English Premier
2009-02-28 - Middlesbrough vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Football: England, Premier League
Saturday, 28th February 2009 - Kickoff 15:00
Middlesbrough (19th - Home Rec : 3-6-4 10:15)
Middlesbrough are in a horror run, winless in their last 14 league games (0-6-8) and with just 18 goals scored Boro are clearly the lowest scorers in the league this season.
Things are better at home at the Riverside Stadium, but only in terms of avoiding defeat. Boro have scored just two goals in their last six home games, conceeded three and have drawn FIVE of the last six.
Middlesbrough Team News :
Middlesbrough's fit-again forward Jeremie Aliadiere is set to make his first league start of 2009. Chris Riggott (knee) and Didier Digard (thigh) remain sidelined.
Liverpool (2nd - Away Rec : 8-4-1 23:10)
Liverpool came away with a great result from the Bernabeau in midweek somehow beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League. Perhaps it was Lady Luck paying Liverpool back after deserting the Reds domestically?
So what do we know about Liverpool? Defensively minded, better playing away from home than at Anfield and heavily dependant on Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool Team News :
Fernando Torres is out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury picked up in midweek, but Steven Gerrard appeared in that game late on and should be fit to start here.
Head to Head
Bad omens for Liverpool.
Middlesbrough have not lost any of the six previous league fixtures played at home against Liverpool, drawing FOUR games (including the last THREE in a row) and winning the other two.
Liverpool dominate the reverse fixture at Anfield, with a 5-1-0 record over the same period including a 2-1 win back in August of this season.
The Betting Verdict
It's probably all about the return of captain fantastic Stevie Gerrard again - well that and the fact the Boro will not sit back - allowing Liverpool more chance to play on the break than they get at Anfield.
It'll be ugly - but would a 1-0 win to Liverpool really be a surprise? And the away win is available at a fair price.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Middlesbrough 0-1 Liverpool
