Right Said Fred

BetFred boss Fred Done gives his latest tips on a number of topics.

It was a two horse race – and it probably still is but things are just getting a bit more interesting at the top of the Premier League.

Betfred have Liverpool the clear favourites at 2/5 for the title with the odds shortening dramatically  following that pulsating controversial victory over City at Anfield on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s deflated reigning champions team, now back in fourth place, are 9/4 but the interest is now firmly on two in-form clubs who are riding high, namely Leicester and Chelsea.

Betfred have them both at 28/1 for the title – and odds on for a top four finish.

The analysis of the Anfield showdown was dominated by arguments over VAR which is such a shame because all four goals were beauties.

What has gone a little below the radar is the fact that three of the top teams in the land at present are managed by British managers namely Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, Frank Lampard at Chelsea – and Chris Wilder at Sheffield United.

And currently the most proficient strikers Jamie Vardy of the Foxes and Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham, with 11 and ten in the league respectively, are English.

City’s Sergio Aguero, who struggled as usual to find the net at Anfield, is on nine goals but remains  the 7/2 favourite with Betfred for the 2020 Golden Boot with Vardy 4/1 and Abraham a 5/1 shot.

All the build-up for England’s 1,000th game against Montenegro at Wembley has been dominated by the bust-up between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez which is such a shame.

National coach Gareth Southgate took firm and decisive action which is the hallmark of his tenure by dropping the City player who was obviously feeling bruised about the 3-1 defeat against Gomez’s Liverpool.

He, like me, believes unity is everything – and the outcome is that all players will now think twice about doing anything that could upset our so far highly successful Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Harry Kane is 2/1 favourite to score first for England on Thursday with United‘s Marcus Rashford 3/1 – and if like me you think we’ll be going the fully Monty we’re 28/1 that England win 7-0 – our best result of the qualifying campaign we are dominating.

Meanwhile Betfred Super League have confirmed the World Club Challenge between St Helens and the NRL’s Sydney Roosters will take place at The Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday 22 February (kick off 7.45pm) – so make it your first entry in your 2020 diary.

It will be Saints’ first World Club Challenge appearance since 2015 - their sixth overall - and the game will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Saints head coach Kristian Woolf said: “We are really excited about the opportunity to face the Roosters in such a prestigious fixture.

“It will be a great challenge for us to test ourselves against the current World Club champions and we are aiming to stand up and represent Super League and this part of the world in what will be a huge game.”

The Roosters beat Wigan Warriors in this game last year, reinforcing their superb record in the fixture.

They have won all four of their appearances, one of which came against St Helens in 2003.

As Super League’s principal sponsors Betfred are backing the fixture for the second year running.

It should be an absolute cracker watching the best of the Betfred Super League pitching themselves against the best from the NRL… bring it on!