Jamie Reid's sports betting blog - 23/10/09

It's looking a bit like High Noon for Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool team as they prepare to host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. Tuesday night's Champions League defeat by Lyon continued the plunge in their fortunes and having already lost to Chelsea, Spurs, Sunderland and Villa in the Premier League this season, there seems little scope for optimism against the table toppers and defending champions. I have consistently opposed Liverpool in this space partly because of the de-stabilising backroom politics and financial uncertainty, but also because their squad just doesn't look strong enough and if one or both of Torres and Gerard are missing they look mid-table standard at best.

Admittedly, Torres returns this weekend and, with Rio Ferdinand's form still questionable, it's not hard to see him scoring at any time at 11-10 with Betfred. But we are most unlikely to see a repeat of the 4-1 thrashing Liverpool inflicted on United at Old Trafford last March. Benitez's men were awful against Sunderland, not withstanding the controversial beach ball goal, whereas United have won 10 and drawn one of their last 11 games. A draw on Sunday would no doubt be acceptable to them at 11-5 with Betfred, but if Wayne Rooney is fit to play I think they'll take all three points at 6-4 with Fred Done.

I have tipped Benitez at big prices in the Sack Race market and he's now down to 3-1 and 11-4 in places but, whatever happens on Sunday, the tilting point may not come until after the Champions League second leg tie against Lyon. Another failure against the French champions would eliminate the Merseysiders from the lucrative knock-out stage and that really would be a disaster.

There are three other cracking Premiership games on Sunday and Fulham, who drew 1-1 with Roma in the Europa League on Thursday night, look capable of drawing with Man City at Eastlands at 3-1 with Betfred while Bolton might squeeze a home win against Everton - stuffed five-nil in their Europa Cup match- at 7-4 and Arsenal can continue their hot run by beating West Ham at half time and full time at 11-10 with Betfred.

Tomorrow's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster can go to Aidan O'Brien's St. Nicholas Abbey at 2-1 with Betfred. The son of Montjeu is unbeaten in two outings and last time out won the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh which Sea The Stars landed twelve months ago. That race took place on heavy ground and the Irish challenger should handle tomorrow's rain softened surface better than some of his highly rated rivals. O'Brien saddled three of the first four in last Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes and it's significant that he's happy to have just the one gun in this Group One contest.

Co-ordinated Cut, trading at 6-1 , is a horse for next season, but might prefer quicker ground and for an each way saver I'd be interested in Daring David at 16-1 with Betfred. His trainer Brian Meehan, who won the race with Crowded House last season, has a good bunch of two year olds including the top rated juvenile Arcano and his stable is in form.

Tom Brady will be the star attraction at Wembley Stadium this weekend when the annual NFL game comes to town. Brday's New England Patriots put an uncontested 59 points on the board against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday and should be able to concede a 14.5 point start against Tampa Bay at 10-11 with Betfred. Back home in the USA, the Indianapolis Colts can defy a similarly steep 13-point handicap against the struggling St. Louis Rams also at 10-11 with Betfred.