Liverpool & Man U Back To Normal?

Not bad yesterday, the only let downs were the lack of second half goals at Norwich and the goal fest at Rotherham, but the latter game finished in a draw so it wasn't a complete wash.


Retrospectively I perhaps should have backed the draw outright in the Wigan v Bolton game but that's a lesson to be applied another day. Due to time constraints I've not been able to work through the numbers, so rather than recommendations I'm just going to go through some scenarios.


Stoke v Manchester United (1:30pm GMT)
United should probably be slight favourites but having drawn four consecutive away games in the Premiership this season then that outcome can't be completely ruled out even though these two haven't shared the points at Stoke since 1980. Additionally Stoke have only won two of the last ten league meetings between them in the Potteries and haven't scored against United at home since December 1984(!)
Wild guess: draw (possibly 1-1) or Manchester United, 0-0 can be pretty much ruled out (last time November 1968). Look for goals around half time.


Liverpool v Blackburn (3:00pm GMT)
Liverpool have been through it over the last couple of weeks but with the ownership issues out of the way and the return of Gerrard and Torres after the Europa League draw at Napoli, this looks like the type of game where a degree of normality could return to Anfield. Blackburn's record at Liverpool is dreadful - they last won there in September '93 - and Liverpool have won seven of the last ten meetings.
Wild guess: Liverpool might be worth backing, but dutching the Liverpool win and the draw wouldn't be the worst idea ever. The longer the game goes on without Blackburn scoring the more chance Liverpool have of winning; could be a low scoring game.