Odds Favor at Least One Liverpool Match Ending Scoreless; Same for Man City
- Two weeks to the start of the English Premier League
- Man City and Liverpool props offered
- Any goalless draws for the top two?
With the start of the new English Premier League season just over two weeks away (Liverpool and Norwich City kick things off on August 9 at 3:00 pm EST) the hype has begun. Talk of whether Manchester City can repeat, or even improve upon, last season’s incredible treble has kicked off in earnest.
But Liverpool are out to stop them, and after finishing second last season having lost just a single game and also having won the UEFA Champions League, the Reds will believe they can win this season’s EPL.
In addition to the usual winner/loser/relegated bets, books have released several intriguing props, including some specific to City and Liverpool. We’ll take a look.
Liverpool Props
| Prop | Yes Odds | No Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Will Liverpool Score 90 Goals or More? | +135 | -165 |
| Will a Goal Be Scored (By Either Team) in Every Liverpool Game? | +1000 | -2000 |
*All odds taken 07/23/19
Marginal Gains Will Do It for the Reds
In finishing second in last season’s Premier League, Liverpool scored an impressive 89 goals and conceded just 22. In order to win it, they will need to maintain their rock-solid defense but be even more prolific in front of goal. As such, if they are able to finish ahead of City, they will smash the 90 goals barrier.
Liverpool star requests Cristiano Ronaldo-like wages in transfer talks with Champions League giants https://t.co/Ng1uckLKGN pic.twitter.com/4KU936yFAU
— sports o'clock (@SportsClock) July 21, 2019
So, part of the decision here for punters will be if they believe the Reds have enough to win the 2019/20 EPL title. Jurgen Klopp has spoken of his desire to win the league this season and so may be prepared to sacrifice a little of his team’s defensive soundness for a few more goals this season.
For us, everything points to the Reds smashing the 90 goal barrier.
Our Pick: Liverpool to score more than 90 goals – Yes (+135)
In 2018/19, Liverpool was involved in just three goalless draws – each one against teams with whom they share a big rivalry. Their away games against fellow Merseysiders Everton and bitter rivals Manchester United both ended 0-0, as did their home clash with eventual title-winners Manchester City.
Full-time: Everton 0-0 Liverpool.
LIVERPOOL HAVE LOST THEIR SPOT AT THE TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE! pic.twitter.com/v0oDpJo73Z
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 3, 2019
So, it’s games against their biggest and most feared competitors that have to form part of their marginal gains if they are to win the title this time around. Even when the stakes are high, the Reds will need to find a way. So we certainly wouldn’t be put off the prospect of them going a whole season without a 0-0, especially at +1000.
Our pick: A goal be scored (by either team) in every Liverpool game – Yes (+1000)
Manchester City Props
| Prop | Yes Odds | No Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Will Man City Score 100 Goals or More? | +135 | -165 |
| Will a Goal Be Scored (By Either Team) in Every Man City Game? | +700 | -1500 |
Free-Scoring City
City scored 95 goals en route to last season’s title (and conceded just 27), so 101 is well within reach for the Citizens, especially when you consider they scored 106 in their Premier League winning season of 2017/18.
With Sergio Aguero leading their line and Gabriel Jesus improving season-on-season, their attack is full of goals, and with a midfield that is packed with quality and creativity, they are guaranteed plenty of ammunition.
Raheem Sterling is also adding to his goalscoring tally with more regularity and notched 25 last season (Aguero 32, Jesus 21), with four of their midfield chipping with double-figures (Leroy Sané 16, Bernardo Silva 13, Riyad Mahrez 12, David Silva 10), and so with Liverpool breathing down their necks, it’s likely they will find an extra six goals on top of last season’s total.
FULL-TIME Man City 6-0 Chelsea
Sergio Aguero scores a record-equalling 11th #PL hat-trick as the champions thrash their visitors and return to top spot#MCICHE pic.twitter.com/cpEuzHzLXX
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 10, 2019
Our pick: Man City to score 100 goals or more – Yes (+135)
City’s only goalless draw of last season was the 0-0 draw at Anfield against Liverpool, and, at home in the Etihad, they scored themselves in every single game. In addition to the draw on Merseyside, they also drew a blank in their away game at Chelsea, where they lost 2-0.
But these were rarities in a season that saw them create a hatful of goalscoring opportunities in almost every game they played, as well as playing an entertaining and thrilling brand of soccer that was appreciated by their own fans and opposition fans alike.
REVEALED: Inside Pep Guardiola's Old Trafford dressing room speech that guided Man City to the title https://t.co/lhnNkojI5m pic.twitter.com/COL63g802M
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) July 21, 2019
Pep Guardiola has put together a team that ticks almost every box and we see no reason why, like Liverpool, they can’t go through a whole season with being involved in a goalless draw.
Our pick: A goal to be scored (by either team) in every Man City game – Yes (+700)
Once just a sports fanatic, fan-turned-writer Gary Gowers has been featured on European television and radio networks to discuss several professional football clubs. His work can be found in an assortment of publications like The Metro, MyFootballWriter.com, and BBC Radio Norfolk.
