Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 24/9/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to. 

Picture courtesy of Mobbly.com

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left “bitterly disappointed” by referee Mark Halsey’s performance in his side’s 2-1 loss against rivals Manchester United.

Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a naughty lunge at Jonny Evans, and this misery was compounded by the decision to award a penalty to the Red Devils late in the game, following a trip from Glen Johnson on Antonio Valencia.

"We could control our players' performance but what we can't control is decisions by the referee," Rodgers later said.

Defeat leaves Liverpool in the bottom three, and without a win to their name in this campaign. The Red Devils meanwhile climb ominously up to second.

Jonjo Shelvey has publicly apologised for his sending off, and also for the confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson as he left the field of play.

The England Under-21 international was seen pointing his finger and mouthing angrily at the United boss, and had to be led down the tunnel by a police officer.

“I have apologised to Sir Alex...where I come from people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off,” Shelvey was quoted as saying.

Elsewhere yesterday, Laurent Koscielny’s late equaliser secured Arsenal a point in a classy encounter at Manchester City, Demba Ba continued his hot streak with Newcastle’s winner against old boy Chris Hughton’s Norwich, and Tottenham came from behind to beat a tidy QPR outfit at White Hart Lane.

The FA’s investigation into John Terry’s alleged racially-motivated abusing of Anton Ferdinand begins today.

Back in July the Chelsea skipper was cleared in court of a criminal inquiry into the matter, but he was charged by the FA a fortnight later.

On a seemingly related note, Terry has recently announced he is to retire from international football. He believes the FA’s decision to seek further action has made his position with the national side ‘untenable’.

Tips & Tits: The Premier League Weekend Preview (Part 2)

The latest football betting odds for this weekend’s Premier League games – we try and find the very best value for our readers. Oh, and a few lovely ladies. Enjoy!

*this week’s lady theme is: Female Sports Broadcasters*

#all odds courtesy of Sporting Bet#

Saturday September 1^st (Kick Off: 5:30PM)

Hayley McQueen - Bouncy

Man City v QPR

This must be the first game in an eternity where Man City’s opponents have garnered more column inches than them. QPR have been splashing the cash more readily than a city banker in Stringfellows – and you don’t need me to tell you how this can backfire. 

So Mark Hughes’s men will need to start chalking up some positive results – and fast. Expect Ricardo Carvalho and Julio Cesar to come in to shore up the Hoops’ backline, and they won’t have to shackle Sergio Aguero, who is still out injured. New Citeh signing Scott Sinclair will probably start on the bench (and stay there for the next nine months bar the odd cup appearance).

The Verdict: The draw is priced at 11/2, and this may seem quite ambitious, but this is the kind of game where Roberto Mancini’s boys often fail to turn up. For those that love backing the outsider, QPR are priced at 11/1! A long shot, but not completely unheard of...

Sunday September 2nd (Kick Off: 1.30PM)

Liverpool v Arsenal

Alina Artz - German

The game of the weekend this one we fancy. Liverpool have had a stumbling start to the season, but will be buoyed by the performance against Man City last weekend. You can see that Brendan Rodgers is just starting to mould the team in his own image, with teen sensation Raheem Sterling at the heart of this.

Arsene Wenger will be disappointed by the start his Arsenal side have had. Shorn of the goals of RVP, they have yet to trouble the scorers this campaign. But on the plus side they haven’t conceded either, which is usually their Achilles heel.

The Verdict: This is the scene for a classic Wenger rearguard action. Expect his side to break their goalscoring duck too. The ‘Arsenal win, Podolski first goalscorer’ double is tidy value at 16/1.

Sunday September 2nd (Kick Off: 4PM)

Newcastle v Aston Villa

Millie Clode - Why Not?

This is what is known in the trade as a ‘Home Banker’. Newcastle are formidable at St James’ Park and Villa on their travels, well, just aren’t.

Having been turned down by Clint Dempsey on Transfer Deadline Day, things are looking bleak for Paul Lambert’s side. Aside from Darren Bent, they haven’t really got a natural goal scorer. The Magpies, on the other hand, have two: in the African pairing of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.

The Verdict: A result and goals double of ‘Newcastle Win – Under 3.5 goals’ represents cracking value at 7/5. Newcastle with a -1 Goal Handicap at 33/20 will have punters licking their lips too.

Southampton v Man Utd

Sue Barker - English Rose

There were a few hints last weekend that Manchester United – despite conceding twice – were starting to find their feet. Robin Van Persie seems to have settled in to a similar role that he performed so well at Arsenal, and with Wayne Rooney injured he is a certain starter on Sunday.

Southampton really should have backed up their spirited performance at the Etihad on the opening day with anything other than defeat to Wigan. Pacy striker Emmanuel Mayuka will have Saints fans on the edge of their seats, but will probably have to wait for his first team bow.

The Verdict: Although Man Utd have had their troubles when travelling to Southampton – who remembers THIS – expect them to win and win well at St Mary’s this time out. Place on ‘Total Goal Band - 2 to 3’ at Evens, and even though we big him up every time here at Route One we love Shinji Kagawa. He is 6/4 to score anytime.

The Route One Home Banker Treble

Despite nothing seeming to be a banker these days, we’re going for Newcastle (A Villa), Notts Forest (Charlton) and Burnley (Brighton). A £10 stake returns £75.

The Route One Away Day Treble

We are backing Watford (at Derby), and – for the Caretaker Manager effect - Coventry (at Crewe) and Chesterfield (at Gillingham). A £10 stake returns £280.

The Battle of Britain: A Footballing History Lesson

In anticipation of tonight’s Europa League encounter between Liverpool and Hearts, we take a look at some of the ties between English and Scottish clubs over the years, which are handily dubbed the ‘Battles of Britain’.

Leeds v Rangers (1992-93, European Cup Second Round)

This is perhaps the best known ‘Battle of Britain’ throughout the ages. Two legs of captivating, end-to-end football, ended with the then Champions of Scotland dumping the best team in England out of the most prestigious club competition in Europe.

In the first leg, an early Gary McAllister strike for Leeds was cancelled out by a John Lukic own goal and a trademark finish from Ally McCoist. And in the return fixture at Elland Road, Mark Hateley and McCoist again scored to ensure that Rangers could proudly call themselves ‘the Best Team in Britain’. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

This documentary behind the famous tie is fascinating.

Result: Rangers win 4-1 on aggregate

Celtic v Liverpool (2003, UEFA Cup Quarter Final)

The seeds were sown for an absolute classic about two minutes before kick off in the first leg here. Celtic Park was packed to the rafters, and what followed was perhaps the most spine-tingling rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ that you will ever here.

The atmosphere was electric, and when Henrik Larsson gave Celtic the lead inside two minutes there was a more powerful eruption than anything that pussy Mount Etna could produce. Prolific marksman Emile Heskey later equalised for the Reds, to set up an intriguing second leg at Anfield.

After another powerful performance of YNWA, the scene was set. Unfortunately, the Bhoys hadn’t read the script, and triumphed 2-0 with goals from Alan Thompson and John Hartson. They went on to the Final, eventually losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

Here’s THAT Celtic Park version of You’ll Never Walk Alone, with backing vocals from Gerry Marsden himself.

  

Result: Celtic win 3-1 on aggregate

Celtic v Leeds (1969-70, European Cup Semi Final)

 

This one may be going back a few years, but this is perhaps the most prestigious tie between two British sides. In what was the equivalent of the Champions League Semi Final, Celtic were aiming to book their place in a second European Cup final in three years.

A goal from George Connelly gave the Bhoys a 1-0 first leg win at Elland Road, and then over 130,000 people(!) crammed into Hampden Park to see strikes from John Hughes and Bobby Murdoch set up a final with Feyenoord. Which they duly lost.

Result: Celtic win 3-1 on aggregate

And so, tonight....

 

Although that was a hand-picked selection of three, you can see that Scottish sides have a good record against their English counterparts.  Hearts though are really up against it tonight, and having been beaten 5-0 by Spurs at the same stage of the tournament last season, must fear the worst.

Liverpool are set to name a side made up of fringe players, many of whom will be hungry to put themselves in the shop window for a regular first-team berth, including Charlie Adam, Andy Carroll and young Raheem Sterling.

The Verdict:  We expect Liverpool to win, and to win well. This is why we are taking the Reds for a '-2 Goal Handicap Win' (9/2), courtesy of Sporting Bet.

And Anglo-Scottish contests are generally feisty affairs too, so the 15/4 offered by William Hill for more than three Hearts players to get booked is very tasty value indeed.

Remember, for all of your football betting, opinion and news, stay tuned to Route One.