them all the way to the final of the Europa League this season, looks to have been rewarded for his impressive work by stepping up to manage one of the big four. While the selection seems a little strange for a club of Liverpool’s stature, as Hodgson has no proven track record in Europe’s top flight, it appears to be a move to instil an Englishman back at the helm of the club. Hodgson has made a very good name for himself in rescuing teams that are in trouble, and as hard as it will be for fans in the Kop to admit, that is where their team are right now. No Champions League for a club of their stature spells potential big troubles ahead in attracting new players to the club, as well as difficulties in attracting a top manager. Perhaps their options were limited and that is why Hodgson, who is considered a highly intellectual football journeyman, was called upon. Liverpool were free to speak to Fulham and Hogdson’s appointment is expected to be announced very soon. Not only does this leave an opening at Fulham, it also discounts one Englishman from the list of potential managers to take over the national side if the FA decide to part ways with Fabio Capello. There is also the questions over what will happen to Liverpool’s two stars, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool clearly need an overhaul, but have their own financial difficulties, and these are the players who would bring in the most return. How badly to Liverpool need money? Hodgson is well known for his frugality in picking up bargains in the transfer market. That alone won’t give Liverpool fans much hope, as naturally they will want to see big money being spent on Europe’s top players.

Naturally all of this speculation is enhanced by the fact that it makes for some very interesting football betting.

There seems to be a two way race for the managerial seat at Craven Cottage, according to the media. Many have Sven Goran-Eriksson, who was last seen at the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Ivory Coast, as the favourite to take over, while other have tipped Alan Curbishly to come in and do the job.

Next Fulham Manager at Victor Chandler
Alan Curbishly – 5/4
Mark Hughes – 4/1
Sven Goran Eriksson – 6/1
Sean O’Driscoll – 6/1
Glenn Hoddle – 8/1
Slaven Bilic – 8/1
Manuel Pelligrini – 9/1
Gareth Southgate – 11/1

What will Steven Gerrard do? Will he remain loyal to his club’s trials and tribulations at Anfield, or will the decision be out of his hands. If he wanted to leave he wouldn’t be short on options. Rumours have had him linked with several clubs including Premier League rivals Chelsea, which seems a little unlikely. Jose Mourinho vocally stated that he would like Gerrard at Real Madrid, while the door would probably be open for him to join Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan.

Steven Gerrard’s Club at Start of Season at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 8/15
Real Madrid – 2/1
Man City – 15/2
Chelsea – 12/1
Inter Milan – 25/1

Fernando Torres has not been having a great time at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as he has looked short of match sharpness. He did have an injury plagued season at Anfield, and was still struggling with fitness ahead of the tournament so he could be excused a little bit. Still, he has played quite a bit for Spain at the tournament, and has had more than enough chances to put himself in with a chance of the Golden Boot, but he is not the Fernando Torres that Liverpool need next season. They need him back at his best. Perhaps he lost all his goal scoring powers when he cut his hair, but his price has probably dropped a little bit on the transfer market, so the new Liverpool boss may be looking to cut his losses with Torres. It may be the case of the striker wanting away, as he is one of the best in Europe when fit, and he will want Champions League football. Torres has been linked heavily with Chelsea. Or would Barcelona want him to pair up with fellow Spaniard David Villa who they just signed? Would Benitez want him at Inter? How badly do Liverpool need money to rebuild with?

Fernando Torres’s Club at Start of Season at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 2/5
Chelsea – 3/1
Man City – 5/1
Man Utd – 16/1
Barcelona – 25/1
Inter Milan – 33/1

Who will Liverpool’s next manager be? Time to strap yourself in for much speculation around the Anfield club, as departing boss Rafa Benitez is supposedly in talks with Inter Milan, after Jose Mourinho had left them for the dizzy heights of managing the new Galacticos at Real Madrid. No doubt there will be a spate of managerial changes during the summer, with ex Liverpool stars calling for a Brit to take over the hot seat. Liverpool’s two previous managers have been of foreign ilk, with Gerard Houllier followed by Benitez. The last British manager was Roy Evans, who took over at Anfield in 1994, and the last manager to bring them a league title was Kenny Dalglish back when England’s top flight was the Division One Championship. So who will take over at Anfield ahead of the new Premier League season? Liverpool failed to secure themselves a Champions League place for next year, and that means the proposition of no top flight European matches, may detract managers. Therefore, drafting in a top foreign name may be harder than pulling in someone from an English club.

Guus Hiddink has pretty much ruled himself out of taking over Anfield, who has become the new Turkey boss. Hiddink was a popular interim manager at Chelsea, and has been one of the names who have been proposed as the new boss of Liverpool. Liverpool legend Ian St John (or perhaps to some they may recall him more from the Saturday “Saint and Greavsie show”, instead of having seen him play) is one of those who wants to see a British man in charge of the team. The top Brit in the list of names that have appeared in the press, is that of Roy Hodgson, who won himself some accolades with his impressive work with Fulham in the Premier League this year. Would he leave London to head north to Anfield, or will he look to build upon his work at Craven Cottage?

Will the Liverpool hierarchy look abroad again though, to try and instil some of that much needed European flair to the Anfield attack? Whoever comes in, it is likely that they will need an overhaul of players to bring more quality in, as their disappointing season under Benitez, highlighted some big areas in which they need to improve their squad. Martin O’Neill, whose name always crops up whenever there is a big opening position in England is in the mix, along with the Ivory Coast’s Sven Goran Eriksson, who may be looking for a more permanent role at the conclusion of the World Cup in South Africa? The inclusion of Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp in the list is a little strange, as he has transformed Spurs, getting them into the Champions League. Anyway, it is time to place your bets! Here are the list of front runners at the online bookmakers.

Next Permanent Manager of Liverpool
Roy Hodgson: 15/8 at Bet365
Martin O’Neill: 3/1 at SkyBet
Kenny Dalglish: 8/1 at Paddy Power
Sven Goran Eriksson: 12/1 at Bet365
Harry Redknapp: 16/1 at BetFred
Oswaldo de Oliveira: 16/1 at SkyBet
Mark Hughes: 22/1 at Paddy Power
Dunga: 25/1 at Ladbrokes
Jurgen Klinsmann: 28/1 at Paddy Power
Guus Hiddink: 28/1 at Paddy Power
Manuel Pelligrini: 33/1 at Bet365
Marcelo Lippi: 33/1 at Boylesports
Frank Rijkaard: 33/1 at Bet365
Louis van Gaal: 33/1 at Bet365
Michael Laudrup: 50/1 at Paddy Power
Didier Deschamps: 50/1 at Paddy Power

After picking up a vitally important win against Spurs in their last league outing, Liverpool will look to capitalise on that by beating Wolves. Despite not dominating the match by any stretch of the imagination at Anfield, Liverpool got an early lead through a Dirk Kuyt goal, and then it was a matter of keeping out the more inventive, more flowing attacking prowess of Tottenham. Liverpool had more possession, but Spurs worked better with what they had, except where it matter, right in front of goal. The victory was sealed with a late penalty by Kuyt to seal three points, which are crucial in the race for fourth place. That win put Liverpool just one point behind Spurs who are currently fourth. It is not as all clear cut at it sounds though, as Aston Villa and Manchester City who have games in hand over both Spurs and Liverpool will play a major factor in that final Champions League spot. It is odd how things fall into perspective, as Liverpool are deemed to be having a woeful season, whereas Tottenham, Man City and Aston Villa are all having great ones, yet only two points separate them all.

Playing a lowly Wolves, who are hovering just above the drop zone, should provide another three points for Rafa Benitez. After all the speculation of how much longer he would be able to hang onto his job at Anfield, there are new rumours flying around about his position. Only now, as far as Rafa must be concerned, it is flattering rumours that he is being head-hunted by Italian giants Juventus. That would certainly offer a way out of the struggles of this season at Anfield for the Spaniard, without having been given an acrimonious boot. An unthinkable defeat against Wolves may tip if his hand if the rumours are to be believed.

*Update: Benitez’s Agent has stated that Rafa is not going anywhere, and is tied to a deal which could keep him in the hotseat at Anfield until 2014. Apparently there has been no official contact from Juve.

The Reds have been trying to sign Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland, as they look for a quality striker to replace the absent Fernando Torres who is missing through injury. There is a lot of bad press flying around between the two clubs, and any deal is looking highly unlikely at this stage. Wolves, who have an FA Cup replay to contend with against Crystal Palace, badly need a win to ease some pressure surrounding the worries of relegation. Having lost their last three league matches, they are sliding badly and need to stop the rot. Scoring goals would certainly help that situation, as they have only managed two league goals in their last five matches.

Wolves are the league’s lowest scorers at home, tied with Birmingham on nine goals each. Wolves have only managed 8 goals away from home as well, which won’t instil a lot of confidence in their fans that they can go out and turn over Liverpool. If they could, it would be a huge boost in confidence for them. The two sides met just after Christmas at Anfield, where Liverpool were fairly comfortable 2-0 winners, and while the Reds aren’t full of goals themselves, and missing two main sources of goals in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they should have the edge again on Tuesday night, by way of the fact they aren’t anywhere near as leaky at the back as Wolves.

Update: There is a chance that Gerrard could return to action against Wolves. Gerrard’s hamstring was expected to keep him out longer, but after training on the weekend, he could put in an appearance.

BETTING STATS

Head to Head
Liverpool 2, Wolves 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Wolves – 2 For, 10 Against
Liverpool – 5 For, 3 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Wolves – W3, D0, L7
Liverpool – W5, D3, L2

Match Prices:
Wolves to win: 5/1 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Liverpool to win: 8/11 at Totesport

Betting Advice: Unlikely to be anything other than a Liverpool win. They may not have been great this season, but wins against Villa and Spurs recently have shown that it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s hope, and if they can get through this period without Torres and Gerrard, they should be all the stronger for it.
Wolves +0.75 Asian Handicap – Evens at Bet365

With Liverpool’s exit from the FA Cup to struggling Championship side Reading, Reds boss Rafa Benitez must now be fearing the moment when his name is taken off the door his Anfield office. This latest disaster follows an early exit from the Champions League and the Carling Cup. From their current league position, it looks as if they will struggle to take fourth place in the Premier League, meaning that they could miss out on the Champions League completely next season. The board have been patient with Benitez, and the players have rallied around him before, but is this now the final nail in the coffin of his Anfield tenure? If not, is the hammer hovering? The people filtering out of the Kop on Wedneday night, after Reading deservedly won the match in Extra Time, will probably want to see him gone sooner rather than later. Fan pressure counts for a lot.

It has been a tough season for Liverpool, and quite a fall from grace from recent times. Just over a year ago they were serious challengers for the Premier League title, and they were a side to be reckoned with in the Champions League. All that has changed though, with directionless performances from what looks like a sub-standard team in terms of quality. Now to compound their woes, star striker Fernando Torres is out for six weeks as he needs to undergo a knee operation, and captain Steven Gerrard is also going to be in the treatment room for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury. Lack of full fitness to their two star peformers has caused them problems all season, primarily highlighting the fact that there is lack of quality in depth at the club.

So how long now will Benitez be at Anfield? Naturally the betting world is jumping all over this, but a statement from Managing Director Christian Purslow, has said that his position is safe. Is that merely the dreaded vote of confidence? Liverpool’s next game is on the weekend at Stoke, and could be a real minefield if they fail to come away with a win. Following that, they have to take on the high flying Tottenham at home. With these games on the horizon, the new and improved Ladbrokes have a very particular bet, which is “Liverpoool not to beat Stoke and Benitez to leave job before midnight Sunday, January 17th” all for the price of 7/1.

Expekt are offering 9/10 on him to go between 19/01/2010 and 22/05/2010 inclusive.
BetFred offer 10/1 on Benitez to leave before the match against Tottenham on January 20th.

Stan James are offering 13/8 on Benitez being the manager on the 1st Day of Next Season, while offering 12/5 on “Any Other Manger”. Kenny Dalglish incidentally is 7/2 with Stan James to be Manager on 1st Day of Season (same price as Jose Mourinho). The real big question though, maybe not when Spaniard Benitez goes, but if he does, who will replace him? This is where the fun really starts, with Victor Chandler offering a list of potential next managers. Jose Mourhino and Kenny Dalgish are at 3/1, while Guus Hiddink is offered at 10/3. Fancy Gerard Houllier coming back? He is at 10/1. The list goes on, including names such as Martin O’Neill, David Moyes, Harry Redknapp and Alex McLeish, who, to be fair, it is hard to see them leaving their current positions. For some reason, the name that caught my eye was Didier Deschamps at 33/1, as he would probably bring some of the good passing football that is associated with Liverpool. Or maybe Sven Goran Eriksson at 50/1 would be the man to fill the hot-seat? Check out Victor Chandler for a comprehensive list.

Boylesports are taking a slightly different approach to the whole situation, by offering odds on “What Will Happen First?” for Liverpool specials:
Liverpool to win major trophy with another manager – 4/7
Liverpool win major trophy with Rafa Benitez – 11/4
Rafa Benitez wins major trophy with another team – 7/2

The miserable season of course though, doesn’t just affect the manager. One way Benitez would probably be able to invest in some new players, would be to sell off his star striker, Fernando Torres. He would command millions all across Europe, and Boylesports offer 1/6 for Torres to be playing in the English Premier League next season, and 7/2 on him being in the Spanish Primera Liga.

Saturday, December 26
Anfield
Kick Off 5.30 pm

All through Liverpool’s difficult season, one result Rafa Benitez will have wishes that he could shy away from, would be last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at bottom club Portsmouth. Liverpool have now slipped further back in the Premier League and are down in eighth position following the defeat. Midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent off in the match, not helping the Red’s cause any, and now will have to sit out the next four matches as his team mates try and pick up the pieces. Based on Liverpool’s showing last weekend, Benitez’s assurance that the prestigious club will finish in the top four, looks a long way short of happening.

Macherano’s absence, could signal the real start of a run in the side for summer signing Alberto Aquilani, who has been bothered with injury all season. Star striker Fernando Torres should be fit, but his continuing groin problems looks to still be a bit hit and miss. Nevertheless, Liverpool need him to fire them upwards, as without him, they have very little to offer up front. Torres has publicly stated that it would be a mistake to sack Benitez, but then he shouldn’t worry too much, as most teams in Europe would be happy to prise him away to secure his services. A flailing Liverpool may struggle to keep a hold of him.

Wolves are also look a little light up front, as they have found it difficult to score both home and away, which could mean this will be a tight affair. Wolves however will be in good spirits with the benefit of a healthy squad, and will hope to strike while the Liverpool iron is not so hot at the moment. Wolves desperately need points themselves, and are currently on a run of winning three out of their last four games. They need to keep going, as they look to not to be too far removed from being embroiled in a relegation battle, even this early in the season. They were sitting third from bottom, but a 2-0 victory over Burnley elevated them quite a few places up the table, with things being so tight down in the bottom half of the table. Despite getting hammered by Manchester United, Wolves did manage to beat Tottenham in a big away win for them, and that should give Liverpool some food for thought.

Anfield and the Kop are suffering this year, with very little to cheer about. They really need a boost ahead of their December 29th match against third placed Aston Villa. This festive season could be a make or break time for the tenure of Benitez in the hot seat at Liverpool. The signings he has made have not looked good enough for the quality that Liverpool should be delivering week-in week-out. There is no strength in depth, and even their first eleven looks to be on shaky ground at the moment. They are a world away from sitting atop of the tree this time last year.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Match Goals
Liverpool – 5 For, 5 Against
Wolves – 6 For, 4 Against

Last 10 Matches
Liverpool W3, D3, L4
Portsmouth W3, D3, L4

Win Percentage
Liverpool have a 55.6 win percentage at home and 17 points in 9 home matches
Wolves have a 22.2 win percentage away and 8 points in 9 away matches

Match Prices:
Liverpool to win: 3/10 at BetFred
Draw: 19/4 at SportingBet
Wolves to win: 12/1 at Victor Chandler

Betting Advice: Neither team are scoring freely, hence the problems at both of the clubs. Wolves have the better form though, and have been battling resolutely to narrow victories. Another one on Saturday would be three of the biggest points they will get this season.
Wolves +1.5 Asian Handicap – 41/40 at Bet365

Anfield
November 9th
Kick Off: 8.00pm

Liverpool will look to move up the Premier League from their current 7th position, with a win over Birmingham at Anfield on Monday night. The Reds almost did their Champions League campaign a huge boost when they took a late lead against Lyon last week, but the French side hit back with an equalising blow which still leaves Liverpool’s qualifying position in a lot of doubt. The draw has left Liverpool’s record as six defeats in their last eight games in all competitions. This however, is a chance to start building some form and momentum.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will be hoping that Fernando Torres comes through a fitness test and is able to take part. The Reds really need his awesome presence at the moment, for if anyone is going to ease the pressure off Benitez, then it is going to be him. Steven Gerrard, who has been out with an injury too, has been back in training, but there is only a slim chance that he will take the field against Birmingham. With Birmingham down in 15th position, this is the ideal chance for Liverpool to build on what they achieved in Lyon. Even with a weakened side, should they not field Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool should still have enough in the tank at Anfield to beat Birmingham.

Blues boss Alex McLeish recently gained a valuable win over Sunderland in the league, and then followed it up with a 0-0 finish against draw specialists Manchester City. The Scot will know that his team have not been good on the road, winning only one and losing four. Birmingham’s problems are in front of goal, where they have only mustered eight in the league so far, the exact amount which they have conceded in all of their away games. They do not have a bad defensive record really, but there has just not been enough of a balance in going forwards to back things up. The Blues, who have recently been taken over, are hoping that the January transfer window comes sooner rather than later.

So too may Rafa Benitez, if he is going to be given cash to spend. On the current view of things, they do, certainly if they want to compete with Chelsea, who opened up a five point gap over Manchester United with a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It is a disappointing predicament for Liverpool fans, seeing that such early in the season, a lot of hopes have gone. It seems a far stretch for them to have realistic Premier League dreams, they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by a young Arsenal side, and their Champions League progress has been seriously impaired. Where to turn to for Benitez in front of the Kop on Monday night, if they cannot produce a much needed win?

Liverpool to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Ladbrokes
Birmingham to win: 10/1 at BetFred

Betting Advice: Birmingham will probably be happy enough with a draw at Anfield. It is probably how they will go and set their stall out anyway, hoping to catch the often vulnerable reds on the break. Liverpool should win, even if it’s a scrappy 1-0 affair, so it could be worth taking that, or perhaps backing a Birmingham surprise, especially after how Fulham outsmarted the Reds.
Liverpool to win 1-0: 13/2 at Victor Chandler
Birmingham Draw No Bet: 8/1 at 888Sport