Back drifting Liverpool to beat Manchester United at a massive 2-1

By Derek McGovern in Betting Blog

Published 12:31 24/10/09

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They're calling it a make-or-break match for Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, and a make-or-break-in match for north-west burglars.

When Liverpool meet Manchester United tomorrow something's gotta give - and the clever money's on it not being Fergie.

It's probably fair to say that victory for Liverpool would allow under-fire Rafa to buy time - even fairer to say he'll probably pay too much for it.

But why should Benitez have to buy time when for so many other managers it's borrowed? That's discrimination, that is.

What will be rankling Rafa most after a run of four straight defeats is the identity of the man Sky chose to be chief summariser when Lyon beat Liverpool on Tuesday night.

It was Jurgen Klinsmann, the German once invited by Anfield owners Statler and Waldorf to replace Benitez as boss. That's cruel. It's like using your old computer to shop online for a new computer, or like asking your dying missus if she has any good-looking mates.

Even crueller for Liverpool fans is the prospect of one-time Anfield idol Michael Owen scoring at the Kop end in a United shirt tomorrow. There are rumours that Owen is not going to celebrate a goal. Not out of respect to Liverpool, just because he isn't good enough to score them any more.

There are some things you just don't do, like opening a half-open toilet door without a degree of trepidation, like changing a light bulb without first checking the position of the switch, like jumping into the pool without first checking the temperature - unless tasty birds are present. Well, signing for United when you've been a Liverpool idol is right at the top of that list.

Owen should have known better. But then this is the guy who okayed a brochure telling Premier League managers how good-looking he is, and who accepted credit bets from Shrek. Given that track record, one day he might even tell Shrek how good-looking he is.

Owen is 6-1 with bet365 to score at the Kop end and 16-1 to kiss the United badge after scoring. The former would be highly unwelcome, the latter highly unadvisable. Both are highly unlikely.

What punters must remember is that though Liverpool aren't playing well, neither are United. Xabi Alonso apart, this is the same Liverpool team that was comfortably the best in the Premier League last term and they'll prove it again tomorrow. Liverpool began the week at 6-4 and have now drifted out to 2-1 - at those odds they are sitting up and begging to be backed.

Bet of the day
People say my moosus is fat but in her defence she eats only to keep her mind off food.

Get on Aston Villa at 23-20 to win at Wolves today.

Macca's Acca
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done, so now I just have to fill in the rest.

Get on Aston Villa (23-20), Portsmouth (9-5), QPR (6-4), and Manchester City (4-9). The four-timer with Hills pays around 20-1.

Derek McGovern

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