Bookmakers ready for betting bonanza
ONE bookmaker is predicting that this will be one of the busiest betting weekends of the year with so much high-class sport taking place but Diego Costa’s lack of action has provoked much Premier League debate.
Hills believe the Super Bowl and Australian Open tennis mean this weekend will fall behind only the Grand National, World Cup final, Boxing Day and US Masters/FA Cup semi-finals in terms of betting turnover in the last 12 months and Chelsea’s clash with Manchester City on Saturday is the main highlight.
Costa, scorer of 17 league goals this term, won’t be involved after being suspended for three matches after stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can on Tuesday and bet365 have opened a market on Chelsea’s league points in their fixtures without the striker.
Bet365 go 11-4 that Chelsea pick up maximum points – after City they face Aston Villa away and Everton at home – while Costa is 2-1 with the same firm to receive a red card this season.
Jose Mourinho should have a new player following the City date as the Premier League leaders close in on a deal for Fiorentina’s right-sided midfielder Juan Cuadrado.
Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah will go on loan to the Italian club while Andre Schurrle is expected to move to Wolfsburg.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is not anticipating any new arrivals at Old Trafford despite the news that Michael Carrick is likely to miss around four weeks with a calf injury.
