Football Betting: Live On ITV1: Thu 19:45
Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Celtic, Dundee United and Motherwell are all in Europa League action. Compare Champions League odds.
Liverpool are Betfred’s 10/1 second favourites to win the Europa League, behind Manchester City who are a 7/1 shot with Totesport but with the latter perhaps likely to prioritise elsewhere, it Roy Hodgson’s side that catch the eye, especially as the Reds boss guided a less fancied Fulham team all the way to the final last season.
His charges face Trabzonspor in their final qualifier before the group stage and at 1/4 (William Hill) they should make it through at a canter. A comfortable home win the first leg will set the Reds on their way and Victor Chandler price them at 2/7 to take a lead over to Turkey while Stan James offer 4/5 for them to come out on top by at least two clear goals at Anfield, where in-form David N’Gog is a tasty 9/2 courtesy of Ladbrokes, to break the deadlock.
City head to Romania to face Poli Timisoara and like Liverpool they should run out relatively easy winners; Paddy Power pricing them at 4/6 to bring an advantage back to Eastlands. Aston Villa however, were knocked out by Rapid Vienna at this stage last term and are a bit of a risk at 13/10 with Betdaq to register an away win as the duo renew hostilities again, although Kevin McDonald’s troops should still make it through.
Celtic meanwhile, are a safe-looking 8/11 (bet365) to beat Dutch outfit Utrecht at Parkhead but the Hoops aren’t strong enough to warrant a significant interest in the qualification betting. Conversely, although SPL counterparts Motherwell are underdogs ahead of their two-legged tie against Odense, they look overpriced at 13/8 with 888Sport to sneak through.
Similarly, Dundee United are bet365’s 21/10 outsiders to see off AEK Athens; the Terrors could shock the Greek outfit.
