Our banker bet won again but we incurred an overall loss over the weekend as Arsenal failed to beat Watford and Everton fell to defeat against Bournemouth. The Champions League makes a welcome return this week with Liverpool's trip to Napoli among the highlights from matchday one.
Running total: +£19.50
The Banker
Liverpool have been perfect so far in the Premier League and, after just five matches, have already opened up a five point lead at the top of the table. Attention now turns to the Champions League as Jurgen Klopp plots a defence of the European title they won so miraculously last season. Unquestionably their home form saved them in Europe last term as they lost all three of their group stage games away from home, including a 1-0 reverse against Napoli less than 12 months ago. The teams meet again in Naples this Tuesday and bet365 make Liverpool 13/10 favourites for the win.
Napoli enjoyed a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria on Saturday, lifting them to fifth in Serie A, three points behind early leaders Inter Milan. Until this weekend they have been scoring and leaking goals, but the 2/1 bet365 are offering on them beating Liverpool at home seems big. Dries Mertens has been in fine goal scoring form so far this season, while Lorenzo Insigne, who scored the 90th-minute winner in this very fixture last season, is also looking sharp. The presence of Kalidou Koulibaly at the back gives the Partenopei some real defensive stability and we fancy history to repeat itself here with Napoli edging another close one at the San Paolo.
Selection: £2 on Napoli to win at 2/1 with bet365.
The First Goal Flutter
Felipe Anderson has been unlucky not to open his account for West Ham so far this season but the Brazilian could be worth a punt to score first when the Hammers face Aston Villa on Monday night. West Ham are going to have to improve their away form if they are to finish in the top six and if that truly is Manuel Pellegrini's ambition then these are the type of games they should be winning.
Selection: £1 on Felipe Anderson to score first at 8/1 with bet365.
The Tasty Treble
Chelsea are back in the Champions League with Frank Lampard, who enjoyed some glorious European nights as a player, now leading them from the dugout. They face Valencia this week and at 5/6 are worth a bet at home as they could be getting the Spaniards at just the right time. The La Liga outfit have endured a tumultuous start to the season after the departure of coach Marcelino. Albert Celades took charge of their weekend fixture with Barcelona as Los Che crashed to a heavy 5-2 defeat. With Tammy Abraham on fire for the Blues they can claim a crucial three points in their Group H opener.
Elsewhere, Tottenham can also be backed at 5/6 as they travel to Greece to face Olympiakos. Spurs will have to overcome a hostile atmosphere inside the Karaiskakis Stadium and a team full of confidence. Olympiakos look solid and conceded just one goal in three rounds of Champions League qualifying. However it remains to be seen how they handle goal machine Harry Kane and, with Son Heung-Min also bang in form, we fancy last year's Champions League finalists to start their 2019-20 European campaign with a flourish. Add in Lyon at 8/11 to see off Zenit St Petersburg in Group G for a European treble paying over 9/2.
Selection: £3 on the treble at 4.8/1 with bet365.
The Wildcard Tip
Real Madrid are 11/5 outsiders for their Group A clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. We know that Zinedine Zidane still needs his new-look team to gel but 11/5 looks a big price given Zidane's remarkable record in this competition. After all, PSG have not been blowing teams away so far this season and needed a wonder goal in injury-time from Neymar to sink Strasbourg at the weekend. If Eden Hazard can get into the game early in Paris then Los Blancos have enough quality to shade this.
Selection: £5 on Real Madrid to win at 11/5 with bet365.
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