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England vs Serbia tips, predictions and preview
By Joe Townsend
Football
Thu November 13, 2025 · 2h ago
Football betting tips: World Cup qualifying
*0.5pt Ezri Konsa to score anytime at 10/1 (General)
*0.5pt Konsa 1+ assists at 14/1 (Betway)
*0.25pt Konsa to score and assist at 129/1 (bet365)

*Selections added after widespread reports on Thursday afternoon that Bellingham will start on bench - scroll to bottom of article for new copy

1pt Jude Bellingham to score anytime at 5/2 (Sky Bet)

1pt Jude Bellingham 1+ assists at 3/1 (bet365)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair


TV: ITV1
Live odds, form and stats
"Do you feel I was experimenting in the last matches?

"I didn't feel that we were experimenting in the last two camps and we will not start in this camp. We take it serious, these are World Cup qualifiers - at home. We want to build and keep on going."

thomas tuchel
There we have it then, Thomas Tuchel will play his strongest XI against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday, despite it being a dead-rubber from England's perspective; Serbia still have plenty to play for in the battle for Group K's runners-up spot.

Six wins from six, 18 goals scored and none conceded have already guaranteed the Three Lions' place in North America, and they have built plenty of momentum in their past three fixtures, too.

That began with a crushing 5-0 win in Belgrade. Wales were blitzed 3-0 in a friendly, all of the goals coming in the opening 20 minutes. A usually stubborn Latvia were then swept aside 5-0 to confirm qualification.

All of that was done without a certain JUDE BELLINGHAM; anyone who believes he won't carry extra motivation into this international break clearly hasn't been paying attention over the past five years or so.

Jude Bellingham
There was an enormous overreaction to the Real Madrid midfielder being left out of the last squad after only recently returning from shoulder surgery, despite Tuchel's very clear explanation that he had been left out because he had only recently returned from shoulder surgery...

Having started just one match this season, and been taken off after 70 minutes, quite understandably Bellingham wasn't called up.

He has since started Madrid's past six games, playing almost the entirety of them all. He's in good form too, scoring three goals and assisting once in his last five appearances.

Jude Bellingham England stats
Since the 2022 World Cup only Harry Kane has contributed more than Bellingham's 11 GOALS and ASSISTS for England, with the even money on offer for him to provide one or the other spot on given he averages 0.5 goal involvements per 90 in that period.

Backing him separately at 5/2 TO SCORE ANYTIME and 3/1 for 1+ ASSISTS feels very worthwhile.

The assists price is a cracking bet given that seven of those 11 contributions have come that way, but Bellingham's development as a goalscorer over the past three years means we have to factor that into his anytime price, meaning level stakes is advised.

Given how bad Serbia were defensively in the reverse fixture, it feels very possible that Bellingham is both scorer and provider on Thursday night.

Odds correct at 1430 GMT (12/11/25)

Ezri Konsa
Annoyingly news broke on Thursday afternoon that Morgan Rogers had passed a fitness test on his hamstring injury and Bellingham was expected to start on the bench as a result. Luckily enough I still had the notes for EZRI KONSA TO SCORE ANYTIME and his 10/1 general price had held firm.

We can be confident the Aston Villa man will be in the XI having been on media duties ahead of the game.

I steered away from this on initial publish in preference for the Bellingham angle, but this is a thread I have been following throughout Tuchel's tenure.

In fact the one World Cup qualifier I didn't back an England defender to score in was in the reverse fixture, where both Konsa and Marc Guehi did so.

The duo also provided all three ASSISTS between them during the 3-0 win over Wales, with defenders proving to be a constant menace for Tuchel's team - John Stones joined in on the action against Latvia as he assisted the opening goal for Anthony Gordon.

Konsa is 14/1 to provide for a team-mate, and if we combine the selections then we can get a best price of 129/1 on the GOALSCORER-ASSIST DOUBLE, which is worth a bit of fun.

As it happens the now-injured Guehi managed this in the 5-0 win in Belgrade...

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Football accumulator tips: This Week's Acca from Sporting Life for Saturday 15/11/25
By This Week's Acca
Football
Fri November 14, 2025 · 1d ago

It may be the international break but that's allowed our This Week's Acca team to look elsewhere, with the National League in focus.

There's a clear divide at the top end of the National League table. Three points separates first and sixth, with then seven points the gap down to seventh.

The side at the top of the pile is CARLISLE and they kick things off for us as they host Eastleigh.

Mark Hughes' side have been strong this season apart from a blip for a week in September and against bottom-half teams, they have won six, drawn two and lost once.

Eastleigh, meanwhile, have lost in away games at Boreham Wood and Forest Green while York also beat them at home.

We'll pick up with BOREHAM WOOD who host Tamworth. The visitors sit in 11th and have failed to beat anyone currently above them. In fact, four games against the current top seven have ended in defeat with the opposition scoring at least twice in each.

The Wood have played 11 games against those currently 13th or lower and have won every single one. They seem to have little issue against those further down the table.

The final one from England's fifth tier is FOREST GREEN as they welcome Gateshead - an outfit who have been beaten 4-0 in away games at Rochdale and York.

They've also lost three of the other four games against other sides currently in the top ten. Forest Green's only home loss came against table-topping Carlisle.

There are a couple of Sky Bet EFL clubs who make the cut, with League One promotion chasers LINCOLN backed to make it five wins from eight at home this season by beating a Doncaster side who've taken just two points since early September (D2 L6).

NOTTS COUNTY round us off as they go into their League Two meeting with Harrogate, who are on a five-match losing streak, having won five and drawn one of their last six home games.

This Week's Acca - Longer - November 15
CLICK TO BACK OUR 50/1 ACCA!
We add in one other side for our longer list selection and that comes in the form of CHELTENHAM as they travel to Tranmere.

They may have been beaten by Notts County on Monday night but they've seen a real turnaround under Steve Cotterill's guidance and not only have a chance at survival but can also push themselves up the table and away from trouble.

In the five-game form standings, Cheltenham sit fourth while Tranmere are down in 20th.

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Jimmy's Punt tips: Premier League, EFL Championship, League One and League Two predictions and best bets
By Jimmy 'The Punt' Cantrill
Football
Fri November 21, 2025 · 14h ago
Jimmy’s Punt 25/26: Staked 126.25pts | Returned 127.87 | +1.62pts | ROI 0.80%

Football betting tips: EPL & EFL
Saturday 15:00 - Ipswich vs Wrexham

2pts Jack Taylor to be carded at 10/1 (bet365)

1pt George Hirst to be carded at 9/1 (bet365)

0.5pt Taylor and Hirst to be carded at 90/1 (bet365)

0.5pt Taylor, Hirst and Ben Sheaf to be carded at 300/1 (bet365)

0.5pt Taylor, Hirst and Lewis O'Brien to be carded at 225/1 (bet365)

0.25pt Taylor, Hirst, Sheaf and O'Brien to be carded at 750/1 (bet365)

Saturday 15:00 - Barnsley vs Luton

3pts Over 2.5 goals at 4/5 (General)

0.5pt Over 4.5 goals at 5/1 (Betvictor)

Saturday 15:00 - Swindon vs Grimsby

3pts Over 2.5 goals at 4/5 (bet365)

0.5pt Over 4.5 goals at 9/2 (General)

Sunday 12:00 - Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United

0.5pt Ben Mee to score anytime at 14/1 (General)

0.5pt Mark McGuinness to score anytime at 14/1 (General)

0.5pt Japhet Tanganga to score anytime at 12/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power |


First off, none of the bets won and a couple were void. Bad.

I knew Crawley’s Kyle Scott was unlikely to play but at the prices available and his cards record, he was worth the risk.

The frustration centres around Sam Nombe’s late omission from the Rotherham squad. I didn’t hear any whispers off it pre-match and he was central to two points worth of bets.

Newport were outclassed by Shrewsbury - no complaints - but 17/4 Cheltenham scored two own goals and dropped a clanger for the other in a 3-2 loss at Tranmere.

Very frustrating but what can you do?

Anyway, I've got loads of angles for the weekend.

It might have something to do with the lack of EFL action last weekend or it could be a consequence of the fixture calendar, which has thrown up some sumptuous match-ups, either way there’s lots to go at.

I have settled on unders, overs, cards and a couple of potential set piece mis-matches.

Pricewise, I got some short priced, serious punts and plenty of daft ones kicking off with the Thursday Night EFL fixture.


Ipswich vs Wrexham
Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00 GMT
Live odds, form and stats
Ipswich are round 4/7 on to beat Wrexham but I don’t think it’s going to be straightforward.

The visitors have only lost one league game since mid-October (W4 D5), beating Coventry and Charlton and sharing the spoils with Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Leicester over that sample.

On the road, they’ve lost at Southampton and Stoke but those defeats have come by a one goal margin.

So, this should be competitive and yet the odds on price about the hosts has skewed the card prices. There are some big ones knocking about but two Tractor Boys stand out TO BE CARDED.

Hirst
JACK TAYLOR has featured a couple of times in this column. He’s got three cards in twice as many Championship appearances this term and has a cards per 90 average of 0.39 across three seasons at Portman Road.

The other is GEORGE HIRST. He has three cards this term, two in his last four league appearances, and a career cards per 90 average of 0.17 which jumps up to 0.24 during his time at Ipswich. Even based on his career average, 6/1 would be generous on Saturday.

I’m taking the singles and the CARD DOUBLE at a big price but I have also thrown in Wrexham’s most likely card candidates in a couple of daft combinations listed below. I wouldn’t put anyone off the various doubles either.

Taylor and Hirst card double
Taylor, Hirst and Ben Sheaf card treble
Taylor, Hirst and Lewis O’Brien card treble
Taylor, Hirst, Sheaf and O’Brien card four-fold
BEN SHEAF has picked up three cards in his last three league appearances. LEWIS O’BRIEN is his side's most carded player (4).

The referee appointment is a bit of a snag. Dean Whitestone is hit-and-miss. He has averaged over three cards per game in the second tier across his career. He’s dished out one no card game, one 10 card game across the last three seasons and almost everything in between.

Odds correct at 1535 GMT (21/11/25)

Barnsley vs Luton
Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00 GMT
Live odds, form and stats
Hourihane
Form has been fleeting but the goals consistently come during Conor Hourihane’s reign at Barnsley.

He is 30 games into his tenure (temporary and permanent), 20 of those have seen OVER 2.5 GOALS click, nine have gone OVER 4.5 and Barnsley have only kept one clean sheet.

I think goals could be rife at Oakwell this weekend with Luton in town. Jack Wilshere's side scored four in a seven-goal thriller against Forest Green in the FA Cup and put three past Stockport with the Hatters (Stockport that is) missing a pen.

The Hatters (Luton this time) played out a stalemate with Rotherham in their last outing but that was more a consequence of the Millers' defensive tactics.

Barnsley will be a lot more open than their South Yorkshire counterparts this weekend which is why both goal lines appeal.

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Arne Slot's 50th Premier League game in charge of Liverpool ends in thumping 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest
By Sporting Life
Football
Sat November 22, 2025 · 2d ago
Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool 3-0 in Arne Slot's 50th Premier League game in charge as the title-holders suffered another chastening defeat.

It's now six losses in seven in the league for Liverpool and Slot is under increasing pressure with his side stranded in 11th place with just 18 points from 12 matches.

All three Forest goals came from set-pieces, first Murillo firing home after a corner then Nicolò Savona doing likewise the other side of half-time, before a late goal from Morgan Gibbs-White ended all hopes of a fightback.

Liverpool did create chances but the best of them fell to defender Milos Kerkez as summer signing Alexander Isak produced a listless display before being withdrawn midway through the second half.

Slot's changes failed to have the desired effect and it was Forest who ended the stronger, Gibbs-White capping a fine display with a goal as he looks for a way back into the England set-up.

As for Liverpool, rivals Everton could leapfrog them on Monday night and if they don't do so by winning at Old Trafford, then Manchester United will move further clear of Liverpool instead.

"If things go well or things go bad, it’s my responsibility," Slot told the BBC. "We weren’t able to create enough.

"I tried to adjust a few things, but it didn’t work out. We were unable to score a goal. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out."

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Champions League tips: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich best bets, predictions and preview
By Jimmy 'The Punt' Cantrill
Football
Wed November 26, 2025 · 8h ago
Football betting tips: Champions League
1.5pts Harry Kane to score anytime at 8/5 (bet365)

0.25pt Harry Kane to score 2+ goals at 9/1 (bet365)

0.25pt Harry Kane to score and be carded at 12/1 (bet365)


TV: TNT Sports 1
Live odds, form and stats
I thought Gabriel Magalhaes' absence was going to be more of an issue for Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday.

The Gunners breezed to victory. Eberechi Eze got a hat-trick and the William Saliba-Piero Hincapie centre-back partnership was barely breached.

Sure, Arsenal conceded but Tottenham only had three shots, all of which came from way outside the box and equated to a measly 0.07 expected goals (xG). Despite defeat, Spurs were lucky.

This defence is going to face a much sterner test on Wednesday evening against Bayern Munich.

Vincent Kompany’s side have netted 41 goals in 11 Bundesliga games this term and scored 14 in four Champions League outings (the joint-most in the competition).

It should be a good game at the Emirates.

Arsenal and Bayern both top their domestic divisions, boast a 100% record on the continent, possess +11 goal difference records in the Champions League with Bayern top of the table on goals scored.

Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates scoring
Gabriel is missing for Arsenal
Back to the Gabriel's absence though.

The best case scenario is that he is out until Christmas but Arsenal have struggled without him in the past couple of seasons.

The impact is two-fold - the balance in the backline is affected and Arsenal lose their main set-piece threat.

Across the previous two campaigns, Gabriel’s missed 15 Premier League games and Arsenal have dropped points in six. They were odds-on to win in all-but-two of those games as well.

So, what about when they come up against elite opposition?

I was tempted by the price of the visitors but I think there’s a simple way to play this.

Kane
HARRY KANE is 8/5 TO SCORE ANYTIME and 9/1 TO SCORE 2+ GOALS.

In this competition, he has a goals per 90 average of 0.63 and these selections also have that good bit of narrative.

Kane used to play for Tottenham, the Gunners' north London rivals, and he has made a habit of scoring against them.

As a Spurs player, Kane netted 14 times in the north London derby (the most ever). Since making the switch to Bayern, he’s made two appearances against Arsenal and scored once.

Kane isn’t the most cynical player but he has picked up four cards across 21 appearances against Arsenal.

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Birmingham vs Watford tips, predictions, best bets and Sky Bet Championship preview
By Tom Carnduff
Football
Mon December 01, 2025 · 1h ago
Football betting tips: Championship
2pts Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT, Monday
TV: Sky Sports Main Event

The Monday night offering may not stand out at a quick glance of the Sky Bet Championship table, even more so after everyone else has played their fixtures, but it does have the potential to be far better than those standings suggest.

Birmingham were one of the sides with plenty of eyes on them before the season began. To simply call them champions of League One wouldn't do justice to a 111-point season which set an EFL record.

The Blues have struggled for real consistency on their return to the second tier. At no point over the 17 games they've played have they been able to win more than two in a row.

But they've really switched it on at home in recent weeks.

Birmingham shot map
Wins against Millwall, Norwich and Portsmouth have all been achieved by scoring four goals in each. Even with their quality throughout the squad, particularly in attack, those results still came as a surprise.

It's down to the fact we've watched plenty of Birmingham possession but a lack of bite under Chris Davies. They only managed to hit that four-goal target on four occasions last season.

Signs of life though, the same of which can be said for Monday's opponents Watford - although they weren't exactly in 'sacking form' prior to the managerial switch.

Javi Gracia returned in typical Watford fashion and they've been a good watch in fairness. The defeat at runaway leaders Coventry the only time they've failed to be competitive on the scoreline under his guidance.

Javi Gracia
Javi Gracia returned to Watford in October
At odds-against prices across the board, I'm keeping it simple and taking OVER 2.5 GOALS here.

All five of Birmingham's previous five in front of their own supporters have returned three or more goals - they've averaged 3.3 match goals per home game this season.

This may have only been a winner in one of Watford's last four but BTTS has been a regular feature. That's a slightly shorter price at 10/11 but I'm happy to side with the overs based mainly on Birmingham's recent showings.

They have covered this line themselves. Watford have also scored three in recent games against Derby and Middlesbrough. It's two attacks which can come to life in the right circumstances.

I'm hopeful the same applies on Monday night.

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Best bets: Premier League tips for 3 December 2025
By Joe Townsend
Football
Wed December 03, 2025 · 2h ago
Football betting tips: Premier League
3pts Arsenal to beat Brentford and over 1.5 home goals at evens (General)

1pt Aston Villa to beat Brighton at 5/2 (General)

0.5pt Villa to win and both teams to score at 5/1 (General)

1pt Burnley to beat Crystal Palace at 19/4 (BetVictor)

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

1pt Andre to be shown a card at 14/5 (BetVictor)

1pt Morgan Gibbs-White to score anytime at 7/2 (General)

1pt Gibbs-White to be shown a card at 14/5 (William Hill)

0.5pt Gibbs-White to score and be shown a card at 12/1 (bet365)

*All games kick off 19:30 GMT

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power |

Arsenal vs Brentford
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:30 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Live odds, form and stats
arsenal v brentford
Joe Townsend

Keith Andrews has quite rightly been praised for the job he's doing at Brentford, with his side 10th in the Premier League after 13 matches.

There is definitely room for improvement away from home though, where the Bees have lost five of six top-flight games; a 2-0 win against a West Ham team who had truly reached rock bottom being a significant outlier.

Andrews' side have conceded at least twice in all five defeats, which makes ARSENAL TO WIN AND OVER 1.5 HOME GOALS a great bet at even money.

It has won in eight of the Gunners' 10 matches at The Emirates this season, with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace and 1-1 draw with Manchester City the exceptions.

Brighton vs Aston Villa
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:30 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Cricket
Live odds, form and stats
unai emery record vs crystal palace
Joe Townsend

Brighton have taken 10 points from their last four Premier League fixtures and lost just twice in 11 all told (W6 D3 L2). ASTON VILLA are in even better form, winning 11 of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

Across these sides' last eight meetings Villa have won six, with one draw and one Albion victory, their style of football seemingly well suited to pick off the high-octane tactics Brighton have largely stuck with in recent years.

As 5/2 outsiders, it's worth backing a VILLA WIN. Since Unai Emery's arrival the Spaniard has won four of his six meetings, losing only once. In that same sequence, five of the games have seen over 2.5 goals, with BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE landing in four.

Brighton have only failed to score in one of 16 matches this season, so also backing ASTON VILLA TO WIN AND BTTS at 5/1 to smaller stakes is advised.

Burnley vs Crystal Palace
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:30 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Tennis
Live odds, form and stats
Joe Townsend

Crystal Palace were even money to win at Wolves around 10 days ago; they duly did. Since that victory they have lost 2-1 both away to Strasbourg and at home to Manchester United, triggering Oliver Glasner to criticise the club's ownership for failing to strengthen the squad in the summer.


It does Glasner a disservice to suggest those defeats triggered his comments, with the Eagles' growing injury list ahead of a fixture pile-up just as much of a contributory factor.

Despite all of this, Palace are 3/4 to win at a BURNLEY side who have shown plenty of signs of fight in recent matches.

Burnley boss Scott Parker
Scott Parker's side may have lost four straight league games but two were against Arsenal and Chelsea, and in the other two they pushed West Ham and Brentford mightily close away from home.

Having mulled over getting cute with double chance, draw no bet and Asian lines, I am keeping it simple and taking the 19/5 about a BURNLEY WIN.

The Clarets have beaten Leeds and Sunderland and drawn with Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor this season. This is a huge opportunity to climb out of the bottom three.

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:30 GMT
TV: Sky Sports F1
Live odds, form and stats
Joe Townsend

Wolves have improved slightly in Rob Edwards' opening two matches, but ultimately lost both and failed to score in either. It's now seven straight defeats and just two points after 13 Premier League fixtures.

Crucial to any hope the club has of ending their terrible run is midfielder ANDRE. He's been SHOWN A CARD on four occasions already this season, and in two of his last three appearances - well worth backing at 14/5 on Wednesday.

Last season Wolves pulled clear of danger with seven straight wins over spring. Across what was a nine-match unbeaten run Andre was booked four times; Edwards is surely encouraging the Brazilian to return to his tenacious best.

Morgan Gibbs-White
After limping off in the latter stages of defeat by Brighton it isn't completely clear whether MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE will be fit for Nottingham Forest; Wolves fans will hope he isn't.

The midfielder has scored in each of his last three appearances against his former club, and has also been booked in two of those. He's 12/1 TO SCORE AND BE SHOWN A CARD.

Having failed to find the net under both Nuno and Ange Postecoglou this season, Gibbs-White has done so in four of seven games for Sean Dyche.

It's a couple of months since he was shown the most recent of his three bookings of this campaign, but I'm still happy to take the 14/5 about him TO BE SHOWN A CARD and 7/2 for him TO SCORE ANYTIME given the circumstances of the fixture.

Because of the uncertainty over his fitness it's worth either waiting for team news or backing with a firm who will return your stake should Gibbs-White be benched.

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Mo Salah and Liverpool: Is everyone too quick to join pile-on?
By Alex Keble
Football
Tue December 09, 2025 · 3h ago
When Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 in Premier League curtain raiser there were already warning signs of what was to come.

Written before Arne Slot spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Inter vs Liverpool
We are all prone to reading too much into a single performance, especially on the opening weekend, and at the time the late drama and Bournemouth’s comeback from 2-0 down was dismissed in favour of the excellence of new signing Hugo Ekitike, a sure sign Liverpool would go up a level after their title win in 2024/25.

A couple of months later and people began to look back on that August win as representative of the defensive lapses and decline that was to come. A few weeks later still, pundits began to see Mohamed Salah’s under-performance in that game as one of the most important, and over-looked, symbols of Liverpool’s first game of their title defence.

But even now, in mid-December, and even after Salah’s extraordinary comments that have plunged Liverpool deeper into crisis, nobody appears to be looking back on the most significant event from Anfield on August 15: Salah breaking down in tears at full-time.

After Diogo Jota’s death in July there was widespread appreciation that Liverpool were grief-stricken; that the importance of the forthcoming season paled in comparison to the tragedy. Many people understood that should performances suffer Liverpool needed to be given time and space, leeway and forgiveness, over the months ahead.

Everything that has happened to Liverpool this season can and should be viewed through that lens.

They look fragile, vulnerable, shaky, foggy, unfocused; words that echo the language we use to describe grief, words that might accurately describe how an invincible-seeming footballer might feel when the rug is suddenly pulled out from under them by the death of a co-worker and friend.

Yet very few people are still bringing this up, are showing the Liverpool players sympathy for what happened at the club just a few months ago.

That was true all the way back in September, when Salah was criticised for responded angrily to an Instagram account that celebrated a perceived ‘upgrade’ on departed players Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. Nobody seemed to notice who was conspicuously absent from that post; nobody thought about what might have been on Salah’s mind when he reacted to a fan account quickly moving on from the dressing room of 2024/25.

What happened on Saturday had a less direct relationship with Jota’s death, but nevertheless there has been a remarkable absence of thought and sympathy in the analysis of his emotional outburst.

Salah has suddenly lashed out at a perceived threat to himself, to the loss of his place in the team, the loss of his status, the loss of the comforting stability he had, the loss of what Liverpool has meant to him these last few years. The symbolism should be obvious, the anger understandable. Last Thursday was Jota’s birthday, by the way.

That is not to say Salah, as a senior member of the squad, should not have reacted differently. Clearly he should have kept the matter private and spoken to Slot directly, although the oblique reference to the manager was itself revealing.

"I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship.” That’s a striking thing to say, as striking as the fact Slot seemingly did not speak to Salah over the past week to explain his team selections. Never before has a squad so badly needed its manager for emotional and mental support… and yet here, too, we should pause before criticising. Slot is also grieving.

“It is completely different to usual [grieving],” Slot told Sky Sports on Friday. “Usually when you grieve it is someone family related… and then you come to work and that’s the place to forget your grief. Now, that is the opposite.”

Grief follows the squad everywhere, with reminder in every aspect of training at Melwood and matchday preparation. We know this because Slot told us so at the start of the season, and yet there has been collective amnesia (from those outside the club, not from the fans, whose moving 20th-minute tribute to Jota continues) or perhaps a deliberate repression of a subject deemed too difficult for awkward British journalists to confront.

On Friday, Slot spoke of how proud he was of everybody connected with the club for how they have conducted themselves, telling Sky Sports that is significantly more important to him than results.

Salah’s words the following day might have altered his views a little, but perhaps not. More likely, he will demonstrate the compassion and leniency towards Salah that the rest of the football industry has no interest in showing.

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Can short-term, post-Mo Salah fix save Liverpool's season?
By Sam McGuire
Football
Thu December 11, 2025 · 3d ago
Liverpool gave fans a glimpse of what a post-Mohamed Salah team could well look like during the Champions League clash with Inter at the San Siro.

While the No11 had been benched for the previous three matches, the team selected by Arne Slot for games against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United felt like nothing other than a stop-gap. It was the same shape just with Dominik Szoboszlai in on the right in place of Salah.

Against Inter, though, the former Feyenoord boss switched things up entirely. The Reds switched to a 4-4-2 shape with a diamond midfield. Was this by design or simply a reaction to the squad available to him, with Slot having to travel to Italy without Salah, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa for various different reasons.

Credit to Slot, he could’ve shoehorned players into roles they simply weren't suited to in order to keep the shape the same, but he didn’t. He knew it’d be a physical battle in midfield, with Inter deploying three work-horses there, so he matched them in many ways, sticking Ryan Gravenberch at the base of the diamond, Szoboszlai on the right of the diamond and Curtis Jones on the left. Alexis Mac Allister, much to the surprise of a lot of people, was given the No10 position to support a two-man attack made up of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Slot revealed in his pre-match interview ahead of the game that Liverpool had used a diamond shape against Leeds, though it wasn’t at all apparent during the game.

"I decided to play with an extra midfielder in the game against West Ham. We won the game so I decided to do it one more time against Sunderland.

"At half-time, I brought him [Salah] in. Then against Leeds, we faced a 5-3-2 and I decided to play a 4-4-2 diamond if you want to talk about it like this with Hugo Ekitike a bit off the right side and Cody Gakpo a bit off the left and Florian Wirtz in between. I could have played Mo off the right but I decided to play Hugo."

This time, it was obvious. Isak and Ekitike would split and work the channels. They aren’t so much a partnership, it’s only the second time they’ve played together from the start and you can tell that there’s not a real understanding there just yet. But that’ll come with repetition. It’ll also come when the Reds start to attack as a team. Right now, the objective is fairly obvious.

Stop losing games.

Liverpool aren’t necessarily looking to win. They’re going out looking to keep a clean sheet. And that requires everyone to put in a graft. Even the strikers, signed for a combined £200million in the hope they’d score goals galore.

Against Inter, everyone bought into it.

liverpool vs inter milan
Ekitike and Isak topped the charts for Liverpool when looking at sprints. The pair also covered the most distance with their sprints. They did more for the Reds without the ball than they did with it. Ekitike was limited to three shots, with two of those arriving after Isak was replaced while the No9 had one attempt all game and that arrived from 22 yards out.

Whereas the previous diamond shape used by a Liverpool manager leant heavily into the attacking talents of Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, this one deployed by Slot was utilised to maximise the off-the-ball work of everyone. Anything in attack was a bonus.

Mac Allister, Jones and Szoboszlai ranked in the top four for distance covered. Mac Allister, Jones and Ekitike ranked in the top five for number of duels won. Gravenberch topped the charts for interceptions.

They worked harder than their hosts. They limited Inter to an xG of just 0.44 and the defeat was their first home loss in Europe since February 2022.

Slot wanted to flood the middle of the pitch and this shape allowed him to get four midfielders involved, often outnumbering the opposition’s midfield three. The plan worked. It also allowed him to get Isak and Ekitike on the pitch together, something fans have been waiting for since the pair joined in the summer.

Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike has been one of the few bright spots this term
The Liverpool boss hinted at it early on, saying: "I see Hugo mainly as a No.9, that could also play from the left or together with another no.9.”

Meanwhile, Isak plays in a two-man attack for Sweden. You have to imagine this formation would suit Wirtz too if he was to replace Mac Allister at the tip of the diamond. There are signs that this could be a long-term plan for the Reds. It gives them the solidity Slot is searching for. It gets their three attacking signings into the team without any of them being shoehorned into roles they don’t suit. It also seems to play to the strengths of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong at full-back.

It ticks a lot of boxes for the Reds. It is, however, worth noting that there are some limitations to it. For starters, Liverpool only really possess four midfielders. It means one injury severely inhibits their ability to execute this game plan. It also puts a lot of pressure on the midfield as they have to cover wide areas when defending.

It might be a short-term fix. With how tight the league is, a short-term fix could fire Liverpool back into Champions League contention.

[miri-01]

Carabao Cup tips: Manchester City vs Brentford predictions best bets and preview
By Jake Osgathorpe
Football
Wed December 17, 2025 · 2h ago
Football betting tips: Carabao Cup
1pt Abdukodir Khusanov to be carded at 13/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes, Boylesports)

1pt Rico Lewis to be carded at 8/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Kick-off: 19:30 GMT, Wednesday
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Live odds, form and stats

Brentford have made a decent fist of the Carabao Cup in recent seasons, more so than the FA Cup.

Since their Championship promotion-winning campaign, they have reached at least the quarter finals in four of the last six seasons, a quite impressive feat. They've made it no further than round four of the FA Cup in that time.

But, they face an extremely tough quarter-final with a trip to an in-form Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side haven't won the Carabao Cup since the 2020/21 season, with Pep's 'roulette' seeing them fail to recapture their magic of his early tenure when they lifted the trophy in four straight seasons from 2017/18.

Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland
The Cityzens are understandably short to win in 90 minutes (2/5) and to qualify (2/9), but they've made hard work of the Bees in recent meetings. City only won 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this season and were held there 2-2 last season, while only edging to a 2-1 win at the Etihad last season.

It won't be easy, especially as Pep will likely rotate in the midst of a heavy schedule. Brentford meanwhile should be full strength having a light schedule in comparison, and they will fancy their chances.

From a betting perspective, I was initially heading towards the 'no card' angle, but the referee appointment had me pulling a U-turn. Sam Barrott is the man in the middle and he's averaged 4.3 cards per game this season after 4.8 per game last season, and he doesn't shy away in cup games either.

Across his last 23 Carabao or FA Cup matches Barrott has averaged 3.4 cards per game, but in his last five that ramps up to 5.0.

It could get tasty. There were five cards in the league meeting earlier this season and Brentford's away Carabao game at Bournemouth earlier in the competition saw four yellows and a red. City's cup games do tend to be low-card but now at the business end of the tournament, with a good ref and a dangerous opponent, we'll take a few chances on player cards at huge prices.

lewis carded
Now, we have to caveat these picks by saying there is a chance they don't start, but I'm leaning towards Pep making a fair few changes and so we'll back RICO LEWIS and ABDUKODIR KHUSANOV TO BE CARDED at 8/1 and 13/2 respectively.

Lewis has played all 180 minutes of City's Carabao campaign so far against Swansea and Huddersfield and while he isn't the best card collector, he does average 0.25 cards per 90 across the last season and a half - picking up two reds in that time.

That makes 8/1 look simply massive, especially as, should he be at right-back as anticipated, he'll be up against the lightning quick Kevin Schade or Dango Ouattara.

Khusanov continues to look like a walking card whenever he gets the nod, and so far in his career he has been. Since making his debut at Lens in 2023, he's averaged 0.36 cards per 90 which would give us a blanket card price of 9/5.

This is a cup game so that would be extreme, but we are getting 13/2 which looks big, especially with him set to be up against Igor Thiago who is an absolute physical handful.