The Bookmaker Ratings vs WhoScored predictions battle: Round 6

Artur’s tip (in full here):

Liverpool – Tottenham

I really like the Spurs’ core in the England XI. It is something that has breathed fresh air into Roy Hodgson’s team and does everything to keep surprising the 68-year-old manager himself. The Dier-Alli-Kane trio is the best England have had for many, many years, while Danny Rose did more than enough to keep his place in the starting XI too. The thing is all of them are still perhaps too young (mentally, more than physically) to be consistent for long periods. And it will be hard for at least three of them (Kane aside) to keep calm and do a professional job under heavy pressure.

Add Spurs’ defensive woes to this and a clear picture of what it’ll be like against an attacking Liverpool team becomes clear. Liverpool need to react to what happened at Southampton, but given that which is mentioned above this looks the perfect chance to. The Reds will push and create a lot of chances. Coutinho and Lallana, who’s been doing his best to prove Jurgen Klopp he’s worthy of a starting place over the past few months, will cause Alderweireld and Wimmer’s plenty of problems, and if Firmino gets his chance, he will only add to them.

I smell goals for the home side here. “Liverpool to score over 1.5 goals” at 2.45 at William Hill looks delicious. “Harry Kane to score anytime” at 2.25 is good too.

Barcelona – Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo hadn’t scored for Portugal since June 13. He finally did, ending a drought which lasted for more than 409 minutes. He’s on a high and I doubt there’s anything he wants more now than to score at Camp Nou. Well, maybe taking a flight to Morocco could be more tempting.

Barca have scored 2 or more goals in 20 of their last 21 games, and even though they don’t look great at the back, there’s no reason for them to slow down despite already having one hand on the title. Yes, the international break could influence the freshness of the great MSN, but they should still find their way to the Madrid goal.

The Merengues have conceded at least one goal in 8 of their last 9 away games. Surely they will when facing Barcelona here?

“Barcelona to win and Cristiano Ronaldo to score” at 5.00 looks as tempting as that flight mentioned above. “Total Goals – Over 3” at 1.80 with William Hill seems decent too.

WhoScored tip:

Liverpool – Tottenham 

It’s hard to predict what you’re going to get from Liverpool, while Tottenham have been far more consistent. Given the fact that the Reds have generally performed well under Klopp in the big games, and with the German now well and truly settled, I certainly don’t see a repeat of the bore draw in what was the Reds boss’ first game in charge. I can see why Artur is predicting goals then, and with Spurs failing to win in six against Liverpool I share his confidence that this will be a tough match for the title hopefuls.

However, Liverpool remarkably haven’t won back-to-back home games all season in the league, and I don’t think they’ll manage it this week either. Instead, as far as a result is concerned, I’d be tempted to back another draw at odds of 3.30 with William Hill. Sticking to a similar theory, my second tip would be to back the game to be level at half-time too – an option if you’re not confident of a stalemate at the final whistle – with 8 of the 9 league games Klopp has taken charge of at Anfield resulting in the sides being level at the break. The odds for a draw at half-time are 1.95.

Barcelona – Real Madrid

This is something of a strange clasico given the gulf in quality between the sides in the league this season, and while that can count for nothing in such intense rivalries Barcelona should rightly be considered strong favourites at home. Odds on the blaugrana to win (1.61) aren’t tempting enough for me though and with a goal difference of +44 from 15 home games, coupled with Real Madrid’s unconvincing away form – dropping points in half of their league matches on the road – I’m confident in backing Barcelona in the handicap market, tipping the hosts to win by more than one goal at 2.30.

My second tip switches to the goalscorer markets, and while the focus is always on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the clasico, Luis Suarez could steal the show if he continues his sparkling form. The Uruguayan has been particularly sensational at Camp Nou and will be aiming to beat the aforementioned duo in La Liga’s top scorer race, with 17 of his 26 league goals thus far coming at home. Having scored three goals in his last two appearances against Madrid, I think Suarez will get another, with odds on the 29-year old to score anytime at 1.75.