Weekend Review: Goals galore in Premier League mean punters power ahead

A glut of goals in the Premier League meant it was pretty much a punter’s weekend as fans’ fingernails took a hammering at both ends of the table.

Arsenal had to sit back and watch Manchester City (1/4) move to the top of the table after a nervy 2-1 win away at Fulham (11/1) gave Pep Guardiola’s men all three points by the River Thames.

City’s imperious form, coupled with Erling Haaland’s magic touch, made up just a portion of a bad day at the office for the bookies.

However, after the reigning champions’ 4-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday night and ahead of their victory over Fulham, Betfred went bold in its predictions.

Alan Firkins of Betfred said: “Our big news was Fred announcing he was paying out early on Manchester City winning the title, on Saturday morning. City have matches left against sides desperate for points at the other end of the table, so it’s a bold move. Fred’s done this before, and it’s not always gone to plan.”

Elsewhere, Liverpool (1/2) and Tottenham (9/2) played out a Premier League classic at Anfield, a game which had Spurs fans fearing the worst after going down 3-0 in the first 15 minutes.

A spirited fightback, which was sorely missing in the 6-1 thumping at Newcastle, saw Spurs drag the game back to 3-3 in stoppage time thanks to Richarlison’s first goal of the season. However, Spurs substitute Lucas Moura inexplicably laid the ball on a plate for Diogo Jota to secure a 4-3 for Liverpool just seconds later.

What a rollercoaster ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/w3ByCHWNiP

— Diogo Jota (@DiogoJota18) April 30, 2023

Performances from big hitters including Mo Salah and Harry Kane made it even harder to swallow.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “I don’t know who turned on the Premier League goals tap, but I wish they’d turn them off because they’ve been flowing since Thursday night.

“Mo Salah and Harry Kane not only landed the Super Boost by each having a shot on target, they also had the temerity to find the back of the net in a cracker at Anfield,” he added.

Another day, another 4-3 as Crystal Palace (7/5) eased past West Ham (19/10) in a London derby at Selhurst Park. Manager Roy Hodgson has seemingly let the shackles off his exciting forward players and was duly rewarded as the Eagles played the Hammers off the pitch; it was only West Ham’s aerial dominance from set pieces that made the game look closer than it was.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “A punters’ weekend without a doubt in the Premier League as results on the whole went their way.

“We managed to finish ahead in just two games, with the other six leaving us in the red. Brentford’s win over Forest and Palace’s win over West Ham finished second and third in the overall worst results of the weekend, while Liverpool’s thrilling 4-3 win over Spurs also did some damage,” he added.

At the wrong end of the table, Leicester (EVS) and Everton (14/5) played out a relegation thriller between two sides seemingly incapable of playing football. A 2-2 draw will please neither side nor both sets of supporters, and with just four games left to go, the dogfight is well and truly on.

Freeth said: “As was the 2-2 slugfest between Leicester and Everton with both teams going for the win in an attempt to stay in the Premier League. Just the 38 shots, 14 of them being on target and the game ending with the xG tally touching seven. It was bet builder bliss.”

Firkins added: “The relegation dogfight, according to the traders, looks to involve two of Leeds, Everton and Forest joining Southampton in the Championship, with Leicester still in the frame too. Huge battles remain.”

Jordan Pickford can't hold back the celebrations at half-time after saving James Maddison's penalty 😅🧤 pic.twitter.com/ioZTsx9g0K

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 1, 2023

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Kitty’s Light followed up his Scottish Grand National win with success in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown.

The 11/4 favourite became just the second horse after Hot Weld to win the Scottish National and Gold Cup Handicap Chase in a career.

A strong finish saw Kitty’s Light eventually run out two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Moroder to take the victory.

Gill said: “The curtain came down on a fascinating jumps season at Sandown on Saturday. The headline Gold Cup Handicap Chase went the way of 11/4 favourite Kitty’s Light. Unsurprisingly very well backed on the day, we still managed to finish marginally ahead in that one.”

However, punters did claw back after heavily backing 8/13 favourite Jonbon in the Celebration Chase.

“A different story in the Celebration Chase as punters really latched on to Jonbon at 8/13, the comfortable winner in the end as that was a result that lined punters’ pockets. Overall, it was a good day for punters, as the Oaksey Chase also went to the favourite Hewick at 6/5 to leave us behind,” Gill concluded.

Finally, Belgium was celebrating last night after Luca Brecel became the first snooker player from the country to be crowned the sport’s world champion.

He's entertained us over 17 enthralling Crucible days…

Now Luca Brecel gets his hands on the one that means most.

When a dream becomes reality ❤️ #CazooWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/oYwOEPcD5s

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 1, 2023

Despite never previously advancing past the first round at Sheffield, the 28-year-old put on impressive performances, including a fightback to knock out reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-final.

He also battled back from 14-5 down against Chinese sensation Si Jiahui to win 17-15 in the semi-final – the biggest comeback in Crucible history. In fact, Brecel was matched at 33/1 for nearly £500 on the Betfair Exchange when he looked dead and buried.

In the final against four-time champion Mark Selby, the Belgian – who was the 2/1 underdog – continued with his attacking snooker and held his nerve despite a spirited fightback from Selby and a 147 on Sunday to win snooker’s biggest prize by 18 frames to 15.