Liverpool delivered a commanding performance to defeat Manchester City 2-0 at Anfield, reaffirming their credentials as potential champions. Mo Salah played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s eleventh Premier League win of the season, providing an assist for Cody Gakpo’s early goal and later securing victory with a penalty in the second half, enhancing Merseyside’s title aspirations.
This outcome significantly hindered Manchester City’s title chances, as Pep Guardiola’s team now finds themselves 11 points behind the leaders, Arne Slot’s squad.
It wasn’t all bad news for Liverpool’s challengers. Arsenal overcame West Ham in a thrilling 5-2 encounter at the London Stadium, with all goals being scored before the break. This victory was crucial for Arsenal as they aim to catch Liverpool, with a high-stakes matchup against their long-time rivals Manchester United looming.
Ruben Amorim’s debut as Manchester United’s manager at Old Trafford was a resounding success, with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Everton. Meanwhile, Chelsea had no trouble against Aston Villa, winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham, however, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Fulham.
In other matches, Brentford trounced Leicester City 4-1, Nottingham Forest narrowly defeated Ipswich 1-0, and Bournemouth surprised Wolves with a 4-2 victory. Brighton had to share the spoils with Southampton in a 1-1 draw.
From a bookmaker’s perspective, Steeve Freeth from Bet365 noted that draws for Crystal Palace and Spurs prevented a complete sweep of victories from top favourites, with successes from Brentford, Forest, Bournemouth, and Arsenal on Saturday, followed by triumphs for Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool on Sunday. Manchester City’s odds lengthened to 5/2 during their visit to Anfield, their steepest odds under Guardiola in this fixture, as Liverpool’s confident performance drew in plenty of support.
Arsenal’s win against West Ham also pleased punters, especially those backing Gabriel to score with a header at generous odds. The bookmakers, though, had some luck with upsets, particularly with Las Palmas’ unexpected victory over Barcelona, which offset losses elsewhere, including Bayern Munich’s draw against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
Real Madrid fared better with a victory over Getafe, featuring goals by Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. Yet, Barcelona’s shock defeat at the hands of Las Palmas left them clinging to a slim lead atop the La Liga standings.
Sir Gino, under Nico de Boinville, delivered an emphatic win at Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle, adding a positive note for bookmakers as Mystical Power underperformed. Meanwhile, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury saw Kandoo Kid triumph, as the favorites fell short, marking another profitable outcome for bookmakers.
In particular, Betfred reflected on a successful weekend, highlighted by Lossiemouth’s win in Fairyhouse’s Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, furthering claims for the Champion Hurdle. Sir Geno also impressed at Newcastle, shortening his odds for future races, setting up an exciting season ahead.
This review captures the excitement and drama of a weekend filled with football and racing action, highlighting key performances and reflecting on the implications for both teams and bookmakers.
