Weekend Review: Slot machine clicks into gear as United undone by Liverpool

Liverpool (17/20) ran out comfortable 3-0 winners away at Manchester United (5/2) on Sunday in the headline fixture in the Premier League to give the bookies a positive end to the weekend.

A Luis Diaz double set the away side on their way before Mo Salah completed the scoring midway through the second half.  

The victory means Arne Slot has started his Liverpool career with three wins from three as Erik ten Hag continues to draw criticism for his side’s apparent lack of identity on the pitch.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Overall a good weekend in the Premier League as a couple of big results left us nicely ahead going into the international break.

“No surprise United versus Liverpool topped the turnover charts, but we actually managed a positive result there as United were kept off the score sheet.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins shared how the weekend results affected the early odds for the Premier League title.

He said: “Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield replacement Arne Slot must think this Premier League management lark is a doddle. His team are purring at present, and have been cut to 9/2 to take the title.  

“It’s Man City 11/10, Arsenal 2/1, and 33/1 bar the three. The Scousers look to me to be the biggest barrier to a potential Guardiola five-timer, with Mo Salah and Luis Diaz particularly rampant right now.” 

Elsewhere, Erling Haaland bagged his second hat-trick in consecutive games as Manchester City (2/5) won 3-1 away at West Ham (13/2).  

Bournemouth (13/10) produced a remarkable late comeback away at Everton (9/5), scoring twice in added time to overturn a two-goal deficit and win 3-2.  

The remarkable loss leaves Everton rock bottom of the league without a single point and, while the blue half of Merseyside will be feeling rotten, some Betfair punters will be feeling equally sick.

There was more than £12,000 matched on Everton at 1/100 on the Betfair Exchange when the home side was cruising at two-nil up. 

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “Everton fans will have been gutted to see their team throwaway a 2-0 lead so late in the game, but we’d already paid out on the 2/1 Toffees in both pre-game singles and multiples after 57 minutes when Calvert-Lewin made it 2-0, only for Bournemouth to record an incredible comeback. And also, well done to the bet365 customers who took the 400/1 about the Cherries in-play.”

The weekend’s Premier League action kicked off with Arsenal (9/25) drawing 1-1 at home to Brighton (13/2), with the matched tinged with controversy after Declan Rice’s second half red card.  

There were multiple other 1-1 draws across the weekend between Ipswich (2/1) and Fulham (27/20), Nottingham Forest (19/20) and Wolves (27/10), and Chelsea (3/5) and Crystal Palace (4/1).  

Brentford (4/5) and Newcastle (3/2) were the only home teams to win over the weekend, enjoying a 3-1 victory against Southampton (16/5) and a 2-1 win against Tottenham (3/2), respectively.  

Freeth said the weekend results were a mixed bag for the bookmaker, especially given Haaland’s imperious form.

He remarked: “A horrible Saturday followed by a pleasing Sunday but we’re grateful to Manchester United for not scoring against Liverpool, with the Red Devils scuppering a Premier League BTTS 10-fold.  

“Our worst result was at West Ham, with bet builders causing a huge dent as well as Erling Haaland who scored his second successive Premier League hat-trick. This week we had 1425 bets at 16/1 on the big Norwegian bagging a treble and, if that wasn’t bad enough, the solitary Hammers goal made it full house on the BTTS front.” 

Betway’s Mike Reading also lifted the lid on Haaland’s impact, with the City star having scored seven Premier League goals already this season.

Reading said: “Erling Haaland once again showed his class with his second hat-trick of the season. We had him at 8/1 for a hat-trick against West Ham, and bettors were quick to back the City striker.

“When he scored twice within the first 30 minutes, they were on the edge of their seats. It took until the 83rd minute, but Haaland yet again delivered, leaving our traders questioning what odds would be enough to deter punters in his next match.”

Kindred Group’s Gill noted that the slew of draws made for a positive results for the operator.  

He added: “Arsenal and Chelsea drawing were also great results for the book and meant winnings accas were thin on the ground too.

“All told, despite Haaland continuing to make fun of the rest of the league with his scoring records and City’s win over West Ham being our worst overall result of the weekend, it was a good week of Premier League action.” 

Francisco Cano, head of trading at LiveScore Group, said: “The highest turnover game was Manchester United versus Liverpool. Other high-turnover matches included Manchester City’s 3-1 win over West Ham.

“Finally, Arsenal’s clash with Brighton was another game with high activity. Despite leading at half-time, Arsenal’s momentum shifted after Declan Rice’s second yellow card, allowing Brighton to equalise.” 

Meanwhile, across Europe, Bayer Leverkusen (17/25) lost their first league game in over 15 months, losing 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig (4/1) after surrendering a two-goal lead. Harry Kane was also back among the goals as Bayern Munich (1/5) beat Frieburg (10/1) 2-0. 

Kylian Mbappe broke his La Liga duck for Real Madrid (11/50), scoring twice in the team’s 2-0 home win against Real Betis (11/1) while Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona (9/50) pummeled Valladolid (12/1) 7-0. 

A debut goal from Romelu Lukaku helped Napoli (2/5) beat Parma (13/2) 2-1, while title holders Inter (9/20) beat Europa League winners Atalanta (9/2) 4-0.

Freeth added: “We also saw the benefit of the bet365 early pay-out offer in Germany with not one but two teams throwing away a two-goal lead. Bayer Leverkusen were ticked as winners at just before half-time when Grimaldo put the hosts 2-0 up before a Leipzig second half fightback had Xabi Alonso’s side losing a league game for the first time in 15 months.  

“We also paid out on 4/6 Stuttgart after they threw away a lead to end up drawing 3-3 against Mainz. However, we did get some small consolation from Werder Bremen versus Borussia Dortmund drawing 0-0, likewise the Serie A clash between Juventus and Roma.” 

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Flying Frontier (11/2) won the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap at Sandown on Saturday, with 13/8 favourite Involvement coming in third.  

Field of Gold (5/4) put in an impressive showing to win the Sky Bet Solario Stakes, with Good Earth (7/1) taking first place in the Build a Bet Handicap. 

Favourite Quietness romped home in the William Hill Silver Cup Handicap at Beverley, while the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde (5/2) won at the Virgin Bet Chester Stakes.  

Gill said: “At Sandown on Saturday, the Solario Stakes went the way of 5/4 favourite Field of Gold under Kieran Shoemark in an impressive display.

“It was a tough day of racing right across the board in terms of results for us, and this was our worst result.”