https://www.scmp.com/rss/8119/feed Nick has been SCMP’s tipster since soccer betting was launched in Hong Kong in 2003, having previously served as racing editor. He takes a statistical approach to soccer betting, focusing mainly on the English Premier League but also on the other major European leagues and the English lower divisions. Now based in England, he brings a wealth of experience as a punter and writer having also worked for the Sunday Times, Racing Post and Betfair during a 25-year career in sports betting journalism. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com One of English football’s big six clubs usually lifts the FA Cup but Saturday’s Wembley showdown between Arsenal and Chelsea is a relatively rare final between two of them. The last big-six clash in the final was five years ago when Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 and the one before that was another five years earlier when Chelsea again emerged victorious, this time 1-0 over Manchester United with a Didier Drogba extra-time winner. If that gives Chelsea a good cup pedigree, the same is true of Arsene... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2095792/rare-big-six-fa-cup-decider-sees-chelsea-primed-hand-antonio-conte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2095792/rare-big-six-fa-cup-decider-sees-chelsea-primed-hand-antonio-conte?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 May 2017 04:53:12 +0000 Twelve months ago we were heralding Leicester’s remarkable achievement of winning the English Premier League under Claudio Ranieri, but this time it is a very different Italian manager with the trophy and a much more familiar look to the table with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea back on top followed by the rest of the big six. Leicester, meanwhile, are down in 11th place, which is worse than Chelsea’s 10th last season as defending champions but would be regarded as a solid position for a mid-size club... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2094938/improvement-all-around-premier-league-big-seven-begins-take-shape-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2094938/improvement-all-around-premier-league-big-seven-begins-take-shape-top?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 May 2017 06:07:56 +0000 This could be the weekend when almost everything is settled in the English Premier League and there are two key games at the bottom involving the three teams still fighting to avoid the last remaining relegation spot. The first sees Sunderland, bottom of the table and already certain to go down, at home to Swansea tonight. The visitors clambered out of the bottom three last week and have their destiny in their own hands with two games to play, but they are still under intense pressure to win... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2094111/best-premier-league-bets-value-be-found-campaign-nears-its-end-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2094111/best-premier-league-bets-value-be-found-campaign-nears-its-end-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 May 2017 08:15:46 +0000 Arsenal against Manchester United, for so long one of the tastiest clashes of the English Premier League season, has turned into a fight over the scraps from the top table when they meet on Sunday with Champions League qualification hanging in the balance. As it stands, Arsenal and United are outside the Champions League places in sixth and fifth, and the prospect of both clubs missing out on Europe’s elite competition will increase if there is no winner, while the losing side will find it hard... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2093099/no-love-lost-arsenal-and-manchester-united-fight-over-scraps-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2093099/no-love-lost-arsenal-and-manchester-united-fight-over-scraps-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2017 05:05:59 +0000 This weekend might be the last chance to set up a grandstand finish in the English Premier League title race, with leaders Chelsea facing their toughest remaining match away to Everton on Sunday. Unfortunately for Tottenham, who trail by four points with five games to play, they also face a difficult fixture at home to Arsenal. Home advantage means Tottenham have the better percentage chance of success among the two title contenders, as the betting odds confirm, but their need to win is greater... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2091481/now-or-never-tottenham-chelsea-look-put-premier-league-title-race-bed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2091481/now-or-never-tottenham-chelsea-look-put-premier-league-title-race-bed?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Apr 2017 07:54:28 +0000 This weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley feature a quartet of teams from England’s big six and, even in that context, it is the Chelsea v Tottenham tie that stands out as the top-quality contest. Saturday night’s match would have been a fitting final between the two teams now separated by only four points at the top of the Premier League and their superior class was recognised this week when the PFA team of the year contained four players from each club. By contrast, Arsenal and Manchester... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2089582/chelsea-spurs-fa-cup-semi-final-would-have-been-fitting-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2089582/chelsea-spurs-fa-cup-semi-final-would-have-been-fitting-final?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Apr 2017 09:10:19 +0000 As if betting on the English Premier League was not difficult enough, the final weeks of the season always throw a different set of imponderables into the mix, and one that could play a big part this weekend is the European factor in Crystal Palace against Leicester City and Manchester United against Chelsea. Leicester are at home to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final next week, while United host Anderlecht in their return match at the same stage of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2087662/european-battle-leaves-homefront-exposed-leicester-city-and-manchester?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2087662/european-battle-leaves-homefront-exposed-leicester-city-and-manchester?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Apr 2017 03:48:10 +0000 In these days of squad rotation, one of the key factors in Chelsea’s title surge in the English Premier League has an old-fashioned twist: Antonio Conte’s ability to put his best players on the pitch week in, week out. The importance of that element to Chelsea’s success was emphasised last weekend when Victor Moses, who has played a crucial if largely unheralded role in his rebirth as right wingback, was absent from the Premier League starting team for the first time since the end of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2085718/lack-rotation-puts-title-rivals-spin-antonio-contes-chelsea-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2085718/lack-rotation-puts-title-rivals-spin-antonio-contes-chelsea-close?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2017 05:24:57 +0000 The English Premier League weekend is bookended by two big matches that could have a major influence on the race for Champions League places behind Chelsea. First up is Saturday’s Merseyside derby as Liverpool host Everton and the weekend ends with Arsenal at home to Manchester City. With a full midweek programme to follow, when the big games at the top are Manchester United against Everton and Chelsea against Manchester City, this is set to be a pivotal period in the battle for Europe. Seven... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2083832/form-everton-seek-end-derby-hoodoo-against-liverpool-premier-league-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2083832/form-everton-seek-end-derby-hoodoo-against-liverpool-premier-league-top?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:59:20 +0000 Germany and England, having been closely matched in a friendly on Wednesday night, go to the other end of the international scale on Monday morning (Hong Kong time) in their World Cup qualifiers when they face Azerbaijan and Lithuania respectively. The big teams are similarly short odds, with Germany away to the nation lying 89th in the Fifa rankings and England hosting the 107th-ranked country. By contrast, Germany are the top-ranked European country in third overall behind only Argentina and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2081817/safe-bets-germany-and-england-take-minnows-world-cup-qualifying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2081817/safe-bets-germany-and-england-take-minnows-world-cup-qualifying?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Mar 2017 05:49:38 +0000 Chelsea look secure with a 10-point lead in the English Premier League, Sunderland appear ever more doomed at the bottom and are now six points from safety, while a few teams in the middle seem to be in no man’s land. Otherwise there is everything to play for, with seven points separating second from sixth in the race for Champions League places and five points covering the five teams from 15th to 19th in the relegation battle. The big match at the top end is Manchester City against Liverpool on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2079836/all-play-manchester-city-and-liverpool-seek-continue-scoring-streak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2079836/all-play-manchester-city-and-liverpool-seek-continue-scoring-streak?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Mar 2017 04:56:36 +0000 The betting odds suggest Lincoln City have a three in 100 chance of winning their FA Cup quarter-final at Arsenal on Sunday morning (Hong Kong time), while Lincoln manager Danny Cowley puts it at one in 1,000, but either way it would be a huge shock if the Gunners did not go through. Expectation has a big influence in football, as we saw with Claudio Ranieri’s recent sacking by Leicester City. Ranieri achieved the impossible by taking Leicester to the Premier League title and into the last 16 of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2077744/long-shot-lincoln-city-give-under-pressure-arsene-wenger-easy-target?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2077744/long-shot-lincoln-city-give-under-pressure-arsene-wenger-easy-target?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Mar 2017 04:25:17 +0000 This is one of those periods in the English Premier League season where the usual home-away alternation of matches is not being followed in every case, giving some teams the advantage of playing back-to-back home games while others have two away trips in succession. Among those with consecutive home matches are Tottenham Hotspur, who follow last week’s 4-0 win over Stoke City at White Hart Lane by hosting Everton, which in theory gives them the chance to keep some pressure on leaders... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2075788/home-where-hart-tottenham-hotspur-and-leicester-city-seek-comfort?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2075788/home-where-hart-tottenham-hotspur-and-leicester-city-seek-comfort?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Mar 2017 06:17:03 +0000 The first trophy lifted by Jose Mourinho in English football was the League Cup with Chelsea in 2005 and the same competition offers him his first chance of major silverware with Manchester United – if we don’t count the pre-season Community Shield - in tomorrow’s final against Southampton. The EFL Cup – to give it its branded title – is the third of English football’s major competitions, behind the Premier League and the FA Cup, but there is no doubt Mourinho targeted victory in his first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2073817/league-cup-can-once-again-give-jose-mourinho-platform-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2073817/league-cup-can-once-again-give-jose-mourinho-platform-success?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:59:40 +0000 The difficulties of fighting on many fronts were made clear again for Arsenal and Tottenham this week – catastrophically so for the Gunners – and served to emphasise that a key factor in Chelsea’s rise back to the top has been their relatively straightforward fixture list. Chelsea are involved in this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round – as are Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs – but unlike those rivals Antonio Conte’s team do not have the additional burden of playing in Europe this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071843/chelseas-double-target-made-easier-lack-european-commitments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071843/chelseas-double-target-made-easier-lack-european-commitments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:24:36 +0000 The difficulties of fighting on many fronts were made clear again for Arsenal and Tottenham this week – catastrophically so for the Gunners – and served to emphasise that a key factor in Chelsea’s rise back to the top has been their relatively straightforward fixture list. Chelsea are involved in this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round – as are Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs – but unlike those rivals Antonio Conte’s team do not have the additional burden of playing in Europe this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071801/chelsea-can-focus-premier-league-fa-cup-double-while-rivals-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071801/chelsea-can-focus-premier-league-fa-cup-double-while-rivals-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:32:44 +0000 Two huge matches at opposite ends of the table dominate the English Premier League this weekend, with Liverpool at home to Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City hosting Leicester City in a big relegation clash. On current form Liverpool, having started the season as serious title contenders, look vulnerable against Tottenham as Juergen Klopp’s side have slid to fifth place with a five-match winless run since the start of 2017 that has included defeats by relegation battlers Swansea and Hull... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2069785/liverpool-look-vulnerable-home-tottenham-hotspur-reds-often-show-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2069785/liverpool-look-vulnerable-home-tottenham-hotspur-reds-often-show-their?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Feb 2017 04:34:22 +0000 Arsenal blew a big chance on Tuesday night with their home defeat by Watford when victory would have set them up perfectly for Saturday’s English Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners could have gone into their showdown with the leaders trailing by only six points and with the tantalising prospect of cutting that deficit in half if they managed to win. Instead they are nine points behind as Chelsea continue to hold a commanding advantage over their title rivals. Only... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2067828/indifferent-arsenal-are-against-odds-upset-runaway-leaders-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2067828/indifferent-arsenal-are-against-odds-upset-runaway-leaders-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Feb 2017 07:19:08 +0000 There are only two all-Premier League clashes in this weekend’s FA Cup fourth round in England and one of them brings some peril for Arsenal away to Southampton, who have already put them out of the League Cup this season. On that occasion Southampton triumphed 2-0 away to the Gunners, although the home side were missing big stars including Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott. The League Cup is not often a good form guide but Southampton have proved themselves a good cup... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2065664/arsenal-should-be-wary-southampton-eyeing-another-cup-shock-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2065664/arsenal-should-be-wary-southampton-eyeing-another-cup-shock-after?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jan 2017 04:58:28 +0000 The make-up of a title-winning side has many elements but one of them is certainly a varied goal threat – especially from midfield – and that factor has been evident among this season’s challengers in the English Premier League. The top four teams all have at least two players who have scored six or more goals, while the two Manchester clubs – who are struggling to keep pace in fifth and sixth – each have only one scorer in that category. Both of them are strikers (Sergio Aguero for City and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2063923/chelsea-and-tottenham-ride-wave-goals-top-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2063923/chelsea-and-tottenham-ride-wave-goals-top-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jan 2017 07:02:20 +0000 This current period of domestic-only action has produced some new twists near the top of the English Premier League and Manchester United, one of the teams who have thrived in recent weeks, host the big game of the weekend when they face Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday night. Victory for United would confirm their re-emergence as serious contenders for a high finish, rather than mere also-rans, after a blistering run of form. Three more points tomorrow would put them only two points behind... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2061931/manchester-united-make-most-european-break-still-face-tough-task?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2061931/manchester-united-make-most-european-break-still-face-tough-task?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jan 2017 07:47:09 +0000 The debilitating effects of English football’s festive programme have been a major talking point again in the past couple of weeks – and perhaps more than usual with new voices such as Juergen Klopp joining the debate – and there might be a knock-on impact in this weekend’s FA Cup third round. “Forty-eight hours [between matches] is an interesting idea but less than 48 hours I cannot believe,” Klopp said in response to the fixture list that asked his Liverpool side to play a late game at home to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2059909/fixture-build-could-mean-potential-fa-cup-upsets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2059909/fixture-build-could-mean-potential-fa-cup-upsets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jan 2017 05:22:32 +0000 A couple of blockbusters straddle the turn of the year in the English Premier League, with Liverpool v Manchester City Sunday morning (Hong Kong time) and Tottenham v Chelsea next Wednesday night. The Tottenham match is a potential stopping point for Chelsea’s winning run, which stands at 12 matches and counting, but by then it could have stretched to 13 with a home victory over Stoke on Saturday and their lead at the top might have grown further too. If Chelsea win, their advantage will remain... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2058172/liverpool-hope-continue-big-six-form-against-manchester-city-tottenham?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2058172/liverpool-hope-continue-big-six-form-against-manchester-city-tottenham?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Dec 2016 05:58:58 +0000 Chelsea’s lead in the English Premier League title race is a commanding six points and, with two home games to come before the end of 2016, their advantage looks more likely to increase than diminish over the festive season. Being No 1 at Christmas is no guarantee of success in the long term, as several commentators have pointed out in recent days. In the 24 years of the Premier League era, exactly half of the Christmas leaders have gone on to take the title but the other half were overtaken and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2056858/history-points-chelsea-title-holiday-stats-weigh-blues-favour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2056858/history-points-chelsea-title-holiday-stats-weigh-blues-favour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Dec 2016 06:33:54 +0000 Today marks the first anniversary of Jose Mourinho’s second departure from Chelsea and the current standings in the English Premier League make clear that the club has emerged in better shape than its former manager. Mourinho takes his Manchester United side to West Brom in Saturday night’s late game with a yawning 13-point gap between his new club and Chelsea, who are setting a ferocious pace at the top. Chelsea’s fortunes have turned around completely since Mourinho’s exit. Guus Hiddink... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2055196/special-one-mourinho-rapidly-becoming-yesterdays-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2055196/special-one-mourinho-rapidly-becoming-yesterdays-man?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Dec 2016 08:30:45 +0000 Who have been the key players of the English Premier League season? Many would name Eden Hazard and Diego Costa of Chelsea, Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal, Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City. All have one thing in common: they are attacking players who bring flair and excitement in abundance. That type of player tends to hog the headlines, as Sanchez did last weekend with his brilliant hat-trick in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at West Ham, capped by his impudent dummy before his... https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/2053282/strikers-stealing-limelight-its-defenders-who-are-keeping-premier-leagues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/2053282/strikers-stealing-limelight-its-defenders-who-are-keeping-premier-leagues?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:22:00 +0000 English Premier League leaders Chelsea passed one test last weekend with a home win over Tottenham but tonight they face an even tougher examination away to Manchester City as the top two in the title betting go head to head. City started the season as title favourites and have retained that status despite dropping to third behind Chelsea and Liverpool, who started the campaign respectively fourth and fifth in the betting. City are 2.65 now, followed by Chelsea at 2.75, Liverpool at 3.85 and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2051180/will-premier-league-have-new-favourites-after-chelsea-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2051180/will-premier-league-have-new-favourites-after-chelsea-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Dec 2016 07:59:41 +0000 Has Antonio Conte come up with a title-winning formula for Chelsea, the new leaders of the English Premier League? We will soon have more of an answer as Conte’s side host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday morning (Hong Kong time) before travelling to face Manchester City next Saturday. The question is there for Chelsea because they have played three of the other big six teams this season and lost twice at home to Liverpool and away to Arsenal while winning only once at home to Manchester... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2049196/crunch-time-antonio-contes-favoured-premier-league-leaders-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2049196/crunch-time-antonio-contes-favoured-premier-league-leaders-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Nov 2016 05:03:42 +0000 A quiz question: can you name the two teams from outside the English Premier League big six who have beaten one of those elite sides this season? The answer will follow shortly, but it is also worth pondering this fact – those two wins for non-elite teams have come from 48 attempts, which suggests the gap between the super-rich and the rest is as big as ever despite Leicester’s title-winning heroics last season. The key for the lower-class teams in the Premier League remains how they perform... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2047237/arsenal-team-back-arsene-wenger-ready-exact-revenge-jose-mourinho?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2047237/arsenal-team-back-arsene-wenger-ready-exact-revenge-jose-mourinho?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:47:22 +0000 Before tackling the rest of the weekend’s international football, it is a good time to reflect on the English Premier League season after last weekend’s breathless action that saw three different leaders. With the season coming to the boil, the break seems to have come at just the wrong moment, but for punters it offers a chance to take stock. After this international break it is non-stop domestic action through the deep midwinter and it will be easy for punters to get carried away on the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2045091/time-take-premier-league-stock-during-international-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2045091/time-take-premier-league-stock-during-international-break?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Nov 2016 04:22:09 +0000 Sunday night’s Arsenal v Tottenham clash shapes up as the match of the season so far in the English Premier League. This is always one of the most hotly contested derbies and, on this occasion, both clubs are serious title contenders who play stylish football – one unbeaten in the league, the other without a defeat in any competition since the opening day. Arsenal have not lost since the 4-3 home defeat by Liverpool. . Their unbeaten run in all competitions has stretched to 15 matches and, while... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2043045/bragging-rights-and-title-ambitions-collide-arsenal-spurs-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2043045/bragging-rights-and-title-ambitions-collide-arsenal-spurs-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2016 07:59:42 +0000 It is still early days in the English Premier League, but there is the first sign of a breakaway group at the top, with the top five separated by a single point but then a gap of four points back to Everton in sixth. The cracks in the table could open further this weekend as most of the matches are between teams already separated by a sizeable margin, with Southampton against Chelsea the only meeting of two teams from the top half of the table. Chelsea looked in danger of losing touch with the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2040956/tight-top-where-value-premier-league-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2040956/tight-top-where-value-premier-league-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Oct 2016 05:26:23 +0000 The biggest match in the English Premier League is saved until last again this weekend with Sunday night’s clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, even though it involves two clubs currently outside the top four. Let us hope it is better than Monday’s stalemate between Liverpool and United, although the presence of Jose Mourinho in the away dugout is hardly encouraging for fans of exciting, entertaining football. Mourinho, having ensured United cancelled out Liverpool, put an interesting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2038967/saving-best-till-last-will-chelsea-and-manchester-united-live-their-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2038967/saving-best-till-last-will-chelsea-and-manchester-united-live-their-top?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2016 05:15:00 +0000 The English Premier League weekend opens with Chelsea v Leicester – the last two champions – and climaxes with Liverpool v Manchester United, and there is another top-six clash between Manchester City and Everton sandwiched in the middle. That is a tasty menu, but the main course comes on Monday night. Liverpool v Manchester United is one of the most fierce rivalries in English football and, after the long years when one of the clubs was on their perch looking down on the other, it is more... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2028156/stronger-liverpool-can-take-down-manchester-united?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2028156/stronger-liverpool-can-take-down-manchester-united?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:00:01 +0000 Five weeks ago this column opened with “a new era - yes, another one - dawns for England” at the start of World Cup qualifying, and those nine words still hold true following Sam Allardyce’s shock departure after just one match in charge. If there was a song titled 50 Ways To Leave The England Job, Allardyce managed to find one of the most unusual in allowing himself to be caught up in a corruption sting by a newspaper. You fell for the scam, Sam. Now it falls to Gareth Southgate to take up a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2026020/gareth-southgate-cant-lose-after-succeeding-sam-allardyce-can-england?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2026020/gareth-southgate-cant-lose-after-succeeding-sam-allardyce-can-england?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Oct 2016 05:18:22 +0000 Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City go head-to-head in the English Premier League on Sunday and, as well as Spurs themselves, the other title hopefuls will be hoping the home side can bring a halt to the 100 per cent domestic record currently held by Pep Guardiola’s side. If City take their winning run to seven games, they will be at least five points clear of the pack by the end of the weekend and would go into the next international break at least six points ahead of neighbours Manchester... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2023981/glimmer-hope-tottenham-hotspur-seek-derail-manchester-city-juggernaut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2023981/glimmer-hope-tottenham-hotspur-seek-derail-manchester-city-juggernaut?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Sep 2016 06:14:44 +0000 Arsenal versus Chelsea is the big match in the English Premier League, with all the other teams in the top six facing sides from the bottom half of the early standings. With Manchester City five points ahead of both Arsenal and Chelsea, this is an important game even at this stage of the season and will help to answer some of the questions surrounding their title ambitions. A key concern with Arsenal is their relatively poor record against other big-six teams, with just four wins out of 21 since... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2022014/will-chelsea-prove-thorn-arsene-wengers-side-once-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2022014/will-chelsea-prove-thorn-arsene-wengers-side-once-again?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:08:56 +0000 One interesting aspect of the early exchanges in the English Premier League is that the old adage ‘any team can beat any other team’ may be more true than usual this season. In most of the recent campaigns, five or more teams have been winless after four matches – often an early indicator of season-long struggle – but this time only three teams are in that position. Two of them, Southampton and Stoke, finished in the top nine last season and their difficulties might not last too long, which adds... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2020042/needle-haystack-value-hard-come-unpredictable-premier-league-creates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2020042/needle-haystack-value-hard-come-unpredictable-premier-league-creates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:32:48 +0000 The English Premier League is back with a bang on Saturday night with a red-hot Manchester derby and a host of new players, signed just before the transfer window closed, in action. The Manchester derby pits Jose Mourinho against Pep Guardiola for the first time in English football and it is a potentially incendiary encounter judging by their verbal and sometimes physical battles in Spain’s El Clasico matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is a moot point whether the Manchester derby is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2017946/mourinho-vs-guardiola-pep-holds-upper-hand-can-joses-united-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2017946/mourinho-vs-guardiola-pep-holds-upper-hand-can-joses-united-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:45:21 +0000 A new era - yes, another one - dawns for England on Monday morning (HK time) when Sam Allardyce takes charge for the first time in a World Cup qualifier away to familiar rivals Slovakia. A little over two months ago, the two sides were locked together in a goalless draw at Euro 2016, but within a week of that contest, both had been knocked out. Slovakia lost 3-0 to Germany and then, in one of the shocks of the tournament, England slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Iceland. That abject performance... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2013036/new-era-old-england-sam-allardyces-charges-face-slovakia-opening-fifa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2013036/new-era-old-england-sam-allardyces-charges-face-slovakia-opening-fifa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Sep 2016 09:03:31 +0000 How far have Liverpool come in the 10 months since their first match under Jurgen Klopp away to Tottenham? The question is still open to debate after their distinctly mixed opening to the English Premier League season and this weekend’s return trip to White Hart Lane may provide more clues as to whether Klopp is heading in the right direction. All seemed rosy on the opening day when Liverpool won 4-3 at Arsenal but last week’s 2-0 defeat at promoted Burnley, despite Klopp’s side having more than... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2009366/progress-report-liverpool-gauge-improvement-away-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2009366/progress-report-liverpool-gauge-improvement-away-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Aug 2016 05:22:27 +0000 The opening matches of the English Premier League season can be an early signal of good times or problems ahead, and Saturday’s big clash between Leicester and Arsenal – both losing favourites last weekend – may give an indication of where they are heading. These teams were first and second in last season’s table, which means expectations have risen and any defeat will be dissected for signs of weakness. So it was with Arsenal in particular last weekend when their 4-3 home loss to Liverpool was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2006203/arsenal-can-overcome-leicester-if-last-seasons-results-are-anything-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2006203/arsenal-can-overcome-leicester-if-last-seasons-results-are-anything-go?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Aug 2016 10:30:30 +0000 Leicester’s astonishing title triumph added a new layer to the global appeal of the Premier League and, with an exciting influx of top-rated managers and players, England will once again be where eyes turn this season. Perhaps more so than ever, as pundits and punters look for another surprise team and wonder which of the big clubs will be first to get back to the top in an ever more crowded competition for first place. Unfortunately for the romantics, a repeat of the Leicester fairy tale is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2002976/fairy-tale-be-short-lived-leicester-city-manchester-clubs-look-early?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2002976/fairy-tale-be-short-lived-leicester-city-manchester-clubs-look-early?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:15:07 +0000 The biggest issues in the English Premier League have been settled, with Leicester crowned champions and Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa relegated, and the only remaining question on the final day of the season is the qualification places for the Champions League and Europa League. The ifs, buts and maybes almost defy explanation, such is the complexity of the various permutations, and the answer will still be unclear even at the end of play on Sunday night, with the results for Liverpool in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1944694/swansea-may-upset-apple-cart-manchester-citys-last-game-under-manuel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1944694/swansea-may-upset-apple-cart-manchester-citys-last-game-under-manuel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 May 2016 16:39:02 +0000 Well done Leicester City, worthy English Premier League champions by virtually every measure. While many expected Claudio Ranieri’s men to crack under pressure, they stood firm and saw Manchester City, Arsenal and finally Tottenham lose their nerve and form. Leicester’s triumph was about much more than the star players and the team functioned no matter what Wins: Leicester have a 61 per cent strike rate, the best in the league, and crucially they have been effective at every level. Against... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1941680/premier-league-bets-weekend-back-them-again-leicester-have-been?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1941680/premier-league-bets-weekend-back-them-again-leicester-have-been?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 May 2016 06:30:30 +0000 Leicester could clinch a remarkable title triumph with victory at Manchester United tomorrow night, which would be the fifth time in Premier League history that the crucial fixture has taken place at Old Trafford. On most of the previous occasions, of course, it was United who tasted success but this time they might have to swallow seeing another club take the title on their turf. It will be interesting to see whether Van Gaal can succeed where other illustrious coaches have failed by stifling... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1940017/premier-league-bets-weekend-leicester-city-are-brink-greatness-face?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1940017/premier-league-bets-weekend-leicester-city-are-brink-greatness-face?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Apr 2016 07:33:35 +0000 The Manchester clubs have not lived up to expectations in the English Premier League but both still have hopes of silverware this season, with United favourites for the FA Cup as they take on Everton tomorrow on semi-finals weekend and City facing Real Madrid at home in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday night. The FA Cup has been even more of a sideshow than usual this season, with so much interest in the Leicester City fairytale and Tottenham’s emergence as a major... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1937742/premier-league-bets-weekend-sunderland-and-newcastle-see-chance-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1937742/premier-league-bets-weekend-sunderland-and-newcastle-see-chance-close?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:39:51 +0000 While Leicester City stand on the verge of becoming English champions for the first time - which would make them the first to achieve that feat since Nottingham Forest 38 years ago - three of the oldest and most decorated names are facing up to the reality of life in the Championship. Those three famous clubs have been crowned English champions on 17 occasions between them - all ranking in the top ten of title winners Aston Villa are clinging on to the faintest of mathematical hopes but to all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1936159/d-day-aston-villa-newcastle-and-sunderland-big-drop-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1936159/d-day-aston-villa-newcastle-and-sunderland-big-drop-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Apr 2016 08:12:26 +0000 The odds show that Tottenham have only a slightly better chance of victory than Leicester on Sunday night, which demonstrates the difficulty Spurs face in closing the seven-point gap opened by the English Premier League leaders. Leicester have a more difficult final three games if the race is still alive by then, but for now they are making the most of every opportunity Both teams have around a 50 per cent chance of a win and Tottenham need to defy those odds on a regular basis over the last six... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1934676/leicester-looking-less-likely-slip-spurs-have-all-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1934676/leicester-looking-less-likely-slip-spurs-have-all-do?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Apr 2016 08:30:15 +0000 Leicester and Tottenham return to their battle for the English Premier League title buoyed by international goals for star players Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante, Harry Kane and Dele Alli but both teams face difficult tasks this weekend, while at the other end of the table Norwich and Newcastle go head-to-head in a crucial showdown. Tottenham have the supposed advantage of playing before Leicester this time but that can only work in their favour if they have a positive result at Liverpool in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1932869/beware-punters-liverpool-can-put-spanner-works-tottenham?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1932869/beware-punters-liverpool-can-put-spanner-works-tottenham?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Apr 2016 08:11:59 +0000