Weekend Review: Liverpool leave it late and a rampant Man City run riot 

Two clinical finishes in stoppage time by substitute Darwin Núñez bagged all three points for Liverpool (1/2) away to Brentford on Saturday and left favourite-backers relieved. 

Despite dominating the match in terms of possession, shots and xG, it had looked as if the Reds were destined to drop points – until the Uruguayan, who can be profligate in front of goal, rode to the rescue in the 91^st and 93^rd minute.

The result for Arne Slot’s side means they are six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand on their nearest challengers, including Arsenal, with the Gunners losing ground in the title race after a draw at home to Aston Villa in the late kick-off on Saturday.

Arsenal (4/7) had gone two goals up through Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, only for the Villains to strike back thanks to Youri Tielemans and a smart volley from Ollie Watkins.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth (9/2) extended their impressive unbeaten run to 11 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United, a side that had won nine matches on the spin before the lunchtime clash at St James’ Park.

The away side’s Justin Kluivert – son of former Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert – netted a hat-trick with some pinpoint finishing, as the Cherries dominated the home side in most departments.

The upset was even more impressive considering Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola had to pick a team from an injury-ravaged squad.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there were wins for Fulham (4/5) over Leicester City, and in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta struck twice as Crystal Palace (13/8) beat West Ham 2-0.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “Aston Villa’s fine comeback at the Emirates to force a draw with Arsenal and Bournemouth’s fantastic rout of Newcastle at St James’ Park were the undoubted Saturday highlights.”  

There was a hatful of goals in the four games on Sunday, including Man City’s (2/5) 6-0 demolition of Ipswich, while Man United suffered yet another home defeat, this time at the hands of Brighton (9/4).

The 3-1 defeat, which leaves United languishing in 13^th, prompted manager Ruben Amorim to come out in the press conference and describe this as possibly the worst team in the history of the club. Ouch. 

This season’s biggest surprise package, Nottingham Forest (2/5), cruised into a three-goal lead against Southampton, yet the visitors battled back to make it 3-2 in stoppage time.

It wasn’t to be for Southampton, though, with the result leaving Forest third in the table with a mightily impressive 44 points after 22 games.

There was also a nervy finish at Everton (6/4) as the home side held on to win – also 3-2 – against a Spurs side struggling for form in the Premier League.

The results mean Liverpool are now just 1/4 to be crowned champions in May, with their nearest challenger in the betting being Arsenal, generally around the 5/1 mark.  

Ali Gill of Kindred Group said it was a “good weekend overall” and that the parent company of Unibet finished “nicely ahead”.

“That was despite the biggest turnover event, Ipswich hosting Man City, being a demolition job both on City and the book, with punters in clover after a 6-0 win.

“Forest’s 3-2 win over Southampton was another that left us in the red, but we managed profit in all the remaining games. Notable results were Arsenal being held to another draw and United’s woeful 3-1 home defeat to Brighton.

“But goals in the former and a generally poor United team in the latter meant neither were the skinners they could have been, although nicely profitable.”

Firkins pointed out that ITV showing the Leeds United versus Sheffield Wednesday match in the Championship at 12pm on Sunday gave a boost to betting volumes. 

“This initiative is certainly popular looking at turnover – with the noon kick-off also a shrewd move to avoid the top-flight battles scheduled for later,” he remarked.

Finally on the football, Barcelona (1/2) being held to a 1-1 draw with Getafe – a match also aired on ITV – was the best result across the whole weekend for Kindred Group, Gill revealed.

It was a similar story for Betway, as spokesman Mike Reading added: “Barcelona’s draw with Getafe delivered the biggest win of the weekend, further boosted by Atlético Madrid’s shock loss to Leganes. But just like in the Premier League, Sunday brought better fortune for bettors.

“Real Madrid’s comfortable victory over Las Palmas inflicted a lot of damage, though Valencia’s win over Real Sociedad and a goalless stalemate in the big La Liga 2 clash between Almeria and Huesca helped soften the blow.”

In horseracing, the headline event was the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot and the clash between odds-on favourite Jonbon and Irish raider Energumene.

The pair crossed the line in that order as Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon, ridden by Nico de Boinville, pulled clear two fences out before going on to comfortably win by six-and-a-half lengths.

Connections of Energumene, who went off at 9/4, admitted that the 11-year-old would have preferred softer ground. Conditions described as ‘good’ were probably the fastest he’s faced in his career.

Jonbon’s impressive display saw him cut by bookmakers to 5/4 favourite for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Energumene was eased out to 10/1.

Firkins said: “There were two significant takeaways from the weekend’s racing, and both concerning the stable of evergreen genius Nicky Henderson.

“His exceptional winning-machine Jonbon is now 5/4 from 9/4 for the Champion Chase, while newcomer Lulamba is now 6/4 from 4/1 for the Triumph Hurdle after victory at Ascot.”

He added that a couple of odds-on favourites getting turned over in ITV races sunk plenty of customers’ multiple bets.

Finally, snooker’s Shaun Murphy rolled back the years to land one of the sport’s Triple Crown events, the Masters, in front of 2,200 raucous fans at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Murphy, who last won the event in 2015 and had been a double-figure price to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy before the tournament started, beat reigning world champion Kyren Wilson 9-7 in Sunday’s final.

Wilson had been chalked up as 8/13 favourite going into the final, while his opponent was the underdog at 6/5.

It capped a brilliant week for 42-year-old Murphy following his 147 in the semi-final, which was only the sixth maximum break in the 50-year history of the Masters.