Erling Haaland – 19 years old – Joined Dortmund from RB Salzburg

Arguably the most popular wonderkid in FM 2020, Haaland’s move to Borussia Dortmund will break many hearts. Fast, dynamic, hard working and an all-round finisher Haaland should light up Bundesliga, an environment many prospects have flourished through in recent years. After scoring 5 goals in his first 60 minutes of play the Yellow Army are right to feel optimistic about their new arrival.

Dani Olmo – 21 years old – Joined RB Leipzig from Dinamo

Olmo caught the eye while playing Champions League Football for Croatian side, Dinamo. An elegant, technically gifted attacking midfielder Olmo can provide and score. Available for £21 million on Football Manager 2020 many fans will be devastated by this move, which may cement Red Bull Leipzig’s Bundesliga title challenge.

Sander Berge – 21 years old – Joined Sheffield United from KRC Genk

For me the surprise of the Winter transfer window. Many thought Sander Berge had earnt a big move but few would have guessed the destination. Chris Wilder has done an exceptional job at Sheffield United and Sander could be his biggest success story for the long term. An all-round midfielder, Berge can break up play then start the attack with his creativity and eye for a pass.

Exequiel Palacios – 21 years old – Joined Leverkusen from River Plate

Ask any Football Manager fan about Exequiel Palacios and prepare for tails of a midfield playmaker, costing £6 million, who developed into a club captain and world class player. Unfortunately, the bargain buy of FM20 is lost but our loss is Leverkusen’s gain.

The Bundesliga is jam packed with wonderkids and this Winter transfer window has only furthered that claim. While gamers around the World mourn these transfers, it is great to see the January transfer window come back to life.

The days were players would simply run around a pitch for hours on end to boost their endurance levels are long gone, with modern coaches taking a much more technical approach to their training sessions.

Professional soccer players now benefit from bespoke strength and conditioning programs that are tailored to maximise their performance throughout the season.

These generally combine a handful of different areas which collectively have a positive impact on player fitness levels. Read on as we take a closer look at strength and conditioning for soccer.

Strength and endurance training

Pre-season soccer training has historically focused on establishing a solid aerobic base that will allow players to cope with the demands placed on them when the games get underway.

It is important to maintain that base throughout the season, although it is not unusual to hear that some coaches still overplay this aspect.

Soccer places some fairly unique demands on players and it is important that any strength and endurance training undertaken reflects this.

Players cover 8-10 miles during the course of game, mixing short sprints with longer runs, jogging, walking and interactions with the ball.

Training in this area should incorporate all of these elements, thus helping players to establish a greater level of all-round fitness.

Strength training also plays an important part in soccer, offering benefits such as injury resistance, leaner body composition and more energy.

Nutrition

Studies have shown that consuming a healthy diet is a crucial part of a strength and conditioning program for soccer players.

The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ has particular resonance in soccer, hence why most professional clubs take specialist advice from nutritionists.

Players are given guidance on the type of foods they should be eating and information about the best supplements they can take to boost performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a great example of how a healthy diet can have a significant impact on a player’s performance and also career longevity.

The Juventus and Portugal star eats healthy foods and avoids things that are bad for him like alcohol, sugary sodas and processed foods.

Ronaldo eats simple whole foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. He also eats lots of fresh fish for protein and stays hydrated with specially formulated sports drinks.

Speed and power

Speed and power training are two hugely significant elements of any strength and conditioning program for soccer players.

The modern game is played a faster pace than was previously the case, so players who are quick clearly have a competitive edge over their opponents.

Incorporating sprint tests into training will help all players improve this aspect of their performance and will be of particular benefit to the speedier types.

Working on increasing power amongst players is also important, helping to positively impact both their strength and speed.

Adding circuit training into the program is a great way to improve power, with squats, pulls, cleans and presses amongst the elements that should be included.

Blending this with sprint and agility work – for example, the ‘ladder drill’ – will help to improve speed and power for soccer players.

Rest and sleep

Research featured on onlinemattressreview.com has shown that getting enough quality rest and sleep are important components of daily life.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was an advocate of the benefits of sleep, and he certainly knew a thing or two about being successful in soccer. He famously used the services of sleep coach, Nick Littlehales, who worked with United’s players to create optimal sleep routines.

Littlehales advises taking five shorter sleeps rather than one long sleep, as he believes this is a more effective way of resting. He recommends sleeping in 90-minute cycles rather than in hours, in addition to taking shorter naps at key points during the day.

The five 90-minute cycles don’t necessarily all have to be in one chunk. Littlehales says that you can have four cycles at night and then put the fifth cycle into the day as a 30-minute nap.

If you get good-quality sleep in four cycles all the way through, that can be just as beneficial as spending eight or nine hours sleeping.

Warming up and cooling down

Head to any professional soccer stadium an hour or so before kick-off time and you will see the players undertaking their warm-up for the game.

These are designed to minimise the risk of injuries to major muscle groups, ligaments and tendons, thus helping players to stay off the treatment table.

The routine generally takes around half an hour to complete and is structured to ensure that players are ready for action when the first whistle blows.

Players will undertake a variety of exercises and drills, mixing up stretches and cardio exercises to prepare their bodies for the game.

Cooling down properly is also important, helping players recover more quickly from the strains placed on them during training and matches.

Some clubs have used cryotherapy chambers, with research showing that their use can speed up recovery in athletes.

Ipswich produced the shock of the fourth-round games with a win away to Huddersfield. This is the first time the club’s history that they have reached the last-16.

The Tractor Girls ply their trade in the FA Women’s Premier League South East Division One. They are in a strong position to gain promotion this season – sitting second after 10 games, two points behind leaders AFC Wimbledon and with two games in hand.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are top of the Women’s Super League – ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, though Chelsea would overtake with a victory in their game in hand. All three teams are football betting favourites for both of this season’s domestic league and cup titles.

2016 champions City reached the second round of the women’s Champions League this season and won last season’s FA Cup for the second time, beating West Ham United in the final. They saw off rivals Manchester United to setup this tie.

Ipswich Town could be joined by fellow fourth-tier side Southampton Women’s FC, but they have to go to Crystal Palace in a fourth-round replay if they are to match the Suffolk team’s performance. Ipswich have had to progress through six ties to reach this stage of the competition, while Women’s Super League and Championship sides entered at the fourth round.

Monday’s draw produced two all-Women’s Super League ties – Chelsea versus Liverpool, and Everton travelling to Bristol City.

Record winners of the women’s FA Cup, Arsenal, were handed a home tie to Championship side Lewes. The Gunners have won the competition 14 times – the first in 1993, and the most recent in 2016.

Sunderland, the only side left from the third-tier, host Birmingham City. Tottenham Hotspur go to Butts Park Arena to face Coventry United in a matchup between two sides who have never reached the final.

The fifth-round FA Cup ties are scheduled to be played on Sunday 16 February, whilst the final will take place at Wembley Stadium for the sixth consecutive season on Saturday 9 May.

The draw in full:

Bristol City vs Everton
Coventry United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City vs Reading
Crystal Palace/Southampton Women’s vs Brighton
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town
Arsenal vs Lewes
Sunderland vs Birmingham City
Chelsea vs Liverpool

According to Deloitte, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are the three richest clubs in the world, with each pulling in revenues of more than €660 million in 2018.

There are three main areas where clubs generate revenue – matchday income, broadcasting and commercial income.

In the case of many bigger clubs, their overall revenues are impacted greatly by the commercial income they generate.

For a club like United, sponsorships account for more than 45% of their total revenue, highlighting how important they are to the success of their overall business. Read on as we look at how clubs sell sponsorships in the modern era.

Stadium income on the up

Many clubs generate huge revenues from their stadiums, with naming rights and pitch-side advertising amongst the most popular methods used.

For instance, Arsenal’s agreement with Fly Emirates to name their ground the Emirates Stadium until 2028 generates huge revenues for the club.

Manchester City (Etihad Stadium) and Leicester City (King Power Stadium) are other great examples of naming rights in action.

Perimeter boards around the pitch is also lucrative for clubs, with some using the latest LED technology to tailor advertising images that are most relevant to their respective international television audience.

Others have taken advantage of LED sports lights to sell sponsorships on floodlight pylons, using the technology to illuminate more traditional printed advertising boards.

Shirt deals still hugely popular

Shirt sponsorships are a superb way for clubs to generate significant revenues, with many linking-up with some of the world’s biggest brands for multi-year deals.

Premier League clubs will earn almost £350 million from sponsorship deals in 2019/20, a rise of more than 10% from the previous season.

Half of the clubs in England’s top flight will have a gambling company’s logo on the front of their shirts for the current campaign, the joint highest number ever from a single industry.

However, with the combined deals worth around £69m, they are far from the most lucrative for Premier League clubs.

United’s £64m income from car manufacturer Chevrolet will be the biggest this season, with City and Arsenal’s respective deals with airline companies rounding off the top three.

Digital revenue keeps growing

With clubs increasingly using different digital channels to promote themselves, it is inevitable that sponsorship has infiltrated onto the various platforms.

Monster Energy’s new deal with Leicester City is likely to be a good example of this, with the firm hoping to increase its international exposure through the link-up.

Their branding will be visible throughout the King Power Stadium on matchdays and for the entire 2019/20 Premier League season.

In addition, the Monster Energy name will appear repeatedly across Leicester’s digital media output, promoting their brand to a massive worldwide audience.

With 1.4 million followers on Twitter alone, it is clear to see how attractive this type of sponsorship deal can be to big brands.

Real Betis continued their disappointing start to the new La Liga season with a 5-2 defeat at Barcelona on Sunday.

However, there were plenty of signs during the game that a return to winning ways should not be too far away.

Having agreed a lucrative new sponsorship deal with easyMarkets during the summer, hopes were high that Betis could build on last season’s 10th place finish.

The financial brokerage firm’s brand will appear on the team’s shirts for the next three years and they will be keen to see them climb the table. Read on as we assess Betis’ performance at Barcelona.

Fekir shows his class

Betis raised a few eyebrows this summer when they secured the services of Nabil Fekir from Lyon for £17.8 million.

The World Cup winner had previously been linked with a move to the Premier League, so his arrival at the Benito Villamarin Stadium represents something of a coup for the club.

The 26-year-old showcased his talent at the Nou Camp, firing home a stunning goal to put Betis ahead in the 15th minute.

He displayed flashes of quality during the rest of the game and will be a big threat to the rest of the teams in La Liga this season.

Defence needs time to gel

With a new goalkeeper and two new full-backs it came as no surprise to see Betis look a little shaky at the back.

However, they are unlikely to face any other side who possess Barca’s forward quality this season and it shouldn’t take too long for the defensive unit to gel.

Centre-backs Bartra and Sidnei struggled to cope with Antoine Griezmann’s movement and the French forward deservedly bagged a couple of goals.

Despite this result the Betis defence should find its feet over the coming weeks and give the team a platform to go on and win games.

Late rally a positive sign

Loren’s stunning drive which flew into the top corner in the 79th minute proved to be nothing more than a consolation for Betis.

However, that strike was a sign that the visitors were refusing to lie down and that should stand Rubi’s side in good stead over the coming weeks.

The fixture list has been relatively kind to Betis, with upcoming home games against Leganes and Getafe offering an opportunity to get some wins on the board.

Betis complete their September schedule with matches against Osasuna, Levante and Villarreal and it would be no surprise to see them in the top half of the table by the end of the month.

There is no doubt that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool have been the consistent top tier teams that have dominated the Premier League during its existence. But the second-tier teams have been fighting quite a bit lately and teams like Everton and Tottenham, have given a concerted effort to reach top tier status.

Also a new team has emerged over the past fifteen years to become a dominant force in the Premier League. Manchester City had been the poor second cousin to the most popular and successful team in the Premier League, Manchester United. The club however saw its fortunes change when they were purchased fifteen years ago by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour, who immediately set out on a mission to make the club a top tier team.

He not only injected lots of money into the team, but in addition to the more than $1 billion dollars he has spent on the club, since purchasing it, he also focused on quality hires for the club.

The efforts have paid off and Manchester City is currently the top Premier League club having won three of the last six Premier League Championships and the last two in a row.

Additionally, the club is both the top offensive and defensive team in the league. Finally, betting on Manchester City at top sports betting sites continues to be lively. You can bet on them here for any of their upcoming matches.

Here is how they are doing it and why their success will continue.

Smart Spending

Manchester City has certainly gone into the market to purchase top players. This year they have brought in Rodri from Atletico Madrid and Joao Cancelo from Juventus for top dollar. But they have been very careful and strategic with their spending, usually looking for quality rather than flash. As a result they are a great club filled with players who want to win rather than show off.

A Smart and Dedicated Manager and Coaching Staff

Any time a club has this level of consistent success, you can attribute it mostly to their manager and coaching staff. Keeping players motivated and prepared for every game takes a level of coordination and dedication that is exemplary, and coach Pep Guardiola and his staff are excellent. Man City has a reputation for being the most prepared club that makes the fewest mistakes. They also know how to get the best out of their players. This reputation is a direct reflection on Pep and his team.

Emphasis on Player Development

Part of Man City’s investment has gone into their development of young players. Today they can boast that their player development is second to none in all of football. The club has built new first-class facilities and hired top development coaches for all of their levels of players, and the result is that they consistently move players up through the ranks and to their Premier League club. Great examples of this include their 25-year-old goalie Ederson Moraes, and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. They also have a young set of players aged 22 to 24 that have been developed internally and are on the top squad making consistent contributions.

The result of all of their hard work and investments is that the club constantly looks to beat any Premier League club and win the championship every year. With their strategy, money, and top coaching, they will be hard to dethrone.

But these were all essentially distractions. What fans of the club really wanted was a return to the Premiership after nine long seasons in the Championship. As everyone knows, it was a case of “close but no cigar” with United losing to Derby County in the semi-finals. Although Bielsa accepted responsibility he couldn’t help speculating if there would have been a different outcome had he succeeded in signing Dan James from Swansea City before the transfer window closed in January 2018.

But that’s all history now and Bielsa must now focus on striving for promotion, hopefully without the need to go through the ordeal of the play-offs once again.

One player that Bielsa hopes will make this prospect easier, and make United more of a sure bet in the Championship predictions, is the player who he has persuaded Arsenal to release on loan for the season – Eddie Nketiah. He was ready for the loan as, although he’d turned out 20 times for the London club, all but three of his appearances had been as substitute. So he’ll be hoping that he’ll be rewarded for his move up north with many more first team starts. Bielsa has already praised the player for his complex range of capabilities so it shouldn’t be long before he starts playing a major role in the team’s set up.

Other key signings include youngsters Liam McCarron from Carlisle United and Ben White from Brighton. But one departure who may prove hard to replace is Kemar Roofe who has departed for Anderlecht. As last season’s top scorer with 15 goals to his name Bielsa has admitted that his departure does pose something of a problem and that the club “will have to adapt” to overcome it.

This means that a great deal of the pressure will be transferred to Patrick Bamford. The 25 year old striker. Luckily, there were early signs that he is ready and willing to take on the role when he scored in the 2019-20 season’s opening match against Bristol City that United went on to win 3-1.

There’s also no doubt that the early part of the season may be tough for Bielsa to put out a well balanced team after a number of injuries were picked up in pre-season friendlies and training. These included Luke Ayling who has had to undergo ankle surgery and may be out for a couple of months at least.

So it’s a mixed outlook for Bielsa, but if anyone can motivate the team to exceed their abilities, he can. But we’ll just have to wait until next May to see if he succeeds.

The race to win this season’s Premier League Golden Boot is expected to be another thriller, with plenty of top players harbouring genuine hopes of winning the prestigious prize.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished top of the pile last time around, each netting 22 goals during the campaign.

Sergio Aguero finished one goal behind, although his tally was impacted by City boss Pep Guardiola rotating his forwards.

Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Eden Hazard were also not far adrift in what was a productive year for forward players.

Read on as we look at this season’s Golden Boot battle.

Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur

Injuries cost Kane his chance last season, although the Spurs striker still bagged an impressive 17-goal tally.

Many bookmakers’ new customer betting offers enhanced odds have boosted Kane’s price to 7/2 and plenty of punters will be eager to back the England star to win this time around.

He scored twice in Spurs’ season opener against Aston Villa and could be tough to beat if he can steer clear of injuries this term.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool

Salah notched 32 goals to claim the Golden Boot in 2017/18, but a barren spell at a crucial time left him sharing the prize last season.

The Liverpool forward kicked-off the current campaign with a goal against Norwich City and will undoubtedly be eager to finish first once again.

However, Salah looks a little short in the betting at around 4/1 and better value appears to lie elsewhere.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal

Aubameyang has been a prolific scorer throughout his career and he has continued in the same vein with Arsenal.

He scored 10 goals in 13 Premier League appearances during his first season with the club and added another 22 last term.

The 30-year-old grabbed a classy winner for the Gunners at Newcastle United on the opening weekend and he looks great value at 6/1 to win the Golden Boot outright this season.

Raheem Sterling – Manchester City

A hat-trick at West Ham United in City’s first game of the season was a sign that Sterling could be worth a look at odds of 6/1 to finish the campaign as top scorer.

Sterling’s finishing has improved massively over the past couple of years, but whether it will be enough to beat the likes of Kane, Salah and Aubameyang is debatable.

The England forward is also likely to suffer from Guardiola’s rotation policy amongst his forwards and his current price looks far too short.

Manchester City and Liverpool kicked-off the new Premier League campaign expecting to be at the forefront of the battle for this season’s title.

City recovered from a 10-point deficit last term to deservedly overhaul Liverpool on the run-in and secure their second successive league championship.

Both clubs had a busy summer, undertaking intensive training and a schedule of warm-up matches designed to have them ready for their opening fixtures.

City boss Pep Guardiola and Reds counterpart Jurgen Klopp have different ways of working, but both are 100 percent confident that their methods deliver success.

Read on as we look at how both managers prepared their teams for the 2019/20 Premier League season.

Attention to detail the key for Guardiola

Guardiola introduced a strict fitness regime at City when he took over back in 2016 and he hasn’t deviated from the plan since then.

The Spaniard changed the squad’s diet, banned pizza at the club and forces players to train away from the first team if they don’t stick to the manager’s weight guidelines.

Former City full-back, Gael Clichy, says Guardiola leaves no stone unturned in his pursuit of success and has no time for players who don’t adhere to his rules.

“Everything has been covered by Guardiola,” Clichy said. “On the field, outside the field, every detail counts.

“For example, you often hear managers say being healthy is really important, but with him, if you’re weight is too high, you’re not training with the team.

“That is the first thing, and you can hear it a lot, but for my part it’s the first time any manager has really done it.”

“He cut out some juice and of course pizza and all the heavy food is not allowed. It’s a normal thing, but some people think ‘that’s normal, it should be like this’.”

“But in truth, it’s not always like this and I know because I’ve been playing football for a long time. It’s really refreshing and very exciting.”

From weight guidelines to pre-workout supplementation to post-training recovery, Guardiola has set the highest standards for players looking to step out on the Etihad pitch with the results – back to back league titles – speaking for themselves.

Intensive sessions give City an edge

A major feature of City’s pre-season is work with the ball. Retaining the ball is a huge part of the team’s style of play and successive titles prove that Guardiola’s methods are paying dividends.

City focus a lot on ‘rondos’ – a training workout drill that features a circle of players with the ball and one or two in the middle trying to win it back.

Players fire the ball around at speed with the aim of reaching 30 touches without the ones in the middle making an interception.

The drill improves technique and attunes players, across all positions in the team, to use the ball to beat the opposition rather than dribbling around them.

Guardiola also implements a flexible version of a 4v4 drill that features three ‘floating’ players who alternate between the side that has possession.

When one team loses the ball they immediately press to win it back, helping both sides understand the importance of ball retention.

The drill is used to help establish in-game scenarios where City can lure their opposition into exposing areas of the pitch they can exploit.

“The secret is to overload one side of the pitch so the opponent must tilt its own defense to cope,” Guardiola says in Pep Confidential.

“When you’ve done that, we attack and score from the other side. That’s why you have to pass the ball with a clear intention. Draw in the opponent, then hit them with the sucker punch.”

Klopp taking an individual approach

The Liverpool boss has previously come in for criticism for his pre-season training methods, but it appears he is gradually evolving his style.

A former coach in the Wales national team set-up, Raymond Verheijen, has blasted Klopp for having his players to do ‘too much, too soon’ and his views seem to have sparked a change in tack.

Liverpool returned to training four days later than in 2018, with the club’s participation in last season’s Champions League final extending their campaign to early June.

Some players were given even more time off due to their involvement in international tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and Copa America.

To ensure burnout doesn’t become a factor this term, Liverpool’s players were put on individual training plans designed to manage their fitness more effectively ahead of the new Premier League season.

These differed dependent on how much rest each player managed to fit in to what is becoming an increasingly packed football schedule.

An example of the need for Klopp to change was the lack of form shown by forward Mohamed Salah at the start of last season.

The Egyptian suffered a bad shoulder injury in the 2018 Champions League final, but still played for Egypt in the World Cup despite not being fully fit.

Salah returned to pre-season training with the rest of his teammates and his lack of fitness was clear to see as he went on to score just three goals in his first 11 games last term.

It remains to be seen whether Klopp’s adjustment of his pre-season training has the desired effect over the course of a busy campaign, particularly with Guardiola’s methods proving so effective during his managerial career.

A single match in the Premier League can often be about 100 different stories, with drama unfolding in every substitution, every hard tackle and every cross and counter. You can see the fates of managers and players depending upon how everything falls into place and what is the eventual result.

The pinnacle football tournament of the UK involves 380 matches and, in a way, 380 opportunities for changing almost everything in the league. We saw how the last campaign remained a riveting affair till the last moment. In the end, Manchester City edged out Liverpool by one single point, and Spurs managed to qualify for the Champions League with a slim margin over Arsenal.

The EPL 2019-20 season promises to be even more exciting! Going by the soccer odds, Manchester City are expected to make it a treble this time despite facing the same kind of stiff competition from Liverpool. They are going at odds of 1 / 2 to win the Premier League title, as against 9 / 4 of Liverpool and 16 / 1 of Tottenham.

Guardiola vs Klopp once more

Considering the kind of form their squads are in, it’s not unreasonable to think that Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola would be engaged in a stiff battle for supremacy once again. Let’s remind everyone that Liverpool didn’t lose a single match except one (to Man City only) the entire last season and still fell short of winning the league.

There isn’t a big margin between Klopp’s speed-metal approach and Pep’s maddening collection of intricate players, which now includes young Rodri too. Every encounter between the two sides, as we saw in the Community Shield final recently, becomes a must-win affair for both sides. They will be up against each other on November 9 at Anfield.

Other big clubs will also offer their fair share of exciting moments

The other big clubs of the league will also make their fair share of contributions to the excitement. Everyone would be looking forward to Spurs and Harry Kane to somehow crack Manchester City’s stronghold on the title. Unai Emery on the other hand, with 3 dynamic players on the front now, including Nicolas Pepe and London, would be hoping for a top 4 finish. At Chelsea curiosity levels are high to see what it would be like without Eden Hazard. How will Manchester United fare under the wildly-erratic watch of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is another mystery that will be unfolded.

Then the middle section of the table is excitingly poised to be far more interesting than all the previous years. The forgotten sides which normally compete for the seventh spot, would be going all out to make a place for themselves in the top 6. Both Wolves as well as Leicester City have a fair chance to upstage Manchester United.

Final word

There is no debating now if the present-day Premier League is the most exciting league in the football world or not. The fact that both Europa League and Champions League finals last season featured English clubs can put an end to any doubts regarding that.

City claimed last season’s title by a point from Liverpool, with Chelsea a further 25 points adrift in third place.

Tottenham Hotspur claimed the final Champions League qualification spot, while Arsenal and Manchester United finished outside the top four.

It is difficult to see beyond another two-way battle for this season’s title, with both City and Liverpool expected to maintain their advantage over the chasing pack.

Read on as we assess their respective chances of lifting the trophy next May.

Strength in depth makes City the team to beat

Punters checking the latest sports odds on this site will find City listed as 4/6 favourites to win the title once again and it would be a brave move to back against them.

City were 10 points behind Liverpool during last season’s title race, but relentlessly hunted down their rivals to deservedly overhaul them on the run-in.

The club have been busy during the transfer window, adding Rodri and Angelino to their already impressive-looking squad.

City are still aiming to bring in a centre-back to replace Vincent Kompany, with Harry Maguire and Nathan Ake amongst the players linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Pep Guardiola’s wants to have two quality players battling for every position in the starting XI and that ethos makes City supremely tough to beat.

Kevin De Bruyne’s return to action is a major boost, with the Belgian star missing half of last season through injury.

City have picked 198 points over the last two seasons – it would be no surprise to see them close to the 300 mark by the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

Improving Liverpool still short in key areas

Jurgen Klopp has certainly improved Liverpool during his time as manager, but his squad still lacks the depth of City’s and that will prove crucial again this season.

The Reds blew a golden opportunity to win the league last term and they may find it difficult to get as close to City this time around.

Klopp is yet to make any significant moves in the transfer market, with young Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg the only arrival so far.

The 17-year-old is highly-rated, but it is unlikely that he will be pushing for a first team spot during the coming season.

Marco Asensio, Ousamane Dembele and Nicolas Pepe have been linked with moves to Anfield and they are the type of players who could help the club end their title drought.

Liverpool’s success in the Champions League highlighted their ability to turn it on in big games, but their ability to throw in silly results during a 38-game season still remains.

Additional squad depth would help Liverpool overcome those inconsistencies, although whether it would be enough to topple City is open to debate.

United finished sixth last season, 32 points behind champions Manchester City after a hugely disappointing campaign.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already set about reshaping his squad, but he still has plenty of work to do ahead of the season opener against Chelsea. Read on as we assess the latest state of play at Old Trafford.

Pre-season offers a chance to impress

United’s six-game pre-season schedule takes on added significance this summer given the team’s shortcomings during the last campaign.

When a club has a global appeal the size of United’s, it is fair to say that finishing 32 points off top spot in the league is simply unacceptable.

The Red Devils will play matches in Oceania and Asia, before returning to Europe to put the finishing touches to their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

United’s big contingent of Irish fans are expected to be out in force for the club’s only game in the UK as they take on AC Milan at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff on August 3.

Along with the rest of the fanbase, they will be desperate to see the players prove that they can challenge for honours next season.

Solksjaer must resolve Pogba conundrum

The signings of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are a promising start, but more new arrivals are needed if United are to be successful.

The club has been linked to a plethora of players this summer as Solskjaer strives to add the quality needed to fire the club back into the title reckoning.

However, the manager’s most important task over the next few weeks will be to resolve the Paul Pogba situation.

The midfielder has made it clear that he wants to leave Old Trafford and there are not many fans who would be sorry to see him go.

Dubbed a ‘virus’ by former boss Jose Mourinho, the United dressing room would benefit from being rid of the Frenchman.

Long-term thinking needed

Seeing City and Liverpool finish over 30 points in front of their team must be soul-destroying for United’s loyal supporters.

Most fans are realistic enough to know that the gap won’t be closed overnight, but they will expect the club to show that it has a long-term plan to achieve that aim.

United’s identity has been gradually eroded since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era and it will take time to reach those heady heights once again.

Solskjaer appears to have a clear idea of what he wants, but it remains to be seen whether the owners will back his vision.

The next few weeks are crucial to United’s hopes of returning to the top of the Premier League and will show whether the club is serious about doing that.

Matches continue to play across the six groups and now Nigeria and Egypt are through to the Last 16 of this year’s Afcon finals while Congo DR are on the brink of elimination. Recently, the Pharaohs beat Congo DR 2-0 to seal their passage to the knockout stages. Ibenge’s charges are on the brink of becoming the first team to crash out from the competition after losing two consecutive games.

Mohamed Salah scored his first goal of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations to help hosts Egypt to a 2-0 win which guaranteed them a place in the knockout stages.

A most brilliant player, the Egyptian King and recent Champions League winner found the back of the net yet again and who has ever doubted it. The consecutive winner of the Golden Boot finished clinically from Trezeguet’s pass to send the packed Cairo International Stadium wild with delight.

The hosts march into the last 16 – as group winners if they can avoid defeat to Uganda in their third match. They did not sparkle here – except when scoring their second goal, created by a great run by Trezeguet and finished beautifully by Salah, who has been praised by many former professional footballers such as Danny Murphy: ” His movement and his pace mean he will always score goals no matter where he is across that front line…He’s playing the best football of his career.”

But they were efficient when it mattered and were helped by a bit of luck, particularly when DR Congo struck the bar twice in the first half and spent most of the second on the attack in the Egyptian half.

“I want to congratulate our opponents, who played a good match, they played very well, created chances, I think in the second half they were better than us,” said Egypt coach Javier Aguirre.

DRC are thus on the brink of elimination and if they do not triumph over Zimbabwe on the 30th of June, it’ll be time for them to say goodbye to AFCON 2019.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup promises to be an exciting affair, with a host of teams in with a genuine chance of lifting the prestigious trophy.

The action gets underway in Paris on June 7 as hosts France go head-to-head with South Korea and will culminate in the final in Lyon on July 7.

The teams have been drawn into six groups of four, with the top two in each and the four best third-placed sides advancing to the round of 16. The groups are as follows:

• Group A – France, South Korea, Norway, Nigeria
• Group B – Germany, China, Spain, South Africa
• Group C – Australia, Italy, Brazil, Jamaica
• Group D – England, Scotland, Argentina, Japan
• Group E – Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand, Netherlands
• Group F – United States, Thailand, Chile, Sweden

Reigning champions United States are chasing a fourth success at the World Cup and are 7/2 joint-favourites with France in the outright football betting market to win the tournament.

The US have lost just one of their last 38 matches in all competitions and they are heavily fancied to progress from Group F alongside Sweden.

However, their recent performances have lacked sparkle and they may find it difficult to retain their title this summer.

The reigning champions lost 2-1 against France back in January and the hosts are heading into the tournament in confident mood.

France were subsequently defeated 1-0 by Germany, but have bounced back with four victories in a row and they will be tough to beat on home soil.

Norway are fancied to claim second spot behind France in Group A, although it would be unwise to write off South Korea.

Germany extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a 2-0 victory over Chile in their final warm-up game and they seem sure to be a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup.

Spain should qualify alongside Germany, while China will fancy their chances of causing an upset having performed with credit back in 2015.

Australia and Brazil look good bets to make it out of Group C, although neither appeal as likely winners of the tournament.

England won the SheBelievesCup in impressive fashion earlier this year and should finish on top of Group D ahead of Japan.

The Lionesses have been tipped by many pundits to win the tournament and look worth an interest at odds of around 7/1.

Netherlands are favourites to win Group E and should qualify for the knockout stage alongside Canada or New Zealand.

The Dutch triumphed at the 2017 European Championships and look overpriced at 12/1 to repeat the trick at the World Cup.

2019 Women’s World Cup Prediction

The US and France are both strong teams, but neither appeal as value bets at their current odds. Germany and Netherlands will be dangerous, but England look too good to ignore at 7/1 and are a confident selection.

Football fans are set to enjoy an action-packed summer in 2019, with a plethora of tournaments taking place across the world.

International football dominates the schedule, with UEFA Nations League Finals and Africa Cup of Nations amongst the upcoming events taking place.

Read on as we look at what you can watch and where you can find the best betting sites to wager on the various tournaments.

Packed summer will thrill fans everywhere

The action begins on June 5 as the UEFA Nations League Finals get underway in Portugal.

The Women’s World Cup kicks-off in France two days later, while the Copa America joins the party on June 14.

The Africa Cup of Nations is the final international tournament to get in on the act on June 21.

Bookmakers set for betting extravaganza

All the leading bookmakers will be offering odds on each of the tournaments. Outright betting is already proving popular as punters search for value in the ante-post markets.

Every game will feature hundreds of markets including match result, first goalscorer, number of cards and more.

Check out the best football betting sites at www.bestbettingsites.co.uk before wagering to maximise your chances of securing a winning return.

Quartet chasing Nations League glory

The inaugural running of the Nations League has proved popular in Europe, with the tournament helping to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies played each year.

Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands and England have progressed through the qualification stage and will battle to lift the trophy this summer.

Portugal booked their place in the finals courtesy of a 0-0 draw in Italy and will fancy their chances of defeating a Swiss side who came from behind to defeat Belgium 5-2 in their crucial qualification match.

England finished ahead of Croatia and Spain in their group, while Netherlands edged out France and Germany to make it through.

The Three Lions can be backed at 9/4 to win the Nations League and appeal as the value bet in what promises to be an entertaining tournament.

Women take centre stage in France

Reigning champions United States are chasing a fourth success at the Women’s World Cup, but numerous other nations are in with a genuine chance of lifting the trophy.

The US were beaten 2-1 by France back in January, but they have racked up an eight-game unbeaten streak since then and will be tough to beat.

France have lost just one of their last 14 matches and look good value at odds of 7/2 to win the trophy on home soil.

Germany are unbeaten in their last 11 matches and could be dangerous, while England’s success at the SheBelieves Cup highlighted the talent in Phil Neville’s squad.

Netherlands look best of the rest and may be a big threat as they bid to follow up their success at the 2017 European Championships.

Brazil eager to snap trophy drought

Brazil are hosting their first Copa America since 1989 and they are 5/4 favourites to claim the trophy for the first time in 12 years.

The Samba Kings have lost just one of their last 24 matches and are likely to be extremely tough to beat this summer.
Big rivals Argentina are expected to provide stiff competition having reached the last two finals of the Copa America.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi will undoubtedly be a man on a mission as he strives to finally win a major trophy with Argentina.

Uruguay and Colombia are also worth monitoring in the betting, while Chile could be a lively outsider as they chase their third title in a row.

Competitive field in African battle

Egypt are priced at 4/1 to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on home soil, but they will face plenty of tough competition this summer.

Ivory Coast have progressed to at least the quarter-finals in the last five tournaments and look tempting at around 8/1 to claim the title for a third time.

Senegal have never won the competition, but with Sadio Mane in their team they should make it through to the latter stages this summer.

Riyad Mahrez will hope to inspire Algeria to their second AFCON title, although the absence of Said Benrahma and Victor Lekhal is a blow to their hopes.

Reigning champions Cameroon will fancy their chances of retaining their title, while Nigeria, Ghana and Morocco all have the talent to make their mark on the tournament.

Spurs are chasing their first ever success in Europe’s top club competition, while Liverpool are out to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

Both sides produced remarkable results in the semi-finals, recovering from three-goal deficits to make it through to the final.

Each side has seen some impressive playing performances on their way to Madrid, so read on as we look at three players who could make their mark in the final.

Moura looking for more

Lucas Moura described his dramatic winner in Spurs’ last-gasp win over Ajax in the semi-finals as ‘the best moment of my career’.

Spurs were three goals down on aggregate after 35 minutes of the second leg and looking as likely to win the Champions League as the horses listed at grandnational.org.uk.

However, Moura’s stunning second half hat-trick completed a stunning comeback to take them through to the final for the first time.

Moura has enjoyed an impressive first full season with Spurs and it would be no surprise to see him on the scoresheet against Liverpool.

Moment of truth for van Dijk

It is fair to say that Virgil van Dijk has given Liverpool the defensive stability they needed, but that hasn’t yet translated into trophies.

The defender helped Liverpool reach the last year’s final, where they were ultimately outclassed by Real Madrid.

The Reds failed to make any progress in either of the domestic cups this time around and they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City.

If Liverpool’s £75 million investment in van Dijk is to be judged as a success, the Dutchman really needs to produce a big performance and lead his side to victory against Spurs.

A last hurrah for Eriksen?

Various media outlets in Spain have claimed that Spurs’ midfielder Christian Eriksen will join Madrid after the Champions League final.

The Denmark international is set to enter the final year of his contract at Spurs and has so far refused to agree a new deal with the club.

Eriksen has been hugely influential for Spurs this season, scoring 10 goals and creating another 17 in 50 appearances in all competitions.

He set up goals in both of Spurs’ Premier League meetings with Liverpool this term and can be expected to shine on what could be his final appearance for the club in Madrid.

The two sides have been largely impressive throughout the competition, bagging 62 goals between them on the way to the final.

Both teams have produced impressive performances in the Europa League, with numerous players having a huge impact against some top class opposition.

Read on as we look at three players who could make their mark in the final.

Hazard set to say goodbye?

Eden Hazard looks set to play his last match for Chelsea in the final and he will be eager to end on a high note.

The playmaker has repeatedly been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid and it appears a move will finally go through shortly after the Royal Ascot 2019 meeting.

Hazard is approaching the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are expected to cash in now rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

The 28-year-old bagged the crucial penalty against Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four and it would be no surprise to see him shine against the Gunners.

Prolific Aubameyang hungry for more

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 31 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions this season and will be a huge threat to Chelsea’s backline in Baku.

The striker has already bagged eight goals in this season’s Europa League to take his overall tally to 34 in UEFA competitions.

Aubameyang was lethal in the semi-final against Valencia, scoring four goals over the two matches to put the Spanish side to the sword.

He failed to score against Chelsea in their two Premier League meetings this term, but could be worth a look in the first goalscorer market for the final.

Unlikely hero keeps delivering

Aubameyang’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium resulted in Olivier Giroud signing for Chelsea, but it’s a move that has worked out pretty well for the French star.

Giroud has been prolific in Europe this season, scoring 10 goals with three assists, making him the top striker in the competition ahead of Eintracht’s Luka Jovic.

He has faced competition from Gonzalo Higuain for a place in the starting XI in the Premier League, but has certainly impressed when handed opportunities in Europe.

The 32-year-old will be eager to put one over his former club on Wednesday and there would be no better way to do that than by scoring the winning goal.

The top two teams in the Premier League are set for a nervy Sunday as this season’s title race goes down to the wire.

Liverpool trail Manchester City by one point heading into the final round of games, but with their confidence boosted by a remarkable performance in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Reds trailed Barcelona by three goals after the first leg of their semi-final tie, but romped to a 4-0 victory in the return game to book their place in the final.

They face Wolverhampton Wanders at Anfield on Sunday needing three points and a Manchester City slip-up at Brighton & Hove Albion to steal the title.

However, they are outsiders in the English Premier League betting lines to claim top spot and it’s difficult to imagine City stumbling at Brighton.

A run of 13 league victories on the bounce has left City as favourites to retain the title and they are fancied to pick up the three points they need this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side have faced the south coast side twice this season, beating them without conceding a goal in both the league and FA Cup.

Liverpool won 2-0 at Wolves in the league earlier in the season, but they crashed to a 2-1 FA Cup defeat on a return visit to Molineux and would be well-advised not to underestimate the Midlands side.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will fight over who will finish third as they face Leicester City and Everton respectively.

Chelsea are set to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday, meaning fatigue could become a factor at Leicester.

Spurs will be on a high after beating Ajax in the Champions League in midweek and are fancied to leapfrog their London rivals this weekend.

Arsenal face Burnley at Turf Moor with their sights set on claiming fifth place, although Thursday’s trip to Valencia in the Europa League could scupper their chances.

The Gunners are one point in front of Manchester United heading into the weekend, but Burnley can snatch a draw on Sunday.

United should beat Cardiff City at Old Trafford, although they will have to play much better than they did last week at Huddersfield Town.

The remaining fixtures have little riding on them, with teams merely jostling for final positions in the standings.

Crystal Palace may edge a tight contest with Bournemouth, while Southampton can defeat already relegated Huddersfield at St Mary’s.

Newcastle United could end the season on a winning note with a victory at Fulham, while the Watford versus West Ham United game looks a good bet to end all-square.

With a handful of games still to play none of the promotion issues in the Championship, League 1 or League 2 have been decided, although some teams are on the verge of edging over the line.

Norwich City, Luton Town and Lincoln City look well placed to win their respective leagues, but who will go up with them is less clear.

Read on as we look at the race for promotion in each division.

Norwich look good in the Championship

Norwich are five points clear of the chasing pack in the Championship with six games to play and look a good bet to secure on of the two automatic promotion places.

An eight-game winning run cranked up the pressure on their rivals and the Canaries now appear to be cruising into the Premier League.

Leeds United and Sheffield United are fighting it out for the other spot, with the losers of that particular battle set to end up in the play-offs.

Punters using the Virgin Casino promo code may be tempted to back one of the two Yorkshire sides to go up via that route, although Aston Villa are a major threat following their recent resurgence.

Hatters set for back-to-back promotions

Luton have lost just four times in League 1 this term and seem destined to win promotion for the second successive year.

Sunderland, Barnsley, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic are fighting for the other spot, although the Black Cats appear most likely team to win that race.

Too many drawn games have hindered Sunderland’s title bid, but Jack Ross’ side should prove too strong for their rivals during the run-in.

Barnsley and Portsmouth look best of the rest, with the south coast side marginally fancied to secure promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

Imps a cut above in League 2

Lincoln have been a dominant force this season and would be worthy winners of League 2.

There is a four-way battle for the other two spots, with Mansfield, MK Dons, Bury and Tranmere Rovers all in the mix.

Tranmere have been one of the form sides in the division over the last few weeks, while the other trio have all been wobbling.

They could well force their way into an automatic spot over the next few weeks to go up to League 1 alongside Lincoln and MK Dons.

With just a few weeks of the season remaining some of Europe’s biggest clubs are closing in claiming their domestic league titles.

The likely winners of Serie A and La Liga appear nailed on, with Juventus and Barcelona long odds-on favourites to secure their respective championships.

However, the title battles in the Premier League and Bundesliga still have life left in them and there could be plenty of twists and turns over the coming weeks.

Read on as we look at the latest state of play at the top of Europe’s main leagues.

Liverpool and Man City still going head-to-head

There are just two points separating Liverpool and Man City at the top of the Premier League, but the Reds have played a game more.

Liverpool have a slightly easier looking run-in, with their home match against Chelsea on April 14 the most difficult fixture they face.

However, City are fully capable of winning their last six matches and punters can use this Betfair promo code if they fancy them to see off Liverpool’s challenge.

Barca pulling clear in Spain

Barcelona are 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid with seven games to play and they are unlikely to slip-up from this position.

Barca have racked up a 19-game unbeaten run in La Liga, with their most recent victory coming against Atletico at the start of April.

Atletico will fight out second place with Real Madrid, but the pair will finish a long way behind the Catalan giants.

Juve almost there in Serie A

Juventus have lost just once in Serie A this season and one more victory will guarantee them an eighth successive title.

Juve will probably wrap up top spot when they visit SPAL on August 13 and that would allow them to focus their energies on winning the Champions League.

The Serie A side face Ajax in the last eight of Europe’s top competition and are the biggest threat to Barca’s hopes of lifting the trophy.

Bayern make a point against Dortmund

Bayern Munich made a huge statement of intent with their 5-0 demolition of Dortmund during early April.

However, there is only a point separating the two sides with eight games to play and Dortmund are not out of the running just yet.

Both sides have some tricky fixtures scheduled over the course of the run-in and it would be foolish to write off either side’s chances of claiming top spot.

Just two points separate Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race, although Pep Guardiola’s side have what could be a vital game in hand on the Reds.

City remain favourites with the bookmakers to come out on top and there will be plenty of punters eager to use the Betfair welcome bonus to back them to do just that.

They head to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday aiming to make it 13 league victories from their last 14 matches.

City have won eight and drawn one of their last nine meetings with Palace in all competitions and they are strongly fancied to pick up another three points this weekend.

Liverpool are also in action on Sunday as they welcome Chelsea to Anfield. The Reds are unbeaten in their last 12 league games, but they could find things difficult against Maurizio Sarri’s side.

The Blues moved up to third in third in the table with their 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Monday, with Eden Hazard producing a dazzling performance.

They are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Liverpool and will undoubtedly be keen to maintain their challenge for a top four spot this season.

Chelsea’s rivals will be hoping Liverpool do them a favour this weekend as they battle to secure a Champions League qualification place.

Tottenham Hotspur have the first chance to put pressure on the teams around them when they face Huddersfield Town in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture.

Spurs began life in their new stadium with a 2-0 victory over Palace and they followed up by beating Man City 1-0 there in the Champions League in midweek.

Huddersfield have been woeful on the road this season and this should be a comfortable home victory despite Harry Kane’s absence through injury.

Manchester United are also in action on Saturday as they welcome West Ham to Old Trafford. The Red Devils were beaten at Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last league outing, but should bounce back this weekend.

Arsenal must wait until Monday for their game and it could well be a tricky affair. The Gunners travel to face a Watford side who will be full of confidence after reaching the final of the FA Cup.

Unai Emery’s side have won just once away from home in the league since November and the Hornets could be a good bet to add to their woes at Vicarage Road.

In this article, we summarize the main reasons why teenagers quit and find potential solutions to them. With some luck, parents and coaches will be able to use the article to help promising youngsters stay in sports or recognize whether it is the time to move on and find a different road to follow in life.

So let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons that teenagers have to quit football and some general tips on how it can be avoided.

Burning Out

Burning out is a problem not only in youth leagues. It is one that teenagers and adults alike can fall prey to. Football is an immensely demanding game if one claims for success at a professional level, which is why parents and coaches who see potential in young players often push them to their very limits trying to unleash their potential in full.

However, while pushing things to the limit can be successful with some kids, others simply can’t take the pressure, so they quickly burn out and stop producing results. Under such circumstances, many teenagers simply feel overwhelmed and decide to stop playing the game altogether, as it stops being fun and starts feeling more like a job than anything else.

While it is true that youngsters need to train hard to develop their skills before it is time to play in professional teams, it is also important to let them have fun on the pitch and enjoy the game in full instead of letting them burn out and begin to resent football.

Injuries

Injuries are another common and one of the most understandable reasons to stop playing football. Young bones heal faster and better, but severe injuries at a young age can put players out of commission for an extended period of time and also bring a certain dose of frustration into their game that never completely goes away.

Parents and coaching staff should always do a good job of making sure that young players play carefully and avoid harsh tackles at all costs, but it is next to impossible to avoid injuries in sports entirely.. If a young player under your patronage does undergo a difficult injury and wants to quit the game, it is often best to let them pursue a different career.

The more severe injuries often result in doctors banning the youngster from playing altogether, which can be a big psychological hit to kids who still enjoy the game, but one that must be accepted. Many young careers were destroyed by injuries over the years and this remains one of the most common reasons for quitting to this day.

Falling Prey to Bad Habits

Teenagers are known for their rebellious nature. You never know when they get an idea to try something forbidden, whether it is alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or gambling.

Drugs and especially alcohol are quite common in British youth parties. According to Drinkaware report, 44% of youngsters aged 11-15 had drunk alcohol at least once. And if they form a bad substance habit, their education and sports career goes upside down.

Another threat to your talent’s sports career is underage gambling. Even seemingly better regulations than in a case of alcohol distribution don’t stop half of million of 11-16 teenagers from betting on sports and gamble regularly. This number has quadrupled since 2016.

It’s harder to lure teenagers into gambling, as its advertising is forbidden in youth leagues. However, the fact that all major competitions in Scotland are sponsored by leading gambling operators adds fuel to the fire, let alone the prevailing gambling sponsorships in the UK as a whole. And just imagine: some of the Premiership players are younger than 18, take Harry Cochrane from Heart of Midlothian.

Scottish Women Football Association has rejected gambling sponsorships. But for the known reason, male leagues can’t help it, so only a healthy environment in the team and great support can prevent young talents from falling victim to this industry.

Other Interests

As talented and promising as a young player may be, the fact is that most humans have multiple interests. In many cases, football is one of their earliest passions of young kids, but they often get interested in other sports or activities as time goes by.

Parents and other adults should always guide teenagers in making big life decisions, but it is important to let them make up their own mind at the end. If a young person decides that another interest is more important than football, his or her wishes should be respected.

One thing that adults can do is to try to encourage the youngster to understand their potential both in the game of football and in the other field they are passionate about. The passion that burns stronger will likely prevail and you should certainly allow the child to pursue it without hindrance.

Top 5 Tips for Parents and Coaches

• Keep them in school: Regardless of kid’s football talent, never let them put school on the back burner. Training is important for a promising young player but doing well in school is equally as necessary.

• Teach them respect: Being respectful to coaches, their teammates and opponents is one of the crucial things a young player should learn. Teaching a youngster about fair play and respect on the pitch will fuel their passion for the game and make them a better player and person.

• Keep it fun: As an adult, you may see a kid as a promising talent with a bright future but the truth is that all kids want to have fun. Keeping football fun at all times is a way to keep them in the game and encourage them to train even harder and better.

• Keep track of their company: Bad habits are everywhere around us in the modern world and teenagers are more susceptible to them than any other group. Make sure you know who your kid is hanging out with, what they are doing and spot any troublesome behavior early on.

• Let them do other things: Football is a great game but children often have many interests which may include other games, sports or just hanging out with their friends. Make sure you let them have the time for leisure activities and don’t press them into training so hard that their entire life turns into one big training session.

With around a quarter of the season still to play in Europe’s top leagues, there are still plenty of clubs in with a chance of enjoying success.

Juventus and Barcelona appear set to claim their respective titles in Italy and Spain, but the position in the Premier League and Bundesliga is less clear.

Read on as we look at the latest state of play at the top of Europe’s main leagues.

Man City and Liverpool set for epic battle

Just one point separates City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with nine games to play and it would be a brave move to predict which way this one will go.

With Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea battling to secure the other Champions League qualification places, fans are in for a treat during the run-in.

United’s resurgence under temporary manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer means plenty of punters will be eager to use Genting casino codes to boost their bankroll and back them at odds of 7/2 to finish in the top three.

Barca look good in La Liga

Barcelona are seven points clear of Atletico Madrid with 12 games to play and it would be a surprise to see them blow their lead.

Real Madrid have been poor by their standards this term, but should claim third place. Whether that will be enough to keep head coach Santiago Solari in a job is hugely debatable.

Surprise package Getafe are currently fourth in the table, although the likes of Sevilla and Valencia could put them under pressure during the run-in.

Juve romping home in Italy

Juventus remain unbeaten in Serie A and they will probably claim the title well before the end of the season.

Napoli’s recent 2-1 home defeat against Juve effectively ended their challenge, but they still look a good bet to finish in second spot.

AC Milan and Inter Milan are currently third and fourth, but Roma and Lazio are pushing hard for a Champions League place.

Bayern and Dortmund set for thrilling battle

Bayern Munich have battled back from a big deficit to draw level on points with Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

The two sides are due to meet at the Allianz Arena at the start of April and whoever wins that game will probably go on to claim the title.

RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach are amongst a handful of clubs in with a genuine chance of finishing in the top four.

Another big weekend is on the cards for the ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League, with each facing important games in their quest for success this season.

Manchester City head into the weekend one point clear of Liverpool with nine matches to play and they will fancy their chances of going on to claim the title.

City host Watford on Saturday aiming to reel off their sixth league win in a row. They haven’t conceded a goal in their last four outings and plenty of punters will be eager to use the bonus code for bet365 to back them to win to nil at the Etihad Stadium.

Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur are also in action on Saturday as they head to the south coast to take on Southampton. Spurs have gone off the boil in recent weeks and their place in the top four is beginning to look far from assured.

Saints ran Manchester United close at Old Trafford last weekend and could spring a surprise against Mauricio Pochettino’s side this weekend.

Liverpool will bid to continue their title challenge when they welcome Burnley to Anfield in the first of three fixtures on Sunday. The Reds were disappointing in last week’s 0-0 draw at Everton and they will need to play much better during the run-in if they are to topple Man City.

However, they have lost just one of their last nine meetings with the Clarets and it would be a major surprise to see them slip-up this weekend.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming

Chelsea will face Wolverhampton Wanderers aiming to keep up the pressure in the race to secure a Champions League berth. The Blues are currently five points behind Spurs with a game in hand and a victory at Stamford Bridge would keep them firmly in the mix.

The best is very much saved for last this weekend as Arsenal and Man United go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium.

United’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton last weekend lifted them up to fourth in the table, three points behind Spurs.

They are yet to be beaten in the league under temporary manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and will be a tough proposition for the Gunners to overcome.

United have already won at the Emirates Stadium this season, recording a 3-1 success in the FA Cup back in January.

However, Arsenal secured a 2-2 draw when the two sides met in the league earlier in the season and a point apiece on Sunday would keep them both on track to finish in the top four.

Bayern Munich’s relentless pursuit of Borussia Dortmund has set up what promises to be a thrilling end to the Bundesliga season.

A 5-1 victory at Borussia Monchengladbach over the weekend was a huge statement of intent from Bayern and took them level on points with the long-time leaders.

Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat at Augsburg opened the door for Bayern and was one of the most surprising developments in European soccer leagues this term.

The two sides are currently locked together on 54 points with 10 games to play and Munich are now big favourites to win their seventh successive title.

Dortmund appear to have gone off the boil over the past few weeks, winning just one of their last five league matches. By contrast, Bayern have won 11 of their last 12 games to crank up the pressure at the top of the table.

Both sides have a winnable run of fixtures scheduled over the next few weeks, meaning they could still be level on points when they go head-to-head in Munich at the start of April.

Dortmund face Stuttgart (H), Hertha Berlin (A) and Wolfsburg (H) before the big clash at the Allianz Arena, and they will fancy their chances of picking up maximum points from that run of games.

Fixtures against Wolfsburg (H), Mainz (H) and Freiburg (A) also look favourable for Bayern, setting up what should be an enthralling encounter at the Allianz Arena.

Dortmund will take plenty of heart from their performance in the reverse fixture, where they recovered from 2-1 down to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring against his former club, before Marco Reus fired Dortmund level from the penalty spot. Lewandowski headed Bayern back in front, but goals by Reus and Paco Alcacer won it for Dortmund.

That result left Bayern seven points adrift of Dortmund after just 11 games, but they have improved considerably since then to draw level with their title rivals.

Bayern’s history of success over the past few seasons makes them a force to be reckoned with, although Dortmund’s slightly easier run-in could tip the scales in their favour.

Lucien Favre’s side must face Mainz (H), Freiburg (A), Schalke (H), Werder Bremen (A), Fortuna Dusseldorf (H) and Monchengladbach (A) and they will fancy their chances of grabbing a healthy points haul from that run of games.

If Dortmund can take at least a point from their meeting with Bayern they certainly would be well-placed to come out on top in the title battle.

Bayern’s run-in after the Dortmund match includes games against Fortuna (A), Bremen (H), Nurnberg (A) and Hannover (H).

However, with Bayern’s final two fixtures coming against teams currently chasing a Champions League spot in RB Leipzig (A) and Eintracht Frankfurt (H) they could find it difficult to topple the current leaders.

Dortmund’s exit from the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur may also work in their favour, especially if Bayern progress further by beating Liverpool.

Fatigue can be a major factor as the campaign reaches the business end and Dortmund could well benefit from Bayern’s continued involvement in Europe.

There is likely to be little to choose between the two sides in the final reckoning, but Dortmund’s slightly easier run-in means they have a glorious opportunity to win their ninth league title.

Manchester United vs Liverpool
Premier League 2018/19
Sunday 24th February, 14:05pm GMT
Old Trafford, Manchester

Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview

Manchester United will be looking to put a dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title dreams when the two rivals meet at Old Trafford on Super Sunday.

The Merseyside club head into the weekend level on points with Manchester City but with this being their game in hand. The Citizens face Chelsea in the EFL Cup final shortly after the action at Old Trafford has concluded.

Both teams are coming off matches earlier in the week – Manchester United were comfortable 2-0 winners at Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday night, whilst Liverpool were held 0-0 at home by Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League second round tie.

The two rivals will be back in Premier League action three days after this one when United go to Crystal Palace and Liverpool host Watford in what has been a busy month for two of England’s giants.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was won 11 of his 13 matches as caretaker manager of the Red Devils but this weekend will certainly be his toughest test to date in the Premier League. I’m going for a score draw on this one, with a 1-1 scoreline available at 11/2. Your stake can be increased with a blacktype coupon too.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Team News

Manchester United will be without forwards Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard after they both picked up injuries in the first half of their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month.

Solskjaer went with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford up front with Juan Mata in the number 10 role for their FA Cup tie last time out. The Norwegian does have Alexis Sanchez has an option to play on either flank though.

The United boss will continue to be without full-backs Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian as well. The latter has barely featured this season whilst Ashley Young will continue to play at right-back in the Ecuadorian’s absence.

Virgil van Dijk will be fresh as he was suspended midweek but fellow centre-backs Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren remain injured. Trent Alexander-Arnold started midweek after a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the only other absentee for Jurgen Klopp – the England international has been out since the end of last season.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups

Manchester United (4-3-3): David de Gea; Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw; Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba; Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Alexis Sanchez

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Fabinho, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane

Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool were comfortable 3-1 winners at Anfield back in December with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a brace. That cost Jose Mourinho his job as Manchester United manager.

After that, in came Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the Red Devils have overturned an 11-point deficit on Chelsea to move into four place, nine games later.

The attack is the strongest asset of both this teams who have been scoring a lot domestically. I am going for a score draw in this one and you can get 6/10 on Both Teams to Score.

Odds of 11/2 are available on Sunday’s game ending 1-1.

The fifth round of the FA Cup takes center stage this weekend, with 16 teams still dreaming of reaching the final in May.

The standout tie is undoubtedly Monday’s clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, particularly with both sides desperately needing to secure some silverware this season.

Chelsea still have the Europa League and Carabao Cup in their sights, but their performances in 2019 haven’t suggested they are likely trophy winners this term.

United’s defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League tie has probably left them with just the FA Cup to chase.

The Blues are favourites with the bookmakers to beat United and this bet calculator for football match odds will help you work out your potential returns on your wagers.

Chelsea have had an untroubled path to the fifth round of the FA Cup, beating Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday without conceding a goal.

United have defeated Reading and Arsenal on their way to the last 16 and they are marginally fancied to edge a tight game at Stamford Bridge.

SEE MORE: Schedule of FA Cup games on US TV and streaming

Elsewhere this weekend, the fifth round kicks-off on Friday evening as Queens Park Rangers take on Watford.

The home side will fancy their chances of springing a surprise, but Watford looked impressive in the last round at Newcastle United and can progress to the last eight.

There are three ties on Saturday, with Brighton & Hove Albion facing Derby County, AFC Wimbledon taking on Millwall and Newport County hosting Manchester City.

Both Derby and Wimbledon could be decent bets to beat their higher-ranker opponents, but City should prove far too classy for County.

Bristol City versus Wolverhampton Wanderers kicks-off Sunday’s action and the home side should not be underestimated at Ashton Gate.

The Robins have racked up a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning their last nine, and they are a tough nut to crack on their own patch.

However, Wolves have been impressive themselves this season and can squeeze through what should be an entertaining encounter.

Crystal Palace are favourites to win at Doncaster Rovers later in the day, but the home side may be tough to topple having lost just twice in League One at the Keepmoat Stadium this season.

Swansea City versus Brentford completes the fifth round line-up and the Welsh club are strongly fancied book their place in the last eight.

The Bees have won just one of their last 16 away matches and haven’t beaten Swansea in their last seven meetings in all competitions.

Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Thursday sent out a message that they won’t give up their Premier League title easily this season.

Goals by Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane moved City back up to second place in the table, four points behind the Reds.

Tottenham Hotspur are just two points further adrift in third, although many bookmakers believe the title battle is a two-horse race.

There is little to choose between City and Liverpool in the outright betting market and you can see more at https://www.casinofeber.se if you’re planning to wager on the outcome.

With a four point lead and a favourable run-in, Liverpool will be confident that they can win the Premier League for the first time in their history.

They have faced both City and Arsenal twice already this season and have the advantage of their remaining games against both Spurs and Chelsea being at home.

City have a tougher schedule with four of the ‘Big Six’ to play, while Spurs must play all of their rivals at the top of the table, including away matches at Chelsea, City and Liverpool.

However, City have won 12 of their last 16 matches against the top six sides and their squad knows what it takes to win a title.

Of the three challengers, Spurs have lost the most games and it’s difficult to imagine them navigating through the rest of the campaign without slipping up again.

In terms of their best starting XIs there is probably little to choose between City and Liverpool. Pep Guardiola’s side certainly have more strength in depth, and that could prove crucial over the coming months.

Kevin De Bruyne’s return to fitness is another plus point for City, with his enforced absence meaning he won’t be fatigued during the run-in.

Liverpool’s current lead does give them a slight advantage, but they appeared nervy at times at the Etihad Stadium and it would not be a surprise to see them blow a winning position as they did four years ago.

Klopp’s side will fancy their chances of negotiating the next few weeks relatively unscathed, but two fixtures standout as being the ones that could cost them the title this term.

Visits to Manchester United and Everton during February and March were never going to be easy, but with Liverpool chasing the title there is even more incentive for their biggest rivals to throw a spanner in the works.

Liverpool remain marginal favourites to win the title, but City look tempting at odds of around 13/10 to knock them off their perch.

London’s trio of title hopefuls will head into the festive period eager to keep up the pressure at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool and Manchester City are currently leading the way, but Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal all harbour hopes of challenging for top spot during the second half of the season.

Spurs are third in the standings, six points off first place and with a favourable looking schedule of fixtures over Christmas and New Year.

Saturday’s game at Everton could be their toughest test, although the Toffees haven’t beaten Spurs in their last 11 Premier League meetings.

Subsequent matches against Bournemouth (H), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) and Cardiff City (A) offer more winning opportunities and it would not be a major surprise to see Mauricio Pochettino’s side pick up 12 points over the holiday period.

Chelsea also appear to have been handed a great opportunity to collect a significant amount of points during the next couple of weeks.

The Blues will be favourites to beat Leicester City (H), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (A) and Southampton (H) and they are certainly capable of winning the lot.

Arsenal are on a recovery mission following last weekend’s surprise defeat at Southampton as they welcome Burnley to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Clarets have lost eight on the spin against Arsenal in all competitions and it’s difficult to imagine Sean Dyche’s side ending that miserable run this weekend.

The Gunners will also be strongly fancied to win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Boxing Day, but their trip to Liverpool will be a far more difficult challenge.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten at Anfield this season and they will be desperate to maintain their own title challenge.

Arsenal complete their festive schedule against Fulham at the Emirates on New Year’s Day and that looks a banker home win.

All three sides look set for an exciting New Year, with each having genuine hopes of mounting serious challenges for silverware this term.

Spurs are best placed to battle Liverpool and City for the title, but it would be foolish to write off either Chelsea or Arsenal ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.

Plan your trip to the games by searching for last minute flights to London Heathrow via Google Flights. For rental cars at the airport, check Cheapcarrentals comparison engine. If you need affordable lodging in London, we recommend TravelMag’s list of the best budget hotels in the city.

As the two most successful clubs in English football it is inevitable that Liverpool and Manchester United regularly find themselves at loggerheads with each other.

The two cities have rarely been on the same page, both in sport and culturally, and it is a rivalry that shows no signs of abating any time soon.

The emergence of Bill Shankly’s side back in the 1960s challenged the usual order of things and although United hit back with their European Cup triumph in 1968, it was Liverpool who went on to dominate.

They won 12 league titles between 1973 and 1990, while the Red Devils struggled to compete. They even suffered the humiliation of relegation in 1974, although they bounced back at the first attempt.

The late 1980s saw the foundations laid for a shift in power. As the first seeds of the ‘Madchester’ music scene were being sown to change the cultural landscape, Alex Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford vowing to knock Liverpool “off their perch”.

He achieved that in spectacular fashion, dominating the newly-formed Premier League by winning the title on 13 occasions. Ferguson also won the Champions League twice along with numerous other trophies as Liverpool failed miserably to match their rivals.

United were the punters’ darlings during that period, regularly providing the best soccer spreadbetting, moneyline betting, totals and prop bets returns.

Liverpool briefly threatened a resurgence, winning the Champions League in 2005, but they consistently came up short in domestic competitions.

Ferguson’s retirement has led to a gradual shift in power once again, with United failing to repeat the successes they had enjoyed under the legendary manager.

Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Anfield has sparked an upturn in their fortunes, although the German is yet to secure any silverware for the club. They finished behind United in the Premier League last season, but a huge summer spending spree has had the desired impact this term.

The Reds head into Sunday’s clash at Liverpool with a massive 16-point advantage over United with less than half the campaign completed. While Liverpool are yet to lose in the top flight this season, Jose Mourinho’s side have struggled for form and consistency.

The odds for the game tell their own story, with Liverpool strong favourites with the bookmakers to pick up three points this weekend.

However, despite the current gap between the two sides, it is worth noting that United have lost just one of their last 10 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions. Odds of 9/2 to win the game looks generous given Mourinho’s penchant for overcoming adversity.

West Ham United host Cardiff City on Tuesday aiming to follow up their impressive weekend victory at Newcastle United.

The Hammers outclassed Newcastle, with goals by Javier Hernandez (2) and Felipe Anderson securing a fully deserved 3-0 win.

It was their biggest Premier League victory against the Magpies at St James’ Park since October 1998 and also their first away clean sheet of the season.

There was a positive vibe around West Ham’s squad at Newcastle, with a bonding session between some of the players and a couple of snooker legends perhaps making the difference.

A quartet of Hammers’ stars teamed up with Steve Davis and John Parrott for an epic game of Crazy Snooker ahead of the game at St James’ Park and the experience clearly helped to lift their spirits.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini will hope the positivity continues against a Cardiff side who have struggled for much of the current campaign.

The Hammers’ boss has a few injury issues to contend with ahead of the game. Defenders Aaron Cresswell and Fabian Balbuena are fitness doubts, while Ryan Fredericks, Manuel Lanzini, Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez and Andriy Yarmolenko remain on the sidelines.

Jazz Richards has been ruled out for the visitors, while Greg Cunningham, Joe Bennett and Kenneth Zohore are not expected to be rushed into action. However, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing could make his first appearance since late August after overcoming a knee injury.

Cardiff head into the match on the back of an impressive result against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Friday. Neil Warnock’s side recorded just their third victory of the campaign with a 2-1 success to move out of the relegation zone.

West Ham are on a six-match winning streak against the Bluebirds, keeping clean sheets in five of them. They are unbeaten in nine top-flight home meetings, winning six and drawing three.

Cardiff’s only victory in their past 18 competitive fixtures at West Ham came on the opening weekend of the 2011/12 Championship season.

Three points on Tuesday could take West Ham up to 11th in the table dependent on results elsewhere.

With fixtures scheduled against Crystal Palace (H), Fulham (A), Watford (H), Southampton (A) and Burnley (A) during the rest of December, the Hammers could easily end the year in the top half of the standings.

They will need to guard against complacency against Cardiff, but they look a good bet to record another victory on Tuesday.

The news that Borussia Dortmund are willing to strike a £70 million deal with Chelsea or Liverpool for Christian Pulisic is the latest staggering development in the career of one of Europe’s most prodigious talents.

The two Premier League clubs have a long-standing interest in the United States international, although Paris Saint-Germain are also known to be keen to acquire his services.

Dortmund have insisted that Pulisic will not be allowed to leave in January, but they are prepared to negotiate a deal for a summer move if their financial demands are met.

With his contract set to expire in June 2020 these are interesting times for Pulisic, but is a move elsewhere the right thing for him at this stage of his career?

German media outlet DW Kick off recently retraced Pulisic’s journey from the USA to the Bundesliga, speaking to former coaches, teachers and teammates to find out more about the exciting forward.

Many people have argued that Pulisic is already the country’s best football player ever, but whether he can live up to those lofty claims is open to debate.

Pulisic has scored 15 goals and created 24 more in 110 appearances for Dortmund, but his form has suffered at times as speculation about his future has increased.

While a big-money move may suit Dortmund’s needs, it is questionable whether it would benefit Pulisic at this stage of his career.

Another season in the Bundesliga would give him the opportunity to further develop his talents away from the pressures he would find in the Premier League or in Paris.

Despite his undoubted talent he may find it difficult to secure a starting role elsewhere and that could have a major impact on his progression.

Sticking with Dortmund until his contract expires would give Pulisic greater negotiating power to secure a substantial signing-on fee as Europe’s top clubs fight for his services.

Assuming he can keep producing the goods for Dortmund between now and the summer of 2020, he would probably have a greater number of clubs to choose from at that point.

With his popularity in the USA assured, Pulisic would not only be a great signing from a playing perspective, but he would also be a hugely marketable asset for whichever club he eventually joins.

Arsenal head into their game with Liverpool on Saturday, November 3, aiming to prove they are genuine title contenders.

The Gunners bounced back from successive league defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea to go 12 games unbeaten in all competitions.

They were held 2-2 by Crystal Palace in their last match, but are just four points off top spot following their impressive run of form.

People watching the live stream for Liverpool supporters will hope to see a repeat of last December’s goalfest between these two sides.

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to lead 3-2, but Robert Firmino’s goal 20 minutes from time sealed a draw for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool have won three and drawn three of their last six meetings with Arsenal and they will be confident of extending that run at the Emirates Stadium.

The two Manchester clubs take centre stage on Sunday, November 11, as reigning champions City go head-to-head with United.

City will be eager to avoid a repeat of their last home game against their local rivals, with Pep Guardiola’s side blowing a two goal lead to lose 3-2.

Paul Pogba (2) and Chris Smalling got the goals for the visitors and a repeat of that scoreline would be a major boost to their hopes of a top four finish.

However, City have been hugely impressive this season and it’s difficult to imagine them slipping up at the Etihad Stadium.

They smashed 18 goals in their opening five home games this season, while United have struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea on Saturday, November 24, in a game where both sides will want to prove their title credentials.

The two sides split their two meetings last season, with Chelsea triumphing 2-1 at Wembley while Spurs ran out 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture.

Spurs have won just two of their last eight meetings with Chelsea in all competitions and they can ill-afford to drop points against the Blues this time around.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been functional rather than spectacular this term, but a victory over the Blues would be a huge statement of intent in the title race.

The three games are the standout fixtures of the upcoming schedule and their outcome could give the title battle a much clearer look when they have been played.

The Blues head into the game level on 20 points with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the standings, while United are eighth in the table, seven points behind the top three.

The home side continued their impressive form in their most recent match, with goals by Eden Hazard, Ross Barkley and Alvaro Morata sealing a 3-0 win at Southampton.

By contrast, United had to dig deep to recover from a two-goal deficit to beat Newcastle United 3-2 at Old Trafford. Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez scored for the Red Devils.

Having lost just of their last 16 meetings with United in all competitions, odds of 3/4 for Chelsea to win the game look generous and could tempt punters into taking advantage of sugar house promo code offers when they wager on the match.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Man City host Burnley aiming to retain their place at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s side have a superior goal difference to Chelsea and Liverpool and they are strongly fancied to boost that tally against the Clarets.

Kevin De Bruyne is set to make just his second appearance of the season for City after recovering from the knee injury he suffered in training during August.

City have lost just one of their last 19 meetings with Burnley in all competitions and they beat them 3-0 in the league at home last season.

They followed with a 4-1 FA Cup victory during early January, but were held 1-1 at Turf Moor in the league later in the campaign.

Liverpool look banker material to win at Huudersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur should come out on top at West Ham United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look a good bet to beat Watford at home, while Bournemouth are likely to prove too good for lowly Southampton.

The Cardiff City versus Fulham and Newcastle United versus Brighton & Hove Albion games could reward punters searching for draws this weekend.

There is one fixture on Sunday, with Everton welcoming Crystal Palace to Goodison Park. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Palace and are fancied to extend that run this weekend.

Arsenal complete the latest round of fixtures on Monday when they welcome Leicester City to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have won ten games in a row in all competitions and look overpriced at 8/15 to make it 11 on the spin against the Foxes.

Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Riverside Stadium aiming to return to winning ways after picking up just one point in their last two games.

Boro drew 0-0 against Leeds United before falling 1-0 at Norwich City and manager Tony Pulis will be eager to see a response from his players.

The Teessiders have won their last six matches against Bolton in all competitions and they are long odds-on to extend that run on Wednesday.

Bolton started the season in decent form, but they have picked up just one point in their last three matches and the home side are strongly fancied to come out on top.

Elsewhere, Sheffield United look one of the best Championship betting offers of the night at odds of 4/5 to beat Birmingham City at Bramhall Lane.

The Blades have overcome a sticky start to the season to win four of their last five matches and they look a solid wager to collect three points against City.

Birmingham have yet to win in the league this season, although five draws from seven games suggests they are difficult to break down. However, the home side look too good to ignore and they can reward home backers with a victory.

Nottingham Forest welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the City Ground aiming to end a dismal recent record against the Yorkshire side.

Forest have been defeated seven times in row by Wednesday and manager Aitor Karanka can be expected to have his players fired up to end that run.

Heavily tipped for promotion at the start of the season, Forest have won one and drawn five of their opening seven matches and they need a win to kick-start a push up the table.

However, Wednesday have won three and drawn one of their last four Championship games and they look a decent bet at 5/2 to pick up a point.

There are a couple of interesting games towards the bottom of the table, with Queens Park Rangers facing Millwall and Reading taking on Norwich.

QPR and Millwall have drawn four of their last six meetings and another draw looks on the cards in this one. Both sides have struggled for consistency this term and a point apiece would probably satisfy both managers.

Reading triumphed 3-2 at Preston North End on Saturday, but they face a Norwich side who will be full of confidence after their victory over Middlesbrough.

The Canaries look a solid wager at 13/8 to pick up another three points at the Majedski Stadium.

Manchester City visit Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday aiming to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.

City have comfortably defeated Arsenal and Huddersfield Town in their opening two games to show that they won’t give up their title easily this term.

Wolves have picked up just one point since winning promotion and they will be eager to show that they belong in the top flight with a decent performance against the champions.

Title-hopefuls Liverpool are also in action on Saturday when they host Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Reds have beaten West Ham United and Crystal Palace without conceding a goal and are strongly fancied to make it three-out-of-three this weekend.

Arsenal welcome West Ham to the Emirates Stadium hoping to pick up their first points of the season.

Defeats by City and Chelsea have left the Gunners 17th in the early Premier League standings, but they should prove too classy for West Ham on home soil.

Everton have made a steady start to the new season, but they won’t find things easy at unbeaten Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe’s side have beaten Cardiff City and West Ham in their first two matches and should be good enough to pick up at least a draw against the Toffees.

The Huddersfield vs Cardiff and Southampton vs Leicester City games both look tight and could reward punters looking for draws at 888Sport this weekend.

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The highlight of Sunday’s three fixtures is the clash between Newcastle United and Chelsea.

St James’ Park is one of the best places to watch soccer and this weekend’s clash could be a cracker.

The Magpies need a victory to kick-start their season, but they may find things tough against a Chelsea side who have a 100% record.

Watford host Crystal Palace aiming to pick up their third win in a row. However, the Hornets have won just two of their last 16 meetings with Palace in all competitions and Roy Hodgson’s side can take something from this game.

Fulham welcome Burnley to Craven Cottage aiming to collect their first points since winning promotion from the Championship.

The Clarets crashed 3-1 at Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday and another defeat looks on the cards this weekend.

Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur on Monday hoping to put last week’s dismal performance at Brighton firmly behind them.

United were woeful defensively at the Amex Stadium, but they have kept clean sheets in their last three home games against Spurs in the Premier League and could bounce back.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side started the season with victories over Newcastle and Fulham, but they were unconvincing in both games and may struggle to keep United at bay.

The second round of games in the new Premier League season produced plenty of talking points for fans across the country.

Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion was the weekend’s most surprising result and will have done little to improve manager Jose Mourinho’s mood.

The United boss has made it clear that he was unhappy with the club’s transfer business this summer and it wasn’t difficult to see why at the Amex Stadium.

The Red Devils looked awful defensively and their failure to bring in a top-class centre-half could seriously undermine their hopes of winning silverware this season.

Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were poor at the heart of United’s defence, and the pair’s form appears to be having a negative impact on goalkeeper David de Gea’s performances.

A switch to three at the back could be the answer for United in the short term, but Ed Woodward’s inability to deliver Mourinho’s chosen transfer targets looks a major blunder at this point.

The result saw United pushed out in the betting to win the Premier League, but it’s still far too early to write them off and this great new SkyBet offer can help punters take advantage of what appears extremely generous odds, particularly if Mourinho finds a way to shore up his defence.

Elsewhere this weekend, Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick helped reigning champions Manchester City make short work of Huddersfield Town.

City are already top of the table after just two games and could take some stopping in this sort of form.

Chelsea made it two wins out of two with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Arsenal. Marcos Alonso’s 81st-minute goal was the difference between the two sides, but neither manager will be happy with the way their respective teams defended.

Watford, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth complete the quintet of clubs who have a 100% record after two games.

The Hornets ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at Burnley, while Spurs triumphed by the same scoreline at home to Fulham. Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth took advantage of West Ham United’s lacklustre midfield to win 2-1 at the London Stadium.

Everton and Leicester City also recorded victories over Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, while Cardiff City and Newcastle United fought out a dour 0-0 draw.

Crystal Palace and Liverpool will round off the second week of fixtures when they meet on Monday. The two sides both picked up three points on the opening weekend of the season, but the Reds are strongly fancied to come out on top at Selhurst Park.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia has reached the quarter-final stage and eight teams are still dreaming of lifting football’s most prestigious trophy on July 15.

Five-time winners Brazil are the 11/4 favourites to win the tournament, but the likes of France, Belgium and England are also firmly in contention.

Read on as we look at the four quarter-final ties.

Uruguay vs France – Friday, July 6

France were unimpressive during the group stage, but their performance against Argentina in the first knockout round highlighted their quality.

Kylian Mbappe caused the South American side plenty of problems with his pace and Uruguay’s defence will need to find a way to keep him quiet.

Uruguay deservedly defeated Portugal in the last round, but France are fancied to progress and it would be no surprise to see them go on to reach the final.

Brazil vs Belgium – Friday, July 6

Brazil breezed through the group stage, before beating Mexico in the last 16. They have conceded just one goal so far, but their performances have been functional rather than spectacular.

Belgium won all three of their group games, but they suffered an almighty scare against Japan in the first knockout round. Robert Martinez’s side recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 and they will need to defend much better if they are to defeat Brazil.

The two sides have met once previously in the World Cup, with Brazil winning 2-0 in the round of 16 back in 2002. They went on to win the tournament that year.

Sweden vs England – Saturday, July 7

England had never won a World Cup penalty shoot-out before their success over Colombia on Tuesday and they needed to overcome a huge recent trend in order to progress.

According to research by Betway, 12 of the 15 shoot-outs since the start of the 1998 World Cup have been won by the team going first, but the Three Lions managed to reach the quarter-finals despite shooting second against the South Americans.

England have met Sweden twice at the World Cup previously, drawing both games in 2002 and 2006. The Swedes are difficult to break down, but Gareth Southgate’s side should book a semi-final meeting with either Croatia or Russia.

Russia vs Croatia – Saturday, July 7

Russia sprang a huge surprise in the last 16, beating much-fancied Spain on penalties, but a repeat against Croatia looks unlikely.

Croatia were impressive in the opening stage, winning all three games, before defeating Denmark on penalties in the first knockout round.

Russia have never beaten Croatia in three previous meetings and Zlatko Dalic’s side are fancied to secure a last four tie against England.

Predictions

France may prove too strong for Uruguay, while Belgium can upset the odds and defeat Brazil after a penalty shoot-out. England should edge a tight encounter against Sweden and Croatia can reach the semi-finals for the second time in their history by easing past Russia.

However, come July 16 and it will be all over. There are literally … days … before the football season starts the world over, and in some cases football is already up and running. Here are a few ideas of what you can watch when the World Cup is done and dusted.

The English Premier League

Billed as the biggest league in the world, the EPL kicks-off in 2018 on August 11. Match of the day will undoubtedly be Arsenal’s first game without Arsene Wenger in charge since 1996, when they welcome champions Manchester City to the Emirates. Manchester United take on Leicester City, Chelsea are at Huddersfield and Tottenham face Newcastle at St James Park. Keep an eye on the successful tipping site FootballTips for match previews ahead of all the fixtures next season.

Of the new boys, Fulham are at home to Crystal Palace, Wolves are at home to Everton while Cardiff City visit Bournemouth at Dean Court. Will the 2018/19 EPL season be a little more competitive than the Man City-dominated campaign of last term? It’s sure to be another thrill-ride, no matter what happens.

The Football League

You barely have time to breath post-World Cup before Football League games begin again, as the opening games come only three weeks after football’s greatest tournament concludes. All three divisions will enjoy an early summer start, with the Championship opening up on the Friday when Reading take on Derby at the Madejksi Stadium.

In League One free-falling Sunderland have an early kick-off at the Stadium of Light against Charlton, while in League Two new boys ‘old boys’ Macclesfield Town are at Swindon and Tranmere Rovers face a trip to Stevenage.

South American Football

If you really can’t wait until early August to get your football fix, then you’ll be pleased to hear you can enjoy a little samba action as all the main leagues in South America are already in full swing, although the premier divisions of most of them have taken a break during the World Cup Finals.

Brazilian league football is a little unusual as most teams compete in two leagues – national championships and state championships. The main national championship, known as Serie A, is currently being lead by Flamengo, with Atletico Mineiro, Sao Paulo and Internacional the main three sides giving chase. The season took a break on June 13/14 and will recommence July 18/19.

In Argentina the Primera Division will not begin until August 10. This league is one of the most bizarrely-run in the world, as it consists of no less than twenty-six teams and relegation is decided upon by records spread over the last three seasons.

Scandinavian Football

Unlike most European leagues, the majority of leagues in Scandinavian countries do not follow the traditional August to May pattern.

In Sweden the top flight – known as the Allsvenskan – has been in operation since April, and recommenced in early July despite the fact that the Swedish national side were still competing in the World Cup. Talk of the 2018 season so far has been the performance of the country’s top side – Malmo. The habitual title-winners have suffered an appalling first third of the season and currently sit below halfway in the table. Their championship-winning coach Magnus Pehrsson has been sacked and replaced by former Manchester City player and Leeds United manager Uwe Rosler.

The Eliteserien is the leading league in Norway, and games commenced in March. The season is running interrupted as Norway did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals tournament. Brann are currently topping the table, with Rosenborg and Ranheim giving chase.

Football in Finland follows an April to October pattern with no break, while the Superliga in Demark does not start until the middle of July.

Major League Soccer

While attendances in the US at baseball games are falling, the number of people taking an interest in ‘soccer’ is continually on the rise. This begs the question – have the US sports-loving population finally seen what the rest of the world has known for over a century?

The regular season for MLS began in March, and will continue until the MLS Cup in December. The main source of interest for the 2018 season so far has been the continual rise of Atlanta United, a team that did not even exist until 2014. Currently topping both the Eastern Conference and consolidated standings, Atlanta has average crowds of over 50,000, which is 20,000 per game more than the long-established baseball franchise, the Braves.

Of interest to UK football fans will be the new career of former England hero Wayne Rooney who, at the age of thirty-two, has quit the EPL after one season of return at Everton for DC United. Rooney will start his USA career one week before the end of the World Cup but has his work cut out, with DC United currently rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

They have the money too. Huddersfield Town, a club who were in League One just a few years ago, received over £100,000,000 in prize money ($133 million) for coming in 17^th in the Premier League last season. That’ll give a club from a small town in Yorkshire more spending power than the likes of Lazio, Borussia Dortmund or Valencia.

Big 6 pulling away from the rest

Clubs know that standing still is not an option, you must spend big to achieve parity. You must spend bigger again to move forward. But, despite even the most modest Premier League clubs being able to outspend more glamorous European rivals, there is still a pecking order in the Premier League. But the pecking order breeds predictability. In the long term, that could hurt the Premier League ‘product’.

Let’s examine the odds for next season’s title race. Karamba, like others, has installed Manchester City as the overwhelming favourites, pricing them at 20/31 to win a second successive title. They are followed by Liverpool (11/2), Manchester United (13/2), Chelsea (11/1), Tottenham (13/1) and Arsenal (28/1). After that, all the teams’ odds are in triple figures. 2016 champions Leicester City, for example, are priced at 250/1.

Germany and Italy less competitive

Those odds tell us that it is, once again, highly unlikely that a team can break the dominance enjoyed by the ‘Big 6’ clubs. Sure, the Premier League is unpredictable in a game by game basis, part of the reason why reading top football betting tips is essential, but over the course of a season we really know what to expect. Perhaps Arsenal are somewhat vulnerable at the moment, but it would certainly be a massive shock if anyone overtook them.

Does it really matter if there are essentially two leagues within the Premier League; the mini league between the Big 6 and the one between the other 14 clubs? Perhaps not. The Premier League bosses will point to the Bundesliga (Bayern Munich 4/27 odds to be champions) and Serie A (Juventus are 4/7 for the Scudetto) as proof that the Premier League is competitive. There may be only six teams with a serious chance, but it’s better than one team having a procession towards the title each season. Munich and Juventus will be aiming for their seventh and eighth successive league titles respectively this season, whereas no team has retained the Premier League title in a decade.

Transfer records will be broken again

So, once the World Cup has come to an end, it will be interesting to see the scramble to start signing players before the transfer window slams shut. Hundreds of millions will be spent to keep the status quo. It is working for now, with more fans than ever watching the action. But not everyone supports the Big 6. It might just be that, in the future, fans demand that more than six clubs be in with a chance of glory.

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona will go down in World Cup history for moments of sheer brilliance but also for moments of madness and deception. In that famous encounter between England and Argentina in 1986, Maradona jumped to head the ball into the back of the net, but used his hand to help it in when he realised he wouldn’t reach it. He then scored one of the greatest goals in history after dribbling from inside his own half and weaving past the England players at will. 8 years later at the 1994 World Cup in America, the Argentine scored a fantastic goal against Greece, and then celebrated in extremely manic fashion. Maradona’s crazy expressions drew many suspicions and was soon kicked out of the World Cup after failing a drugs test.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez has to go down as one of the most fiery players in football, particularly in the World Cup. It’s safe to say that he is one of the most feared strikers on the planet, but he’s also been involved in significant amount of controversies. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Luis Suarez saved the ball with his hands against Ghana in extra time and was shown a straight red card. At the following World Cup in Brazil, Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder for no apparent reason, but the referee didn’t see it and he managed to finish the game. He was later handed a lengthy suspension by FIFA.

Numerous teams hold a realistic chance of lifting the trophy on July 15 and for many stars it will be their final opportunity to win the most prestigious prize in football.

Read on as we take a look at four players who could retire from international duty after the World Cup.

Lionel Messi – Argentina

Messi has already has suggested he will retire from international football – again – if Argentina fail to win the World Cup this year.

The Barcelona forward has never won a major international trophy and he has something of a love/hate relationship with Argentina fans.

Messi has walked away from the international team once before – after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile in 2016.

However, he eventually reversed his decision and helped his country qualify for the World Cup, but this summer’s tournament is likely to be Messi’s final one on the biggest stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal

Ronaldo would probably be happy to play on until he became the world’s oldest soccer player if it meant he had a chance of winning the World Cup.

Despite his superb record at club level, there are still doubts about the 33-year-old’s ability to deliver at international level, particularly when you consider he has only scored three goals at the World Cup finals during his career.

Portugal were surprise winners at the European Championships in 2016 and if they fail to follow up in Russia the Real Madrid star can be expected to hang up his boots at international level.

Andres Iniesta – Spain

Iniesta has hinted that this will be his last World Cup and he will be desperate to go out with a bang by winning the tournament for a second time.

The 34-year-old scored the winning goal in the 2010 final and he was also a key part of Spain’s two European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Spain are unbeaten under manager Julen Lopetegu and they head into the World Cup in Russia as one of the more fancied teams.

Iniesta is leaving Barcelona after 16 seasons to join Japanese club Vissel Kobe from next season, so quitting the national team at the same time as he exits his beloved Barca makes perfect sense.

Thiago Silva – Brazil

Brazil captain Thiago Silva will undoubtedly have a point to prove at this summer’s tournament.

Silva missed Brazil’s 7-1 mauling by Germany in the 2014 semi-finals through suspension and he will be eager to make amends in Russia.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender is now 33-years-old and it is highly unlikely that he’ll still be playing international football when the next World Cup comes around.

Brazil and Germany are favourites to win the trophy, but France, Argentina and Spain are other sides strongly fancied to make their mark in Russia.

Read on as we take a look at the main contenders to win football’s top prize.

Brazil

The Samba Kings are 9/2 joint-favourites with Germany to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

It took Brazil a long time to recover from their 7-1 defeat against the Germans in the 2014 semi-finals, but they have bounced back in style to comfortably qualify for the latest tournament.

The five-time winners have a long history of success on football’s highest stage, and the likes of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho give Brazil a dangerous cutting edge.

It would be a major surprise if they don’t at least reach the semi-finals.

Germany

Germany are one of the most popular football tips to triumph in Russia. The reigning champions breezed through qualification, scoring 43 goals and conceding just four in 10 games.

Their performance in the 2014 final against Argentina showed that they could dig deep when necessary and they will be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

However, they were beaten 1-0 by Brazil in a friendly during March and that will give the South American side confidence that they can come out on top in Russia.

France

France are priced at 11/2 and are also expected to have a major impact at the World Cup.

An opening group of Peru, Denmark and Australia should hold no fears for a squad that contains any array of attacking talent.

France have failed to reach the semi-finals in the last two World Cups, but they conceded just six goals during qualifying and could be hard to beat this time around.

Spain

Spain are unbeaten under manager Julen Lopetegui and look back to the sort of form that saw them win the tournament in 2010.

A recent 6-1 friendly victory over Argentina was a huge statement of intent and they are likely to be one of the most attractive sides to watch in Russia.

Their opening group of Portugal, Iran and Morocco provides an excellent opportunity to ease their way into the finals and odds of 6/1 to win the World Cup look tempting.

Argentina

Argentina are heavily reliant on Lionel Messi, but despite his genius the 9/1 shots are unlikely winners of the tournament.

They were unimpressive during qualifying and friendly defeats against Nigeria and Spain suggest they could be under-priced in the outright betting market.

The South American side have drawn Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in the opening stage and it is a group that could pose them plenty of problems.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is less than a month away and it holds the potential of making many new stars, who’d be remembered for many years to come. The 2014 edition saw the likes of James Rodriguez becoming a superstar. His amazing work with the ball for the Colombian national team won him the Golden Boot award, and he was instantly grabbed by Real Madrid, before finally moving on to Bayern Munich. Memphis Depay, Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba were some other players who shown in that World Cup.

Here’s all the details you need about the FIFA World Cup kickoff times and TV info.

With the biggest football party on the planet starting in Russia on June 14, there are quite a few names who’re although below-the-radar right now, are most likely to shine during the tournament. A great multitude of punters are already backing these players (and their countries) in the World Cup betting markets. If you too are interested in betting on FIFA World Cup 2018, you can see the odds here.

The five-time European champions beat Roma in the last four to advance to the final, while holders Madrid edged past Bayern Munich to book their spot.

The La Liga club are chasing a hat-trick of Champions League triumphs after winning the competition in both 2016 and 2017.

Bookmakers make Zinedine Zidane’s side slight favourites at 4/6 to defend their crown, with Liverpool on offer at 11/10, and punters can use this 4NJBets Promo Code to wager on the outcome.

Liverpool’s road to the final began against Hoffenheim back in August, with the Reds securing a 6-3 aggregate success in a play-off for the group stage.

They got off to a shaky start in Group E, drawing with Sevilla and Spartak Moscow. However, two victories over Slovenian side Maribor put the Reds in a good position to qualify for the next stage.

A second-half collapse at Sevilla – where Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead – put pressure on their final group game, but a 7-0 thrashing of Spartak Moscow saw the Anfield outfit into the round of 16 in style.

Liverpool started the knockout phase with a 5-0 victory at Porto and a dour 0-0 draw at home took them into the quarter-finals.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were drawn against the Premier League’s runaway leaders Manchester City in the last eight and they took advantage of some debatable referring decisions to record a 5-1 aggregate success.

Liverpool enjoyed a dream start to their semi-final first leg at home to Roma, racing into a 5-0 lead, but two late goals by the visitors set up a nervy return game in Italy.

The second leg was a see-saw affair, with Liverpool extending their advantage to five goals, but Roma battled back to reduce the deficit to one late in the second half. However, the Reds hung on to book their place in Kiev.

Madrid comfortably progressed through the group stage alongside Tottenham Hotspur and have gone on to defeat Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern to make it to the final.

The two sides’ most recent meetings came in the group stage during the 2014/15 season. Madrid won 3-0 at Anfield and 1-0 at home.

Liverpool haven’t won the Champions League for 13 years and their wait to claim Europe’s top prize could go on a little while longer.

Madrid’s defeat at home to Juventus in the quarter-finals showed that they can be vulnerable, yet they still found a way to win on aggregate and their experience in this competition should stand them in good stead.

Much has been written about Liverpool’s attacking prowess, but Madrid have the players to hurt the Premier League side and it’s difficult to see the trophy not heading to Spain once again.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder Jack Wilshere have been left out, along with left-back Ryan Bertrand.

Uncapped Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is in the squad, while there are also places for Nick Pope and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

England start their Group G campaign against Tunisia on June 18, before games against Panama and Belgium.

The Three Lions are priced at 16/1 to win the tournament and you can use this free World Cup bet to wager on the outcome.

Read on as we look at England’s squad and assess their chances of success this summer.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).

Joe Hart’s exclusion is the biggest news, although the stopper shouldn’t be surprised after a woeful season with West Ham United. Pickford is likely to be first choice in Russia, although there’s probably little to choose between the trio of goalkeepers selected.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Man City), Ashley Young (Man United).

The selection of Alexander-Arnold at just 19-years-old underlines Southgate’s confidence in the nation’s younger players. Left-back Young is deservedly included after an impressive season with United. Cahill’s experience will prove useful and Kyle Walker’s versatility will come in handy, but Rose’s inclusion ahead of Bertrand is a surprise after his injury troubles.

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).

There were calls for Jonjo Shelvey to be included, but for all the fuss about his passing ability the Newcastle United playmaker has created just three goals this season and his omission is the correct decision. Wilshere’s suspect fitness has seen him left out, meaning England will rely on Alli, Lingard and Loftus-Cheek to provide creativity from midfield.

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man United), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

There were no real surprises up front, with Theo Walcott failing to make much impression at Everton and injury-prone Daniel Sturridge out of the running. Kane will undoubtedly lead the line, while Vardy, Sterling and Rashford are useful impact players to have in the squad.

England tournament preview

England will be playing at their sixth consecutive World Cup this summer and they are aiming to progress beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2006.

An opening group of Belgium, Tunisia and Panama should hold no fears for the Three Lions.

If England can win the group they will be pitted against the runner-up from Group H in the last 16. Their likely opponents would be either Poland or Colombia and both are the sort of sides England are capable of beating.

Things get trickier in the quarter-finals, with Brazil possibly lying in wait, although a 0-0 draw in a friendly back in November showed that England can make things difficult for the Samba Kings.

Spain, France and Portugal are possible opponents in the last four, but looking that far ahead is probably unwise given England’s woes at major tournaments in recent times.

A place in the last eight is likely to be the limit of what England will achieve at the World Cup – anything beyond that would be viewed as major bonus.

England are not in action until the Monday when they start their Group G with Tunisia, hours after Belgium have entertained debutants Panama.

The big talking about heading to Russia surrounding the England squad is who the first choice goalkeeper will be.

Manager Gareth Southgate has been coy over the past couple of months, with both Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland getting an opportunity in their two friendlies so far this year.

Joe Hart had been the first choice goalkeeper for several years and even started nine of England’s 10 qualifying matches. However, the 31-year-old has dipped drastically in form during his loan spell at West Ham United this past season.

Whilst on loan from Manchester City, Hart has made several errors that resulted in him ultimately losing his place to Adrian. Both goalkeepers started 19 Premier League games each in 2017-18 with the Spaniard finishing as the first choice under David Moyes.

However, the Betfair World Cup 2018 betting market suggests Joe Hart will be part of Southgate’s 23-man squad as they have the 75-time England international at 8/13 to be included.

Many expect Hart will be the third choice goalkeeper for England over in Russia and the odds back this up completely. That’s because Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Everton’s Jordan Pickford are both priced at 1/50 to make the final cut.

Indeed, it appears to be down to the two more inexperienced goalkeepers to battle it out for first choice. They have each made a start in England’s two friendlies in 2018 whilst Butland is the more experienced goalkeeper of the pair, with seven caps, compared to Pickford’s two.

Burnley’s Nick Pope seems to be out of the question as he has yet to receive a single international cap. Though he is coming off an excellent season with the Lancashire club it was also his first in the Premier League, aided by Tom Heaton’s injury.

Gareth Southgate has two more friendlies left before England take on Tunisia in their World Cup opener on Monday 18^th June which could us some clues as to who the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough centre-back is going to select between the sticks.

Football stat man Barrie’s View ran a Twitter poll over the weekend to ask fans who they believe should be England’s first choice this summer. Jordan Pickford won the vote with 46%, whilst Jack Butland was down in second, receiving 30%. Interestingly, Nick Pope (19%) received more votes than Joe Hart (5%).

Supporters of Olympique Marseille and Atlético Madrid planning to travel to Lyon for next week’s Europa League final can still find available hotel rooms, according to French website Allovoyages.fr. However, they will have to tolerate significant rate hikes for the privilege.

For those wishing to stay overnight in Lyon following the final on Wednesday 16 May, about 5% of Lyon hotels still have availability at the time of writing. Prices for rooms in the city centre are currently starting at around €250 Euros – almost 300% more expensive than on an average Wednesday in Lyon.

Some hotels are putting their rates up even higher, counting on the likelihood of all rooms in the city selling out completely. For example, Fourvière Hotel, located above the Old Town of Lyon, is asking for an eye-popping €840 Euros for a double room on 16 May, whereas you would normally pay less than €200 at the same hotel.

On the plus side, more affordable hotels are still available in smaller towns in the Greater Lyon area. Allovoyages found that in Meyzieu and Saint-Priest, rooms can still be found for below €200 Euros. Both towns are less than 30-minutes from Lyon by train. You can check train times at the official website for transport in Lyon.

For those wanting to spend two nights in Lyon following the match, there is more availability and at more affordable rates. For example, you can still find a room in a centrally located 3-star hotel for around €300 euros for the nights of 16 and 17 May.

Brazil, Germany, France and Spain are the favourites in the betting market, with a huge array of markets already available to bet on.

But what long shot odds are worth considering for the 2018 World Cup? Let’s take a look!

Shock winners very unlikely at World Cups

Perhaps the first thing to keep in mind is that the World Cup never seems to throw up a surprise winner. The victor usually comes from one of the teams among the pre-tournament favourites.

The likely winner is in this group

Brazil look set to head to Russia as the outright favourites, with most bookmakers offering a price of around 4/1 on Tite’s men, who cruised through South American qualifying. But with a question mark over the fitness of star player Neymar, Tite faces a waiting game to see whether the Paris Saint-Germain forward will recover from a foot injury.

Regardless, with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus, Brazil’s attack has a lot of depth. Whether Brazil have mentally recovered from losing the semi-final 7-1 to Germany on home soil four years ago remains to be seen, though.

Defending champions Germany look a solid enough bet at odds of 9/2. Joachim Low has a terrific record at major tournaments and the next generation also looks strong, a young side having triumphed at the Confederations Cup a year ago. France and Spain are the other European heavyweights, available at odds of 13/2 and 7/1 respectively.

With Lionel Messi in the prime of his career, 11/1 on Argentina to win the World Cup will be tempting for a lot of football fans. But Argentina needed Messi to drag them through qualifying with a hat-trick in their final match, while they were destroyed 6-1 by Spain in a recent friendly.

But for those seeking a long shot winner, a couple of options stand out from the crowd. One of those is Portugal, surprise winners at Euro 2016. They are offered at around 25/1 and with Cristiano Ronaldo leading their attack, there is every chance they go deep in the event.

Uruguay at odds of 33/1 could be worth considering as well. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani provide one of the most exciting forward lines at the World Cup and they reached the semi-finals in 2010, so there is some recent success at the tournament for this side as well.

Goalscorer markets could offer long shot temptation

Familiar names like Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo lead the way in the Golden Boot betting for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Thomas Muller is the first name of interest – he can be backed at about the 25/1 mark. Germany are an outstanding side but, although Timo Werner has potential, they do lack a world-class striker. Muller has World Cup pedigree, though, scoring 10 goals at previous tournaments.

If Uruguay do have a good run, as we mentioned above, Suarez and Cavani could both be of interest on the Golden Boot market. They are each available at around the 30/1 mark.

Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe are both on offer at shorter odds, but perhaps Olivier Giroud is the man to pick from Les Bleus. The Chelsea forward is a favourite of Didier Deschamps and looks set to lead the line in Russia. Odds of 40/1 could prove to be a steal.

Other World Cup betting options to consider

With so many markets to choose from, there are plenty of potential profit-making wagers.

Portugal and Uruguay are offered at 12/1 and 14/1 respectively to reach the final, which may prove a bargain as they have strong performances at recent tournaments under their belts.

If you are looking to have a wager on the World Cup, make sure you take advantage of some of the best no deposit betting offers that are up for grabs. Check out this page for more information.

Nigeria can be backed at about 8/1 to win arguably the hardest group – they face Argentina, Croatia and debutants Iceland in a section that is hard to call. Nigeria beat Argentina 4-2 in a warm-up friendly and the Super Eagles will believe they can do it again in Russia.

Serbia were judged by many to be the toughest pot four side and they were unfortunate to land in the same section of the draw as Brazil. But with the likes of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – who is primed for superstardom – they have a chance of going a long way. Odds of 7/1 for Serbia to reach the semi-finals are definitely worth thinking about here.

Last but not least, a price of 20/1 for Brazil to play Spain in the final looks well worth taking on, with these two countries arguably in the best form of nations preparing to go to Russia this year.

Victory for City would secure top spot with six games to spare, but United boss Jose Mourinho will be eager to prevent that from happening this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side head into the game on the back of Wednesday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League.

Punters who utilise sports betting with MansionBet can back City at 5/6 to win the match, with United available at 16/5 and the draw on offer at 53/20.

The Red Devils are still hoping to fend off Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for second place and they have virtually a full squad to choose from.

Sergio Romero is still missing after picking up a knee problem playing for Argentina against Italy during the international break, while Daley Blind is out with an ankle problem.

However, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Marouane Fellaini are all in contention for a place in the squad.

Guardiola may decide to make changes for the derby game, particularly with the return leg against Liverpool scheduled for next Tuesday.

Sergio Aguero is battling to be fit for Saturday’s game after missing three weeks with a knee injury, while Benjamin Mendy is back in training but still some way off a return to first-team action.

Fabian Delph has been out of City’s squad since being sent off at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, but he was back on the bench at Anfield and could be recalled to the starting line-up.

United have lost just two of their last seven meetings with City in all competitions and Mourinho is likely to make things difficult for the home side as he bids to stop them winning the title.

The two sides fought out a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium last season and a repeat of that scoreline in their latest derby clash can be backed at 10/1.

City won 2-1 at Old Trafford back in December and they are priced at 33/4 to match that feat on Saturday.

Guardiola’s side have been in sparkling form for much of this season, but Wednesday’s result at Anfield may well have been a shock to the system.

Mourinho will undoubtedly take satisfaction from delaying City’s inevitable march to the title and backing United to secure a 1-1 draw at 6/1 looks the call in this one.