We’re set for a huge few days of sport this weekend with the NBA back in full swing, the NFL heating up and the big guns starting to sort themselves out in the English Premier League.
The highlight of the EPL round will be Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal where the Reds will be looking to leapfrog the competition leaders. The Gunners have played some breathtaking football this season and will test the Liverpool defence, but so too Brendan Rogers’ men will ask questions of the hosts with their strike pairing of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in brilliant form.
Manchester United’s title credentials will again be tested with a tricky trip to Fulham. United is yet to find anywhere near the best form so far this season and although they will be expected to win here they will need to perform better than they have been in order to do so. Elsewhere, Tottenham travel to Everton in what promises to be another fascinating game while Chelsea and Manchester City will expect to take all three points against Newcastle and Norwich respectively.
In the NBA, LeBron James and the Miami Heat will be looking to get off to a good start in their title defence. The Heat host fellow big guns Chicago today in the season opener before welcoming both Philadelphia and Brooklyn in the coming days. Take the Heat at the line against both the 76ers and Nets.
Sebastian Vettel will be looking to make it seven wins in a row when the Formula 1 heads to Abu Dhabi and who would dare bet against him? Vettel wrapped up the Drivers’ Championship last week and can become the first man ever to win nine races in a row should he win the final three races of the year.
The Rugby League World Cup continues in England with the highlight being the Poms up against Ireland. The Irish will certainly be up for the challenge against their old rivals but they are still going to be hopelessly outclassed. Take England at the line.
And the Australian Spring Racing Carnival continues in Melbourne with the running of the Victorian Derby on Saturday. The premier three-year-old race in the country is tough to pick this year with half a dozen runners in with a real shot. Peter Snowden-trained Complacent looks to be good value at around $4.00 although we like Criterion each way at $9.50.
Good luck and good punting.
