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In a highly anticipated Championship clash, Ipswich Town are set to face off against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. The stakes are high, with Ipswich looking to secure a victory that could propel them to the top of the Championship table, while Rotherham are desperately seeking their second league win of the season to climb out of the danger zone.

Rotherham vs Ipswich Betting Tips
Selection	Odds	Bookie
Ipswich	1/2
0-2	7/1

Ipswich’s Impressive Form

The majority of Ipswich supporters may have anticipated a dip in their team’s form, especially after narrowly missing out on promotion back to the Championship earlier this year. However, Ipswich have defied expectations, displaying commendable performance with six wins and one draw in all competitions following the first international break of the season.

Ipswich’s recent run of form has been nothing short of exceptional. Even though three of their last four Championship fixtures were hosted at Portman Road, they still managed to clinch crucial victories against strong opponents like Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, and Preston North End. During this impressive run, they netted a total of 10 goals, which has catapulted Ipswich to the top of the Championship’s attacking charts.

But it’s not all smooth sailing for Ipswich. They recognise the need for improvement in their away form, as they had a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town on September 30. Despite noteworthy 1-0 wins at Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton, they are aware that consistency on the road is vital to their campaign.

Rotherham’s Struggle

On the other hand, Rotherham United find themselves in a challenging position, four points adrift of safety. Rotherham have only managed a single league win this season, which underscores their struggle. Their home form will be crucial in their battle to climb the standings.

Five of their meagre six points this season have been earned on home turf, with their solitary win coming against Norwich City. Since that victory, Rotherham have failed to secure a win in any of their last six league fixtures, losing four times and failing to score more than one goal in any match.

However, Rotherham did manage to enter the international break on a positive note, securing a valuable 1-1 draw at Southampton. This result has at least kept them in proximity to 21st place, giving them hope in their fight for survival.

Predicted Lineups

For Rotherham, Fred Onyedinma, who had been dealing with calf issues, is expected to feature in the starting lineup. Jordan Hugill, who scored the equalizer at St Mary’s, is likely to return to the team, with Sam Nombe potentially taking a spot on the substitutes’ bench. Dexter Lembikisa, who represented Jamaica recently, is expected to play at right-back.

Ipswich Town, however, face an injury concern with Wes Burns, who suffered an injury while playing for Wales against Gibraltar. Kayden Jackson is on standby to replace him on the right flank, thanks to his goal against Preston in the previous match. The rest of the lineup may remain unchanged, with Omari Hutchinson waiting patiently for more game time in the league.

Match Prediction

In this crucial clash, we predict Ipswich Town will maintain their impressive form and secure a 2-0 victory over Rotherham United. Despite the break for international fixtures, Ipswich’s attacking prowess and consistency make them strong contenders.

As Euro 2024 qualifying intensifies, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown as Group D’s leading contenders, Croatia and Turkey, lock horns in Osijek. Both nations currently share the summit of Group D with 10 points each, yet Croatia boasts a game in hand and a psychological edge, having secured victory in Turkey earlier in the competition.

Croatia vs Turkey Betting Tips
Selection	Odds	Bookie
Croatia	4/6
2-1	15/2

Croatia’s Pursuit of European Glory

Croatia, runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and recent finalists in the Nations League, are on a quest to shatter the glass ceiling and clinch European glory in Germany next year. The national team, guided by Zlatko Dalic, is in transition as some of its seasoned stars near the twilight of their careers.

While luminaries like Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic may be approaching the end of their international journey, Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic showcased his prowess with a brace during Croatia’s 2-0 triumph over Turkey in March. Nevertheless, Turkey remains a formidable opponent in the tightly-contested Group D.

In this group, only Latvia finds themselves stranded at the bottom without a point. Armenia and Wales, each with seven points after five matches, are ready to pounce should either Croatia or Turkey falter in the upcoming fixtures. Croatia aims to maintain its three-point buffer in the group’s crucial top two positions.

The Kockasti face a challenging trip to Cardiff this week before concluding their campaign against Latvia and Armenia in November. First on their agenda, however, is hosting Turkey, with whom they’ve previously drawn all three meetings on Croatian soil.

Turkey’s Regeneration Under Montella

Vincenzo Montella, formerly of Fiorentina and Italy, will make his debut as Turkey’s manager, ascending from his role as Adana Demirspor coach. The journey begins with a daunting encounter in Osijek, while a more straightforward clash with Latvia awaits on Sunday.

Stefan Kuntz’s dismissal as Turkey’s national coach was a turning point, as his team had recently stumbled against Armenia and Japan, overshadowing earlier victories against Latvia and Wales. Turkey, a nation that hasn’t graced the World Cup in two decades and made limited impacts in the European Championship since 2008, is now determined to assert itself on the international stage.

Tackling Croatia at home is a stern test of any team’s mettle, as the hosts have never lost a European qualifier on home soil, boasting an impressive record of 13 wins from their last 15 matches.

Team News

Croatia is led by the experienced Luka Modric, with Ivan Perisic sidelined due to an ACL injury. In his absence, Josip Brekalo could feature in the starting XI. Key defender Josko Gvardiol may miss the game against Wales if booked in midweek. Despite a preliminary squad reshuffle, there are several alternatives at Coach Zlatko Dalic’s disposal.

Turkey’s Merih Demiral will serve a suspension, leaving Montella with the task of selecting a central defensive partnership. Injuries to star players Arda Guler and Cengiz Under open the door for other talents. Kerem Akturkoglu is expected to provide creativity, and uncapped Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz may make an appearance. The captain’s armband is held by Hakan Calhanoglu, while the goalkeeping battle features Altay Bayindir and Ugurcan Cakir.

Predicted Lineups

Croatia Possible Starting Lineup:

• Livakovic; Juranovic, Vida, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Petkovic, Brekalo

Turkey Possible Starting Lineup:

• Cakir; Celik, Ayhan, Soyuncu, Ozkacar; Yuksek; Kahveci, Kokcu, Calhanoglu, Akturkoglu; Yilmaz

Croatia vs Turkey Prediction

Croatia, recently confirmed as co-hosts for the 2032 Euros, seeks to solidify their position atop Group D with a home victory. In contrast, Turkey, under Montella’s management, faces a challenging transition period and is expected to endure defeat in this fixture. While Croatia strives for another home win, Turkey might find themselves in a three-way battle for the second spot.

Gareth Southgate has been in the headlines this week with strong rumours that the England Boss will step down after Euro 2024.

The news came as England prepare for their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Ukraine on Saturday evening. A game in which they’re strong favourites to pick up another three points.

Southgate’s side are currently sitting top of Group C having won all for of their qualifying matches, scoring 15 goals in the process and conceding just one. Having reached the final of the most recent European Championships, there’s high hopes for England in 2024 and with this most likely being Southgate’s final tournament as manager, he’d like nothing more than to go out on a high.

Fans have had mixed opinions on Southgate during his time as England boss with many expressing their frustration of a lack of squad rotation and a somewhat defensive approach to games and tournaments. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that Southgate has lead England to a European Championships final followed by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when other England managers, who perhaps had a better choice of players on paper, failed to achieve the same.

So, should Gareth Southgate step down after Euro 2024, who is in line to be the next England manager?

Next England Manager Odds
Graham Potter	8/1
Lee Carsley	8/1
Pep Guardiola	8/1
Eddie Howe	9/1
Sarina Wiegman	10/1
Steven Gerrard	12/1
Mauricio Pochettino	12/1
Thomas Tuchel	14/1
Steve Cooper	14/1

Graham Potter & Lee Carsley are Favourites

Graham Potter has emerged as one of the frontrunners to be the next England football manager. Potter’s rise from lower-league football to managing in the Premier League has earned him a positive reputation as a coach. His time at Brighton & Hove Albion has showcased his ability to get the most out of a team whilst playing attractive football but there may be some concerns about his ability to handle big players which is exactly what he’d get with the England job, albeit without as much drama. His time at Chelsea was a period to forget and some may prefer others. He could potentially bring a fresh perspective to the national team, and is currently priced at 8/1 with bookmaker Coral to take over from Southgate.

Alongside Potter in the bookies odds table is Lee Carsley. The former midfielder has steadily climbed the coaching ranks, earning respect for his work with the England U21s. He was appointed manager of the U21s back in July 2021 and went on to win the European Under-21 Championship two years later, beating Spain 1–0 in the final. He is also a candidate for the next Ireland manager but with Southgate landing the senior role after working with the U21s, Carsley should not be overlooked.

Pep Guardiola

Per Guardiola is reportedly the FA’s first choice to take over from Gareth Southgate. However, would the Manchester City manager want the job?

On one hand, he’s already won the treble with City and so could be tempted to move onto a new challenge. However, he’s impressed at club level and with his current contract not expiring until 2025, it’s likely that he’ll either remain at City or move onto another major European club.

Eddie Howe

Newcastle United have been transformed under Eddie Howe. Yes, the club has seen considerable investment since their PIF takeover, but ultimately it has been Howe who has gotten the most out of his players and lead them to a place in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

This season will be a big one for both Newcastle and Eddie Howe and the outcome of it could determine whether or not the ex-Bournemouth manager is in the running for the England job next summer.

How is currently odds of 9/1 with William Hill bookmakers to be the next permanent England manager.

Sarina Wiegman

Odds on Sarina Wiegman are as low as 8/1 with BetVictor to become the next manager of the England Men’s team after Southgate, with odds shortening following her success with the Women’s team.

Wiegman won the European Women’s Championship with England in 2022 and reached the final of the 2023 World Cup, only to lose by a single goal to Spain. She’s proven herself on the big stage and has lost just 2 of her 39 games in charge of the Lionesses.

If she succeeds Southgate, she’ll become the first women to manage the men’s team. Many will believe that she should gain more experience managing men’s football before being offered the England job, but she’s definitely a candidate that will be considered.

Steven Gerrard, Mauricio Pochettino & Others

Several other high-profile managers are in contention for the England job and a lot can happen before anyone is appointed.

Should England go one further than they did at Euro 2020, there’s a chance that Southgate could be offered an extension to his current contract which he may consider with the 2026 World Cup following two years after which he’s like another crack at.

If you’re thinking of having a bet on the next England manager, we recommend BetVictor who offer odds on all the top candidates and often have the best prices available on football markets.

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French football star Kylian Mbappé is up for sale from Paris Saint-Germain, sparking uncertainty and excitement about his transfer. The 24 year old is set to become the world’s highest-paid player following Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal’s record breaking bid of $322 million earlier this week. 

After signing his first professional contract at 17 years old with Ligue 1 team Monaco in 2016, the team had a remarkable season: winning the league and reaching the Champions League semi-final. Much of this unprecedented success was a result of Mbappé’s signing to the team. Following this success, he signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 where he has played since, Mbappe has continued to break club records and became the PSG’s all-time goal scorer in 2023. Mbappé became the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final when France won the tournament in 2018. 

The French captain and superstar is in the final year of his contract at PSG, with its expiration in 2024 and the club have put him up for sale, with the player excluded from the team’s preseason tour to Japan. PSG are keen to sign a deal soon as if an agreement is not reached by 31 August, Mbappé is prepared to honor his contract for the remaining year which would leave them without any extra income. 

The $322 Saudi offer could reportedly come to a staggering $775 annually including commercial arrangements and brand deals on top of his salary. However, there are yet to be any talks between Al-Hilal and Mbappé himself so the likeliness of such a move is currently unknown. While PSG have reportedly accepted their bid, many football experts have questioned whether or not he would want to move from Europe when he is at the peak of his career. Christiano Ronaldo is currently the world’s highest paid athlete, reportedly earning more than $215 million with Al Nassr in the Saudi League.

Mbappé’s signing would make him the most expensive player ever although his stance on the club’s bid is not known. 

UK based bookie BetFred has Mbappé at 6/1 to sign with any Saudi team. 

He has been heavily linked with Real Madrid for years, although no deal has been made yet. Despite Los Blancos being adamant not to pursue a summer move, they are rumored to have lowered Paris Saint-Germain’s demands in hope of signing the French striker for next season. It has been reported that PSG are asking for 250m euros and the transfer could be completed within the next few days. 

BetFred have Mbappé at 10/11 to move to Real Madrid, making it the bookie’s top destination at the moment. 

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are among the many clubs keen to be linked with Mbappé’s move this summer. PSG is now open to taking offers from various English clubs, providing they are able to fund the entirety of the player’s great wages. Many clubs are expected to offer a player(s) as well as cash due to Mbappés hefty price which makes his signing in the Premier League highly unlikely with bookie Bet Fred having English clubs at 33/1 to land the striker. 

Ultimately, the financial implications of the transfer of the most successful player in the world is fundamental and Real Madrid are odds on to secure the French superstar despite Al-Hilal’s lucrative bid. 

The 2023 Women’s World Cup is almost upon us and the Lionesses will be travelling to Australia and New Zealand in a bid to triumph once again after several impressive performances resulted in winning the European Championship last summer.

Lioness manager Sarina Wiegman has transformed the squad after taking the reigns in September 2021, taking over from ex-England full-back Phil Neville. Winning Euro 2022 within her first year in charge of the team was impressive enough but Wiegman will have her sights set on the World Cup this summer and the UK bookies seem to think that it’s a likely outcome.

What Are The Odds On England To Win The World Cup in 2023?

England are currently second favourites to win the 2023 World Cup at a best price of 9/1 with Bet365. Four-time World Cup winners USA are the bookies favourites at 5/2, which should come as no surprise given that Vlatko Andonovski’s side have won the last two tournaments with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands securing the win at France 2019.

England’s performances throughout Euro 2022 lifted the spirits of the nation and the women’s game has seen a huge increase in popularity due to their success. They showed during that tournament that they have one of the best squads in the world and players such as Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh could all shine this summer and help their team go all the way.

Their success in the European Championships will surely help them in the World Cup. Not just because of the standard of football that they displayed but also because of the experience that they gained. Against Spain in the quarter-finals they were 1-0 down with just 6 minutes of normal time remaining and were looking like they had reached the stage of elimination. However, a 84th minute equaliser from Ella Toone lifted the spirits of the team and a tremendous strike from outside of the box from Georgia Stanway in the 96th minute of the game confirmed England’s place in the semi-finals. That game would have taught the players a lesson in belief which will surely be needed at least once throughout their World Cup campaign this summer.

England Women’s World Cup Group

The Lionesses have been drawn into Group D along with Denmark, China & Haiti. None of those three teams should pose too much of a threat to England which is reflected in the extremely short odds of 1/66 for them to qualify for the knockout stages. Even to win the group, England are as short as 1/33 with some bookmakers and so if you are thinking of having a bet, you’ll probably find more value in the later stages of the tournament when England face some tougher opposition.

How Far Will England Go At The 2023 World Cup?

Being second favourites to win the tournament, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see England reach the final of the World Cup. They’re at odds of 9/4 to do so with Coral which still isn’t a hugely appealing price considering that they will likely face some talented and experienced teams in the quarters and semi-final should they get that far. They’ll be hoping to stay clear of the likes of USA, Spain, Germany and France but odds are that they’ll have to progress past a couple of them if they are to reach the final stage.

With England fully expected to progress out of Group D, the focus will be on the knockout stages and until they know who they will be facing, it’s hard to give an accurate prediction or to know whether or not there is any value in the odds of them reaching the final. A better bet may be to wait until the knockout fixtures are confirmed and back England in individual matches to progress which I’d expect would result in a greater return overall.

Can An England Player Claim The Golden Boot At The 2023 Women’s World Cup?

If last summer’s Euros showed anything, it was that England have goals in them. Beth Mead found the net six times to finish as the tournaments top goalscorer and the Arsenal forward will have her eyes set on the Golden Boot at this years World Cup. Alessia Russo bagged four goals with Fran Kirby, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and the now retired Ellen White all notched up two.

Fans will certainly be expecting goals from the Lionesses throughout the tournament but can any one player claim the Golden Boot?

Rachel Daly is the shortest odds out of the England players to finish as the tournaments top goalscorer. The England forward has scored 13 goals in 69 appearances for her country so far and an impresses 22 goals in as many games for Aston Villa last season.

Alessia Russo is the next England player in the Golden Boot odds table and is priced at 18/1 with Coral. Russo scored 22 goals in 46 appearances for Manchester United before moving to Arsenal recently and currently has a tally of 11 goal sin 22 games for England.

Although seeing an England player claim the Golden Boot award would be great to see, fans are hoping for a repeat of Euro 2022 which lifted spirits of the nation and could be considered a major catalyst in the development of women’s football.

Good Luck England!

Back in the mists of time, before the wretched pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, Boris Johnson led the Conservatives to a landslide victory in the 2019 General Election. The Tories won 43.6% of the vote, the highest percentage for any party since 1979, and made a net gain of 48 seats. After a relatively short-lived and eventful time in office, Johnson was forced out of office in the summer and he now occupies the hinterland of the back benches with his replacement, Liz Truss, appointed Prime Minister just five short weeks ago.

The next General Election is due to take place in late 2024 or early 2025 at the latest and current polls indicate that the voting public is moving away from the Tories in droves, giving Labour party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, a real chance to form the first Labour administration since 2010. In the betting markets, odds are shortening that Labour will win the most seats at the next General Election, with BetVictor offering odds as short as 1/3.

The mini budget, announced by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, on 23 September has been the primary catalyst for the steep drop in the popularity of the Conservatives. Labour were 8% ahead of the Tories in the polls at the point Truss was formally appointed as Prime Minister in September and this lead increased slightly to 11% in the following three weeks. Following Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget – a £161 billion dash for growth based on tax cuts – Labour’s lead extended to a whopping 22% by the end of September and this lead is continuing to grow.

Financial markets and major financial institutions have not been reassured by the recent U-turn on the proposed axing of the 45% tax rate, not by the vague assurance from Liz Truss that the enormous hole in the public finances – as a result of tax cuts and the projected £60 billion cost of the energy support package – will be met in the “medium term” whilst promising no cuts in public services. Many of the 356 Conservative MP’s remain desperately worried about the future of the party as interest rates rise, sterling suffers, the property market is in turmoil and pension funds struggle to gain more support from the Bank of England. The reputational damage to the party of the mini budget is enormous, enhancing the perception that the Conservatives are a party that advances the interests of the rich at the expense of the poor.

At the last General Election, the Conservatives made significant gains, winning many seats in areas seen as Labour strongholds, the so-called “Red Wall” being demolished. Labour currently holds 198 seats with the Scottish National Party having 44 seats in Scotland (where Labour holds only 1 seat and the Conservatives a measly 6).

UK on-line politics magazine, politics.co.uk, has recently reviewed all recent polls and factored in projected changes in constituency boundaries to estimate how the country would vote, were an election to be held this autumn. Its conclusions, published at the end of September, are that Labour could win an outright majority of 54 in the House of Commons with a projected 375 seats. Conservatives would be swept from power and up to 11 current Conservative cabinet members would lose their seats.

The new football season hasn’t even begun yet but some online betting sites are already taking bets on the next Premier League manager to be sacked. It’s an interesting betting market that has attracted the attention of many footy punters over the years and one that you can put some research into when determining the most likely gaffa to leave their post first.

Nine of the Premier Leagues twenty clubs saw a change in management last season with there being 13 managers replaced from August through to May and 3 further ones at the end of the season.

Watford, who were relegated from the top-flight last season, saw three managers take the reigns at Vicarage Road whereas Manchester United replaced Ole Gunner Solskjaer with Michael Carrick who passed the baton to Ralf Rangnick who was finally replaced with Erik ten Hag at the end of the season.

With an astronomical amount of money involved in England’s top league and high expectations of several clubs, there is sure to be several managers under pressure after the first set of fixtures and we’re going to look at which ones are the bookies favourites to get the sack first.

Premier League Sack Race Odds

Below are the pre-season odds for the first Premier League manager to leave their post either via sacking, mutual agreement or other.

First Premier League Manager To Leave Their Post 2022/23
Frank Lampard	Everton	5/1
Ralph Hasenhuttl	Southampton	11/2
Jesse Marsch	Leeds	8/1
Brendan Rodgers	Leicester	10/1
Bruno Lage	Wolves	12/1
Marco Silva	Fulham	12/1
Scott Parker	Bournemouth	12/1
Thomas Tuchel	Chelsea	14/1
Mikel Arteta	Arsenal	20/1
Eddie Howe	Newcastle	20/1
Steve Cooper	Nottingham Forest	20/1
Steven Gerrard	Aston Villa	20/1
Thomas Frank	Brentford	25/1
Patrick Vieira	Crystal Palace	25/1
Graham Potter	Brighton	25/1
David Moyes	West Ham	33/1
Erik ten Hag	Man Utd	33/1
Antonio Conte	Tottenham	33/1
Pep Guardiola	Man City	66/1
Jurgen Klopp	Lierpool	66/1

Frank Lampard To Be Sacked At Everton – 5/1

Everton got caught up in an unexpected relegation battle last season and only managed to beat the drop thanks to an extremely poor run of results from Burnley and Leeds, finishing just four points above the relegation zone.

A season of a similar standard won’t be tolerated this time around and so it’s no surprise to see manager Frank Lampard as the bookies favourite to get the boot first.

For Lampard, it’s essential that his side start strongly but there is concern at Goodison Park given that they have let one of their star players, Richarlison, leave to join Spurs. Richarlison was a key component in the Toffee’s staying up last season, scoring 10 goals throughout his 30 league games played. Their transfer activity this summer has been on the quiet side and so they’ll need to find improvement from their existing players if they are to avoid another battle at the bottom of the league. It’s no surprise to see Lampard as favourite with most bookies to be the first manager to get the chop.

Frank Lampard to be Sacked First
Frank Lampard	Everton	5/1

Ralph Hasenhuttl To Be Sacked At Southampton – 11/2

Southampton finished last season in 15th place but just five points from relegation. They’ve struggled to replace Danny Ings since the forward left for Aston Villa but have brought in several young players in the transfer window, two of which are from Manchester City’s Under 23 squad.

Pressure will be on Ralph Hasenhuttl to get the most from his new players and improve on their somewhat disappointing season last term. Similar to Everton, they’ve never consistently been a team that are considered at risk of relegation and so it’s vital that they start the new season strongly. Should they not, Hasenhuttl could be the first to go.

Ralph Hasenhuttl to be Sacked First
Ralph Hasenhuttl	Southampton	11/2

Jesse Marsch To Be Sacked At Leeds – 8/1

American coach Jesse Marsch took over from ex-Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa at the beginning of March 2022. It was a risk for the club appointing a manager with no Premier League experience, or in fact, with no experience in English football, especially given that Leeds were just two points above the drop zone when he arrived.

Marsch has had a mixed run of results with his side and although he did what he was asked by helping his club avoid the drop, they left it until the final game of the season to ensure safety.

Leeds’ first season back in the top-flight was an impressive one under Bielsa. They took on every team they were up against, finishing the 2020/21 season in 9th place and scoring an impressive 62 goals. Playing such attacking football, they were always going to concede but when the goals dried up last season, unfortunately their defensive woes didn’t go away. That resulted in just 42 goals being scored and 79 conceded with only bottom-of-the-table Norwich letting in more throughout the course of the season.

Things need to improve at Elland Road but with both Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips leaving this summer, the odds are against Marsch in lasting the season.

Jesse Marsch to be Sacked First
Jesse Marsch	Leeds	8/1

Brendan Rodgers To Be Sacked At Leicester – 10/1

Leicester finished eighth in the league last season but never looked like a team that was confidently challenging for a place in Europe. After winning the league as huge outsiders in 2015/16, expectations have been high at the King Power stadium and consecutive 5th-placed finishes in 2020 & 2021 set them up well heading into last season. However, some key injuries and lack of consistency meant that the Foxes finished a distant 17 points adrift of 5th-placed Arsenal, a position that will not likely be accepted for a second season running.

Leicester have failed to make use of the summer transfer window, brining in not one single player other than midfielder Dennis Paret who returns after a loan spell at Serie A side Torino. They’re certainly not guaranteed a top-half finish this term and the pressure will be on Brendan Rodgers should they not start well.

Brendan Rodgers to be Sacked First
Brendan Rodgers	Leicester	10/1

Bruno Lage To Be Sacked At Wolves – 10/1

For two seasons between 2018 & 2020, Wolves finished a very respectable 7th in the league but their 2020/21 campaign saw them drop to 13th and last season, 10th. They’ve never been the most prolific of scorers but only 4 teams bagged fewer goals than the Wanders last season and 5 the season prior. They ended last season without a win in their last seven matches and although they’ve brought in RB Leipzig centre-forward Hee-chan Hwang and Burnley centre-back Nathan Collins, those two will need to slot in quickly to get their clubs campaign off to a good start and relieve the pressure from manager Bruno Lage.

Bruno Lage to be Sacked First
Bruno Lage	Wolves	12/1

Marco Silva To Be Sacked At Fulham – 12/1

Fulham topped the Championship table last season with 90 points and scoring an impressive 106 goals to book their place back in the top-flight. However, the Premier League is a whole different class and it remains to be seen how the London club will cope this time around.

Marco Silva does have Premier League experience having been in charge of both Watford and Everton in recent years. However, both stints at those clubs didn’t end well with Silva being dismissed from Vicarage Road after a run in which his side picked up just 5 points from 30 and getting the sack from Everton after 60 games in charge, leaving the club 18th in the league following a 5-2 defeat in the Merseyside Derby to Liverpool.

Marco Silva to be Sacked First
Marco Silva	Fulham	12/1

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has forced the hand of Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich.  The Russian oligarch now fears the imposition of sanctions on his extensive UK business and property portfolio, and announced yesterday that he intends to sell Chelsea Football Club with the net proceeds to be donated to the Ukrainian victims of Vladimir Putin’s unwarranted aggression.  Abramovich has owned Chelsea for 19 years and his enormous investment in the club has seen the team win 17 trophies, including the Champions League twice, the Premier League on five occasions and the Club World Cup only last month.

Ambramovich handed in his notice as owner just as his team prepared to play Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round.  The Blues understandably lacked concentration and Luton scored twice in the first half although Chelsea prevailed in the end, with goals from Saul, Lukaku and Werner.  Uncertainty often fosters discontent and manager Thomas Tuchel will now have to steady the ship as a new owner or consortium is sought, a process that may take many months.

The 48-year old German, who has been in post since last year, has not yet wrapped his brain around the concept of a post-Abramovich era, saying ‘It’s a bit too early to speak, because I can only think about Chelsea with Roman Abramovich. So it’s very hard for me. It hasn’t sunk in yet that this is going to stop. It’s a massive change of course…It’s big news, it will be a big change, but I’m also never afraid of change, and will focus on what I can influence, and this is staff and team at Cobham.’

Tuchel won the Champions League in his debut season – with a 1-0 defeat of Manchester City in Porto –  and, if he can maintain the morale of his talented team, he will be aiming for more European title glory in May.  Chelsea beat Lille 2-0 in the first leg of the Round of 16, with the second leg due to be played on Wednesday 16 March.  The draw for the quarter-finals will take place two days later.  Quarter-finals will be played on 5 & 6 April (first legs), and 12/13 April (second legs) with the Semi-finals on 26/27 April (first legs) and 3/4 April (second legs).  The final will take place on Saturday 28 May in the Stade de France.  Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the top three favourites to win.  Bookmaker Unibet offers odds of 9/1 that Chelsea will retain the Champions League title but these odds are expected to change after the draw.

It’s hard to see Chelsea winning the Premier League this season and this is confirmed by the bookies, with odds of 125-1 from William Hill for example.    Although the Blues lie third in the Premier League table with 50 points, they are 16 points adrift of leaders Manchester City who are being chased hard by Liverpool, 6 points behind City but with a game in hand.  It is a two-horse race now and Chelsea must remain focused on retaining third place, in order to secure entry to the lucrative and prestigious Champions League next season.  

But the Blues are still in with the chance of another trophy, the FA Cup.  After the disappointment of losing the Carabao Cup Final 10-11 on penalties last weekend, Chelsea’s pursuit of silverware has nonetheless continued this week with their 3-2 win over Luton Town yesterday in the FA Cup fifth round. The Quarter-final draw is later today and Tuchel’s players will be eager to progress through the latter stages of the competition to the Final on Saturday 14 May.  Chelsea last won the FA Cup in 2018 and are keen to repeat that success but, once again, the favourites to win are Manchester City and Liverpool with odds of 7/4 and 11/4 respectively, from bookie 888 Sport.  Most bookies, including 888 Sport, are offering odds of 4/1 for a Chelsea win.  

If you fancy a bet on trophy multiples, consider these options, with all odds from Skybet:

• Chelsea to win the FA Cup and the Champions League 33/1
• Chelsea to win the Premier League and the FA Cup 300/1
• Chelsea to win the Premier League and the Champions League 750/1  

A year on from his catastrophic car crash in which he suffered severe leg and ankle injuries, Tiger Woods continues to defy the odds as his rehabilitation continues.  The 46-year old winner of 15 Majors acknowledges that he has a “long way to go” but managed to finish second in the PNC Championship alongside his young son, Charlie, in December.  Although he hasn’t featured on the PGA Tour since appearing at Augusta National in November 2020, he remains committed to returning and recently commented “You’ll see me on the PGA Tour, I just don’t know when”.   With the Masters due to take place from 7 to 10 April, golf fans are keen to see Woods back in contention but will his right leg, now crammed with metal screws and plates, allow him to play 72 holes at Augusta’s hilly course?

Bookmaker Coral offers odds of 33/1 that Tiger Woods will win the 2022 US Masters but these odds appear short in the circumstances and other bookies remain more circumspect with William Hill, for example, being more representative of the market with odds of 60/1.  

We do know that Woods will travel to Augusta and, as five-time winner of The Masters, he will attend the Champions Dinner on Tuesday 5 April.  However, it remains unlikely that Woods will choose to participate in the US Masters this year as he acknowledges that his game remains below the standards required on the tour, recently saying “I can’t compete against these guys right now, no.  It’s going to take a lot of work to get to where I feel like I can compete against these guys and be at a high level”.  

It may be more likely that Woods will choose to delay his return until this summer when the 150th British Open will take place at St Andrews from 14 to 17 July.  Woods has won the British Open on three occasions – in 2000 and 2005 at St Andrews, and in 2006 at Royal Liverpool.  The town of St Andrews, and its Royal and Ancient Golf Club, would be delighted to welcome Tiger Woods back and the Old Course is a pretty flat links course which would provide more favourable conditions for him as his rehabilitation continues. 

Odds for Tiger to win the Open Championship are also showing great respect to the 2000 Open Champion Winner at St Andrews with general odds of around 50/1 for what would surely be the greatest sporting comeback ever ? 

Sixteen teams remain in this seasons UEFA Champions League but it is Premier League side Manchester City who are the bookies’ favourites to lift the trophy for the first time in the clubs’ history.

Pep Guardiola’s side head into the second leg of their Round of 16 tie with a commanding lead after putting five past Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. They look set for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition and will hope to go one better than last year when they were beaten 1-0 in the final by fellow Premier League side Chelsea.

There’s no denying that City have one of the best squads in the world but they will have to be at their best in their remaining matches to add the Champions League trophy to their cabinet for the first time.

Teams such as Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea all remain in the competition and any of those sides will be a test for Peps team in the coming rounds.

In last years competition, City had to progress past Dortmund and PSG on their way to the final and there is a possibility that they could face those two again this year.

When Is the Champions League Quarter-Final Draw?

Although City are not guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals of the competition, it is looking extremely likely that their name will be in the draw.

The 2022 UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw is scheduled to take place on Friday 18th March in Nyon, Switzerland and will be streamed live by UEFA.

Rules for the Round of 16 draw are that no teams from the same country can play each other. However, that rule doesn’t apply to the rounds that follow and so we could see City face the likes of Liverpool or Chelsea should they make it through.

UEFA Champions League Odds

Heading into the second set of Round of 16 first leg ties this week, UK bookmakers are offering the following odds on the remaining teams.

2022 UEFA Champions League Odds
Man City	5/2
Liverpool	4/1
Bayern Munich	9/2
PSG	8
Chelsea	9/1
Ajax	16
Man Utd	25
Juventus	33
Real Madrid	35
Atletico Madrid	50
Villarreal	200
Benfica	250
FC Salzburg	250
Lille	250
Inter Milan	750
Sporting	5000

Will Manchester City Win?

Manchester City certainly have the ability to go all the way in the competition this year but it may come down to how favourable the draw is for the Cityzens. However, they, like others, will have to face some of the best teams in the world if they are to lift the trophy and so it could go to one of several teams.

Odds of 5/2 with Unibet seem a little on the short side given the quality of the remaining sides in the competition. They’re unlikely to be odds-on against the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich or PSG and so if you do fancy backing them, you may be better off placing singles on their route to the final which would more than likely produce a greater return overall.

City are also not unbeatable as was proved on Saturday when they suffered a 3-2 loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. Despite having 71% possession and 21 attempts on goal, City were unable to pick up three points in front of home fans which will surely put pressure on Pep’s side now that Liverpool trail them by just six points in the Premier League but with a game in hand. Should City start to crumble in the league, it could have an impact on their performances in the Champions League and so it may be a better idea to wait until the quarter-final draw is made in three weeks time to see who they’ll face next.