Liverpool’s start raises hopes but Sturridge is the real deal
Published:Liverpool’s flying start to the new campaign will have their fans dancing in their shell suits but the Reds early season form should be treated with caution.
It is hard to judge if they have progressed from last year’s work-in-progress to genuine title contenders.
On the one hand they have secured three wins out of three and kept a trio of clean sheets.
On the other, their performances have been far from emphatic and a secondary source of goals remains a worry, although the return of Luis Suarez draws ever closer.
Either way, the recent arrivals of Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Victor Moses will certainly strengthen the squad if not the first XI but an outright price of 14/1 indicates the sheer quality of the ‘big three’.
A more realistic prospect is a top-four finish, with Liverpool 11/8 to clinch fourth in what is essentially a three-horse race between themselves, Tottenham and Arsenal.
But with Spurs playing Brewster’s Millions and the Gunners threatening (watch out for a cloud of moths over the Emirates) to splash the cash, this price seems negatively skewed in the risk/reward department.
Perhaps a more interesting market is the race to be the Premier League top scorer.
Unsurprisingly Robin van Persie is the favourite to defend his trophy at 5/2 but with Old Trafford in a state of flux, especially if Wayne Rooney departs, these odds seem far too short.
However, a few miles up the M62, Reds hitman, Daniel Sturridge, has been lethal in front of the goal with three opportunist strikes already.
In fact his form has been electric ever since his arrival with 13 goals in just 14 starts and more chances will likely fall his way when Suarez is finally on the pitch.
With Southampton and CrystalPalace due at Anfield in the next couple of weeks take the 9/1 value currently available on the ex-Chelsea ace now.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
