Tag: football

The onus on replenishing the midfield ranks at Liverpool has never been more apparent, and the club might now turn to a former target to inject fresh life to save a fading season…

What’s the word?

Wolverhampton Wanderers completed the signing of Matheus Nunes in the summer in a club-record £42.2m deal that was considered a major coup for the club, following intense speculation that the 24-year-old could join Liverpool.

And now, according to The Telegraph, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp and Sporting Director Julian Ward could be poised to dive back in for the Portuguese maestro, who could be available for €50m (£44m), although any move is unlikely to happen until next summer’s window.

Nunes has not quite hit the ground running since his arrival at Wolves from Sporting Lisbon, with the club languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table and

Competition: Super Lig

Market: Fenerbahce win

Odds: 8/11 @ 888sport

Looking to open the New Year with a statement on the road, Fenerbahce will make the trip to Antalyaspor on Tuesday evening.

Starting with the hosts, while Antalyaspor might have impressed many across Turkey last season, Nuri Sahin’s side have largely failed to keep up that same momentum this time around. Opening up the New Year at the heart of a relegation scrap and holding just a one-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Scorpions will be more than aware that they face a huge challenge on Tuesday night. Last seen signing off 2022 with another sluggish display as they were hit with a 2-0 loss away at Basaksehir, the one-time Real Madrid star has seen his side lost five of their previous six matchups across all formats. With that nightmare spell stemming all the way back to

Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in a deal to bring Denzel Dumfries to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Rudy Galetti (via Sport Witness), with the Italian journalist revealing that Antonio Conte is ‘on the hunt’ for a new right-back this winter, with Spurs’ former target for the position, Dumfries, said to have ‘never left the radar’ of the 53-year-old manager – who is now believed to be keen on the Inter Milan defender once again in January.

The reporter goes on to state that the Serie A side would be ‘willing to negotiate’ a deal for the 26-year-old next month, as long as they were to receive an offer of €30m (£27m) plus add-ons.

Absolute steal

Considering just how impressive Dumfries has been for Inter in recent seasons, coupled with Emerson

Competition: Liga Portugal 2

Market: Academico Viseu double chance

Odds: 1/2 @ 888sport

Looking to extend on their recent purple patch on New Year’s Eve, Academico Viseu will make the trip to Penafiel on Saturday morning.

Starting with the hosts, although Penafiel might find themselves holding a commanding eight-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, they are in the midst of what has been an extended struggle. While Filo’s side might have been last seen on December 17th claiming a 1-1 draw away at Estrela, the Reds have managed to muster just a single win from any of their last nine straight contests across all formats. With that run stemming all the way back to October 8th, the former Feirense boss has also seen his downbeat squad gain a reputation for their rather glaring issues on home soil. Last seen in front of their own supporters getting hit with

Competition: Championship

Market: Sunderland double chance

Odds: 8/15 @ 888sport

Looking to make it back-to-back Championship wins on Thursday night and spring an upset on the road, Sunderland will make the trip to Wigan.

Starting with the hosts, while Wigan might have made their Ligue 1 return last season, the Latics have really struggled to find much stability this time around. Opening Thursday’s fixtures sat three points adrift of safety and tipped as a leading relegation pick, new boss Kolo Toure knows that he has quite the job on his hands. Last seen on Boxing Day when putting in a nightmare display as they were hit with a 4-1 drumming away at Middlesbrough, fans around the DW Stadium should be bracing themselves for what could be another tough test here. Despite claiming a much-needed 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Blackpool prior to the World Cup break, it appears that was

Competition: Ligue 1

Market: Monaco win

Odds: 19/20 @ 888sport

Marking their return from the World Cup’s festive break on Wednesday afternoon, Monaco will make the trip to Auxerre.

Starting with the hosts, while Auxerre might have made their Ligue 1 return over the summer, it appears that Christophe Pelissier’s side are one of the leading relegation scrappers this time around. Last seen on top-flight duties when heading into the World Cup break with a 5-0 drumming away at defending champions PSG, the Whites open up Wednesday’s fixtures sat in the bottom-three. Claiming just a single victory from any of their previous 11 Ligue 1 outings – a run that stems all the way back to August 27th – Auxerre could face a tricky test in midweek. Likewise, it should also be highlighted, Pelissier’s men have picked up just a sole win from any of their last five showdowns on

Competition: League Two

Market: Over 1.5 goals

Odds: 4/9 @ 888sport

Two sides who find themselves battling it out at the top of the League Two table, Leyton Orient will welcome Stevenage to Brisbane Road.

Starting with the hosts, last seen on December 17th putting in another eye-catching display as they picked up a 2-0 victory at home against Sutton, Leyton Orient have only continued on a remarkable purple patch this season. Opening up Tuesday’s fixtures holding a commanding seven-point buffer at the top of the table and skyrocketing towards a League One return in 2023, Richie Wellens’ men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Looking to lay down another marker in midweek, the one-time Salford boss has now seen his side win each of their last four straight outings. With that run highlighted by a 3-0 romp against Bradford earlier in the month, Orient have

Competition: Championship

Market: Stoke draw no bet

Odds: 8/13 @ 888sport

Hoping to try and find a route into the top-half of the Championship table on Boxing Day, Stoke will make the trip to a struggling Rotherham.

Starting with the hosts, although Rotherham might open Boxing Day still sat outside the drop zone, it appears that the Millers are destined to be at the heart of another bottom-three scrap in 2023. Marking their return from the World Cup break with a pair of woeful displays, Matt Taylor’s men will firmly be looking over their shoulder. Now coming off the back of back-to-back 3-0 and 3-1 drummings at the hands of West Brom and Bristol City, the Yorkshire-based outfit have picked up just a single win from any of their last nine Championship outings. With that nightmare spell stemming all the way back to October 18th, Rotherham have also gained a

Competition: Scottish League Two

Market: Dumbarton win

Odds: 19/20 @ 888sport

Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the League Two table and pick up a Christmas Eve boost, Dumbarton will host East Fife on Saturday lunchtime.

Starting with the hosts, left disappointed last time out on December 3rd as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw away at relegation scrappers Bonnyrigg Rose, Dumbarton will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, with the mood in their camp likely to still be at a real high, Stephen Farrell’s men find themselves tipped as the leading promotion contender this season. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat holding a four-point buffer at the top of the table, the Sons are also enjoying a hugely impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all formats – a run that stems all the way back to October 8th. With that purple patch underlined by a

Verdict: Rio Ave win

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to mark their return to Primeira Liga duties with a flurry on home soil, Rio Ave will welcome Maritimo to the Estadio dos Arcos on Friday night.

Rio Ave

Starting with the hosts, last seen on December 13th when picking up another League Cup victory thanks to a 2-1 win at home against Farense, Luís Freire’s side should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Relishing their return to action on Friday night with their sights set on trying to make up some ground in the European hunt, the top-flight returners have continued to gain plenty of praise from across Portugal. Heading into the World Cup’s enforced winter break with a gritty 1-0 victory away at Arouca on November 12th, the former Nacional boss will be calling on his side to mark their return to action with