Weekend Review: Prolific Palmer makes history while City stutter  

Chelsea and England midfielder Cole Palmer starred as the West Londoners (3/4) beat Brighton 4-2 in an action-packed game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. 

Palmer made history by becoming the first player in Premier League history to score four goals in the first half of a match, cancelling out goals from Georginio Rutter and Carlos Baleba.  

However, the weekend’s football kicked off on Friday with Manchester City (13/20) drawing 1-1 away at Newcastle.  

Joško Gvardiol gave the away side the lead before an Anthony Gordon penalty levelled proceedings in the second half.  

Liverpool (3/10) ended the weekend top of the table following a 2-1 win at Wolves, while Arsenal (1/5) survived a late scare to beat Leicester 4-2 at the Emirates Stadium.  

Meanwhile Manchester United (5/4) suffered another bruising defeat at home, losing 3-0 to Tottenham after captain Bruno Fernandes received a straight red card just before half time.  

OLBG’s Jake Ashton highlighted how speculation about United manager Erik ten Hag’s role ramped up after the game.  

He said: “Erik ten Hag has subsequently been backed into odds-on at 4/7 to be the first Premier League manager to leave his role this season after that defeat and performance was branded “disgusting” by Gary Neville after the match.

“Ten Hag’s odds were slashed from 6/1 to leave his role after the loss and it may well be time for United’s new owners to pull the plug on his reign in charge.”

Also over the weekend, there were wins for Everton (17/10) at home to Crystal Palace and Fulham (2/1) away at Nottingham Forest, and there were draws in games between Brentford and West Ham and Ipswich and Aston Villa (11/10).  

Betfred’s Alan Firkins explained the score draws across the weekend helped balance the books. 

He said: “Fred Done wouldn’t have liked what he saw from Old Trafford on Sunday, as his beloved Reds looked laboured throughout – and as we went top-price Spurs, United’s capitulation cost us a few quid too.  

“Ipswich holding the Villa in a four-goal thriller clawed back some cash, and all this after Manchester City were held at Newcastle on Saturday with the striking Viking [Erling Haaland] for once drawing a welcome blank. 

“Arsenal and Liverpool secured expected wins, with the Gunners leaving it pretty late at the Emirates against Leicester. In the latest Premier League outrights we have new favourites in Arsenal (5/4), followed by City at 6/4, Liverpool are 4/1, resurgent Chelsea 14/1, and it’s 33s bar.” 

Across the channel in Europe, a Lamine Yamal goal couldn’t stop Barcelona (4/5) from falling to a 4-2 defeat away at Osasuna.  

The Madrid derby ended in a 1-1 draw, with Ángel Correa scoring a dramatic injury-time equaliser for Atletico at home to Real Madrid (7/4). 

In Germany, Bayern Munich (14/25) drew 1-1 at home to reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, while Borussia Dortmund (1/ 5) came from behind to win 4-2 at home to Bochum.  

In Serie A, there were 3-0 wins for AC Milan (3/10) at home to Lecce and for Juventus (4/5) away at Genoa, while champions Inter Milan (9/20) won 3-0 away at Udinese. 

Freeth noted that the European results were a mixed bag for the bookmaker. 

He remarked: “Highlights around Europe included 3/4 Barcelona losing to Osasuna, 4/6 Bayern Munich drawing with Bayer Leverkusen, plus 4/7 Freiburg, 19/20 Lens also failing at odds-on, and the final game of the weekend with 17/10 Real Madrid being pegged back by an injury time equaliser from Ángel Correa. 

“We did take some hits in Europe mind, 4/5 Juventus winning 3-0, 2/7 Monaco waiting until the 98th minute to get the winner, 1/2 Roma winning from behind at home to Venezia and the two goal-fests in the Bundesliga on Sunday.  

“Our early payout on 5/4 Hoffenheim was triggered after eight minutes, before Werder Bremen came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 and form side Eintracht Frankfurt landing the spoils for punters at 19/20 with a 4-2 victory.” 

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill commented on the success the operator had with the weekend’s European results. 

He said: “In Europe, Real Madrid drawing and Barcelona losing were quite comfortably our best two results across the whole weekend, while Bayern Munich were also held to a 1-1 draw, which again unsurprisingly, was great for the book in what was a great weekend all told.” 

Elsewhere, in horseracing, the Aiden O’Brien-trained 6/4 favourite Lake Victoria, daughter of the legendary Frankel, took first place in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket ahead of Daylight (13/2) in second and Arabian Dusk (25/1) in third.

In the bet365 Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap, Liberty Lane (8/1) romped home ahead of James McHenry (20/1) and Toimy Son (28/1).  

At Curragh, Apples and Bananas (5/2) edged a nail-biting race in the Goff’s Million ahead of 9/4 favourite Antelope Canyon and Celtic Motif (16/1).  

Gill said there was little between bettors and bookies across the weekend’s races.  

He noted: “Newmarket on Saturday saw the Cambridgeshire go the way of well-backed Liberty Lane at 8/1 under a good ride from Clifford Lee. A few big prices in the places behind, all told this was close enough to a draw between backers and layers.  

“Overall, it was a good day’s racing with some favourable results, only one winner getting home in front in Lake Victoria in the Cheveley Park Stakes.” 

Firkins added: “Impressive Newmarket scorer Lake Victoria was cut to 7/2 fave for the Betfred 1000 Guineas, and 10/1 for the Betfred Oaks, in the wake of her demolition job in the Cheveley Park.  

“Meanwhile Royal Lodge hero Wimbledon Hawkeye was similarly popular post-race – he’s 20/1 for the Betfred 2000 Guineas, and 33/1 for the Betfred Derby at Epsom.”