Weekend Review: Bookies rejoice as Ruben’s Reds hold league leaders Liverpool

Football results went the way of the bookies over the weekend as Premier League leaders Liverpool (4/11) were held to a 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester United (6/1) on Sunday afternoon.

In a match nearly called off due to adverse weather the night before, it was a goalless opening 45 minutes at Anfield that sprang to life in the second half.

Lisandro Martinez gave the away side the lead after the break, only for Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah put Liverpool into the lead with two goals in 11 minutes.

With 10 minutes remaining, Ruben Amorim’s United levelled the score through Amad Diallo and were unlucky to not take all three points when Harry Maguire blazed over with the last chance of the game.

Elsewhere, title chasers Arsenal (3/4) were also held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night on the road to Brighton (4/1).

The Gunners’ latest star Ethan Nwaneri gave the away side the lead after 16 minutes, but Mikel Arteta’s side failed to add another to their tally, with João Pedro converting from the penalty spot 15 minutes into the second half.

The same scoreline occurred in the London derby between Crystal Palace (5/2) and Chelsea (10/11), with Jean-Philippe Mateta cancelling out Cole Palmer’s opener for the Blues.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said the operator saw good returns in all but one of the weekend’s matches to give the Unibet parent company a happy start to the new year.

Gill said: “A great new year return proper in the Premier League as we came out ahead in nine of the 10 games played over the weekend, with Brentford’s slightly ominous dismantling of Southampton being the only exception for punters.

“A 2-2 draw in the Liverpool versus United game was overall a great result, despite four goals and that man Salah on the scoresheet, as that came in as our best result in the book across the whole weekend.

“Brighton holding Arsenal to a draw was another very strong result, as was Chelsea drawing at Palace.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said the operator had pushed Liverpool out to 2/5 on Saturday morning, giving the Warrington-based firm a welcome result come Sunday evening.

Firkins said: “The Premier League pacesetters were extremely popular, and really only had to turn up, right? Manchester United had other ideas and in a pulsating display rediscovered their mojo and very nearly snaffled all three points.”

The Anfield draw and Chelsea and Arsenal dropping points were also welcome results for bet365, with Steve Freeth noting that despite a host of favourites winning elsewhere, the bookmaker made a good start to 2025.

He said: “Favourites Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Brentford all won on Saturday, but importantly for us we had two high profile ones in 10/11 Chelsea and 3/4 Arsenal both drawing, and this was topped up by 4/11 Liverpool and 8/15 Fulham following suit on Sunday, which gave us a profitable start to 2025.

“The talk in the lead-up to the clash at Anfield was about Manchester United possibly being in a relegation battle, so much so that we’d taken almost 3,000 wagers on the Red Devils suffering such a fate since the Newcastle defeat a few days earlier.

“Ruben Amorim’s side showed enough grit on Merseyside to suggest those speculative wagers are probably wide of the mark, but they’re still a shorter price to be relegated (40/1) than they are to finish in the top four (66/1) this season.”

OLBG’s Jake Ashton added: “Ruben Amorim will take massive pride in the passion that his players showed against Liverpool this weekend and now will be hoping that they can put a run together that sees them climb up the Premier League table.

“For Arne Slot’s side, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance was met with massive question marks around his head space after talk of a Real Madrid move ramped up this week.

“Trent is now 4/9 to join Real Madrid in the summer, with the Spanish giants 3/1 to sign the full-back in the January window after a reported bid being was rejected last week.”

Ahead of the third round of the FA Cup this weekend, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham will be in Carabao Cup semi-final action.

Firkins said: “Attention then turns to the Carabao Cup semi-finals this week, and if there’s a side Liverpool will want to play to try and find their rhythm again it is surely one they stuck six past not too long ago in the shape of beleaguered Spurs.

“Arsenal travel to St James’ Park to face the Magpies, who are on a win streak of five in the Premier League and will be smelling the distinct possibility of very welcome silverware.

“In the outright betting, it is Arsenal 6/4, Liverpool 13/8, Newcastle 5/1, Spurs 7/1. The Geordies look terrific value to me.”

In Europe, Real Madrid and PSG both scored stoppage-time winners to edge past Valencia and Monaco, respectively, while Marseille’s 5-1 win over Le Havre was a boost for punters.

Up in Scotland, Rangers capitulated after going 2-0 away to Hibernian, eventually drawing 3-3 with the Edinburgh side.

Freeth added: “It was a fairly quiet weekend in Europe, but we had a couple of decent draws on Saturday in the clashes between Verona and Udinese and Lille and Nantes, but we did lose a few quid on Marseille’s 5-1 thumping of Le Havre and PSG’s stoppage time winner against Monaco.

“Plus, we did pay out on 1/2 Rangers when they went 2-0 up at Hibernian after 20 minutes before drawing 3-3 at Easter Road due to our two goals ahead early payout.”

Poor weather across the country ruined the majority of racing across the weekend, though Sunday saw some action.

Ile Atlantique (13/8) won the Novice Chase at Naas, but his performance did nothing to change his odds of winning the Arkle at Cheltenham – with Sir Gino still the favourite at 4/5.

Firkins said: “Racing was sadly decimated at weekend thanks to the Arctic blasts, but though Ile Atlantique took a Grade 2 novice at Naas on Sunday well enough he hasn’t remotely disturbed hotpot Sir Gino from the upper regions of the Arkle betting.

“He’s 4/5 for the annual Cheltenham highlight, with the Willie Mullins hope at 8/1.”