Sunday Football - 9th December 2012

The Manchester Derby has received our full attention elsewhere but there’s plenty of other pressing matters in England as well as elsewhere in Europe, starting with the battle for what now seems like wide open Champions League places in the Premiership. Last year the top 4 was entirely from Manchester and London but on the basis of this season’s evidence only the Manchester Clubs look assured of their places in the top 4, with even Chelsea having shown moments of fallibility at their peak.

Everton have been in the top 6 since the beginning of the season and made a blistering start considering that they’ve usually picked up the pace at the turn of the year, but they’ve only won one of their last 9 games and do not deserve to be such a short price to beat Tottenham, who have bounced back in terrific style from what could have been an extremely damaging 5-2 defeat at neighbours Arsenal, scoring eight goals in three games to put them right back in the top 4 race, and while a trip to Everton is as tough and ask as there is in the Premier League, it’s worth remembering that Tottenham were just minutes from taking a point against Manchester City before Edin Dzeko’s late goal, and one can only assume they’re 3-1 thanks to the absence of Gareth Bale, which while a crucial blow, is lessened by a midfield containing Demebele, Sandro, Lennon and Dempsey, while the inform Jermain Defoe should be on a high after two goals in midweek. Take the 5/6 with Paddy Power that Spurs avoid defeat.

Later on, West Ham can beat a Liverpool side which took a stronger team than they’d like to Italy in midweek having already failed to win any of their 7 matches after a European League game. Without Luis Suarez –scorer and provider of more than half Liverpool’s goals this season - Liverpool would be in the relegation zone and even with him they’ve still won just 4 games all season. This West Ham side have lost just once at Upton Park all season, beating Chelsea 3-1 and holding City to a 0-0 draw, and they are value at 2/1 despite that being a short price than most of this week, with the 8/15 and 4/7 offered that they get at least a point well worth serious consideration.

In France, league leaders Lyon have one of their toughest trips of the season to fourth placed St Eitenne but look very big at 13/5 considering that they’re 5 points clear of their hosts, and they may have been underestimated by the markets despite a fairly poor away record. The double chance value is gone, but Bet 365’s offer of 13/5 looks generous enough.

AC Milan probably don’t have title ambitions after an early season hangover thanks to an abysmal summer transfer window, but they’ve gotten back on track in recent weeks and can gain a third successive league win at Torino today.

Advice:

3 pts Tottenham/Draw double chance (5/6 Paddy Power)

2 pts AC Milan (23/20 general)

1 pt West Ham (9/5 general)

1 pt Lyon (13/5 Bet365)