Weekend Review: Lacklustre Liverpool leave layers with derby day delight
Defeat to Everton leaves title defence in tatters as Ronnie O’Sullivan falls to shock loss in Wales
Liverpool’s continued struggles gave the bookies a reason to smile this weekend after Everton recorded their first league win at Anfield since 1999.
Jürgen Klopp’s men fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to their cross-city rivals, with goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurðsson sending all three points back across Stanley Park to the blue half of Merseyside.
1884: First team to win at Anfield.
2021: Last team to win at Anfield.We've not been fond of our first ground of late, but we made ourselves at home again last night.
Until next time. ? pic.twitter.com/pANDS6dmfx
— Everton (@Everton) February 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Chelsea failed to continue their winning streak after being held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton, with a Mason Mount penalty cancelling out Takumi Minamino’s opener for the Saints.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Another good weekend for layers in the Premier League, as teams vying for a top four spot continue to struggle.
“In-form Chelsea’s draw with Southampton was our best result of the weekend, with Liverpool’s home loss in the Merseyside derby not far behind,” he added.
Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “Everton’s heroics at the other end of Stanley Park was a great result for the books, as Liverpool’s woes continue. Their total implosion is a mystery Jessica Fletcher would struggle to solve at the minute.”
Betway’s Chad Yeomans told EGR the Merseyside derby was the operator’s biggest result of the day.
“Saturday was a better for day for us than it was for punters. Chelsea were well-backed to pile more misery on Southampton, but were held to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s and obviously the biggest result of the day was Everton’s superb victory at Anfield; their first victory there since 1999,” he said.
Manchester City’s third title in four seasons now looks nailed on after Pep Guardiola’s side stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 10 points after a 1-0 victory at Arsenal.
FULL TIME | It's another win for City!!! ?
? 0-1 ? #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/09beLfELpY
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 21, 2021
Gill said: “Although City got the job done against Arsenal, the low score wasn’t what punters expected and we came away with a win there too.”
Elsewhere, in horseracing, Goshen brushed away 11 months of difficulties by securing a 22-length victory in the Betway Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
The win for the Garry Moore-trained five-year-old has rejigged expectations ahead of the Champion Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Firkins said: “Goshen dotted up by a street in the Kingwell at a juicy-looking 10/3, and is now around 9/2 third favourite for the Champion Hurdle, from 16/1.”
Yeomans added: “It was a great weekend of racing and undoubtedly, the biggest talking point was Goshen’s return to form in the Betway Kingwell Hurdle.
Goshen is back! pic.twitter.com/lpK5DhmL1H
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2021
“We made him a 10/1 shot for the Champion Hurdle straight after the race, but there were plenty of punters eager to back the Gary Moore trained horse, who is now into 7/2 for the feature race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival,” he concluded.
Finally, Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati told EGR a surprise in the snooker capped off a good weekend.
Jordan Brown, ranked 81st in the world, secured a shock 9-8 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan to win the Welsh Open, becoming the first Northern Irishman to do so.
Apati said: “Brown’s surprise win over Ronnie made for a good day on the snooker front. Ronnie was around the 1/10 mark at the start of the game but plenty of punters saw value in the Rocket as he began to drift after a blistering start from Brown.”