Against All Odds: Reds to take something from the Etihad

"Sergio Aguero is back from injury but something doesn't seem to be quite clicking for them this term and the absence of skipper, Vincent Kompany, could prove vital for this match."

Lay Man City v Liverpool @ 1.9520/21

Liverpool travel to Manchester City this afternoon and despite showing some good recent form, they aren't expected to get anything from this match, something which Paul Robinson disagrees with.

Manchester City couldn't break down QPR on Tuesday night and the 0-0 draw means they now trail United by 10 points, although they do have a game in hand. With no European football left, Roberto Mancini's future could look bleak if he can't deliver a second Premier League title this summer.

Prior to that draw at Loftus Road, City had been in good form, winning their previous six in all competitions. Sergio Aguero is back from injury but something doesn't seem to be quite clicking for them this term and the absence of skipper, Vincent Kompany, could prove vital for this match. Matija Nastasic should return to partner Joleon Lescott at the back but I wouldn't fancy them to be able to contain the sublime Luis Suarez.

Liverpool blew a two goal lead at the Emirates on Wednesday to draw 2-2 with Arsenal but the performance was good and it at least put the debacle at Oldham behind them. The Reds have been in good form in the league, thrashing QPR, Sunderland and Norwich, and although they lost at Old Trafford, they were much better in the second half and could have taken a point.

Daniel Sturridge has added a bit more threat up front and Jamie Carragher's surprise return to the back four has made them into a much more solid unit as Martin Skrtel's form has dipped lately. Steven Gerrard is playing his best football for two years and the much maligned Jordan Henderson is finally showing what he can do now he's being played in his favoured position.

Manchester City just aren't as good as they were last season for my money, so with a resurgent Liverpool in town, at around the 1.9520/21 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day.
Recommended Bet
Lay Man City v Liverpool @ 1.9520/21

This match can be seen live on Sky Sports One from 16:00

Wagered: 33 pts
Returned: 27.93 pts
P/L - 5.07 pts (after commission)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)

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Timeform Radio Tip: There's something in the Ayr

Timeform Radio Tip / Will Hayler / 11 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

"But I’ll take the chance that he’s basically just not that good and stick with Pokfulham to make amends for his unfortunate defeat last month at a little over 2-1 in old money."

Today's Timeform Radio man, Will Hayler, gives us his two best selections ahead of this afternoon's racing.

Not the sort of afternoon on which you'd try and explain to a foreign punter exactly why British racing is the best in the world.

The consistent Dimaire won't win the 15.20 at Ffos Las but she runs so few bad races, that she might well make the frame again - especially with the unraced second-favourite Miss Elegance representing a stable (Brian Meehan's) which is still struggling for consistency. There will be worse place bets today than the [2.54] at which she trades.

But I will wait for the last race of the afternoon before investing and I select the consistent Pokfulham to get his head in front again in the 17.30 at Ayr.

A much-improved performer over hurdles during the spring, he has produced three solid efforts since returning to turf and although I don't like his overall wins-to-runs ratio of two from 24, he might well have bettered that strike-rate over course and distance last time but for having to be snatched up on the bend and losing plenty of ground. He went down by only a neck to Simonside and that rival wasn't disgraced when going to Sandown for a tougher race subsequently.

Pokfulham's previous form at York is also working out particularly well and although he has twice gone up in the weights without winning now, I am sure there is still some juice to be squeezed out of a Flat mark of 65 given that he has gone up to 130 over hurdles in recent months.

Light The City poses an obvious threat, but he too is hardly a prolific winner and to win this off 58 requires a clear career-best effort. Maybe, as his trainer has suggested, he is just a late maturer. Sire Fantastic Light is certainly a positive influence in that respect. But I'll take the chance that he's basically just not that good and stick with Pokfulham to make amends for his unfortunate defeat last month at a little over 2-1 in old money.

Rory Delargy is the Timeform Radio pundit on Sunday when it's wall-to-wall jumps action in the UK with meetings at Southwell, Stratford and Perth....

There's a lot of high-quality racing available on the Saturday racing buffet and two titbits at York have attracted David Cleary's attention...

David Cleary is looking forward to an excellent day of racing at Newmarket and he's uncovered a pair of compelling prospects to back in the afternoon's big race and a little earlier......

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