Betting Picks

Event: English Premier League

Liverpool v. Stoke City

Saturday, January 14, 10:00 ET

Liverpool Looks to Continue Second Half Surge

As the New Year begins, the sports landscape gears up for a big month of action with plenty of sports betting available. With baseball over and the NBA just beginning, fans turn to hockey-follow all the action and NHL scores. For more help and advice on betting, check out price per head booking and bookie software. In addition, look to sportsbook reviews for addition information during the dramatic season of sports.

This weekend features a full slate of soccer action, with the top leagues around Europe playing, and Premiership action in full swing. One of the hottest teams in the league, Liverpool, looks to continue their second half surge up the table and move closer to the top tier as they play at home and host Stoke City this weekend.

Liverpool currently sits just outside the top five, in sixth position with nine wins, seven draws, and just four losses. Their 34 points puts them two back of fifth place Arsenal, and three back of fourth place Chelsea. Hot on their heels, however, is seventh place Newcastle United, sitting back with one fewer point.

They will look to put more pressure on the top teams as they host eighth place Stoke City. Coming in with eight wins and five draws, Stoke City have 29 points and are securely in the top half of the table for at least this weekend. They are four points ahead of the next closest team, but also four points behind Newcastle.

Stoke will have a tough task ahead of them as they play Liverpool on the road, one of only two clubs in the league who have yet to loss at home. While Liverpool only has four home victories, they have six draws and no losses. They have allowed just eight goals in those matches, while scoring 14.

Stoke, however, have played well on the road this season. They have four victories and five losses on the road. The victories have been close, and the losses have been blowouts, as they have scored just eight goals while allowing 20.

Liverpool have been playing a lot of football lately, competing in the Carling Cup as well as the FA Cup. After a tough 3-0 loss in Premiership action to top club Manchester City, they rebounded to beat them 1-0 in Carling action. That Premiership loss ended a five-game unbeaten streak that saw Liverpool outscore their opponents by a combined 7-2.  They have shut out their opponents seven times this season.

Betting lines: At home, Liverpool is the favourite, and rightly so. They have been playing great of late as they continue to move up the table. Still, Stoke will put up a tough fight, and they will stay in the match against Liverpool’s less powerful offense. Look for the clubs to play even, an Stoke to surprise Liverpool and earn a draw.