Ancelotti backs Courtois as Belgian claims The Best snub is down to FIFA criticism

Watching title contenders mark their return to Premier League duties this weekend, we have a quartet of intriguing affairs on the cards.

Ahead of a stacked schedule, we have taken an in-depth look at some the most eye-catching betting markets that are available.

Saturday, October 28th

12:30 Chelsea vs Brentford

While Chelsea might have suffered a real collapse at home against London rivals Arsenal last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a , the Blues should take plenty of positives away from any eye-catching performance. Appearing to have turned a recent corner on either side of October’s international break, Saturday’s hosts will be desperate to keep up their momentum here.

Heading into the fortnight interval with a routine 4-1 romp aw…

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker:

Real Madrid will be playing host to Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening in the second leg of their Champions League meeting, this season in the round of 16.

It would have most assuredly been described as a clash of the giants, indeed it was before the first leg, but given that Los Blancos left Anfield three weeks ago with a three-goal advantage. Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah made the evening start in a perfect way for the Merseysiders, but a brace from Vinicius Junior and Benzema each, and a goal by Eder Militao in between, completely changed the feeling inside the stadium, from joy bordering on ecstatic, to shock and numb disappointment.

Real Madrid

Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti, of course, has a painful…

Olympics chief Thomas Bach has attacked politicians pushing for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be prevented from returning to international sport, saying their attitude is deplorable .

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Bach launched a tirade on Thursday at the negative reactions to plans to allow competitors from Russia and Belarus to compete in global sporting events as neutral individual athletes.

There has been no final decision taken yet on whether those athletes can take part in next year s Olympics; however, there will be potential pathways for them to qualify for the Games, and it could yet mean there are Russians and Belarusians taking part in the Paris Games while war continues in Ukraine.

Government figures in the UK, Germany and beyon…

When Brazil spring to mind, you don t normally associate defensive stability and clean sheets with the Selecao.

Brazil s flair and free-flowing football have made them the most feared and entertaining nation in world football.

But Tite s Selecao are built differently.

Playing with 10 men from the 48th minute, defending champions Brazil overcame their numerical disadvantage and Chile 1-0 in the Copa America quarter-finals on Friday.

Lucas Paqueta came off the bench at half-time and settled the contest a minute into the second half in Rio de Janeiro, where Gabriel Jesus saw red for a shocking high boot to the face of Chile s Eugenio Mena.

There was a Chile onslaught as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser and while Ben Brereton hit the cros…

Prediction: Riyad Mahrez anytime goalscorer

Odds:

Bookmaker:

Alan Pardew could face a fight for his job at the Hawthorns this weekend as his West Bromwich Albion face Midlands rivals Leicester City in the Premier League.

Claude Puel meanwhile be aiming to get his Foxes back on the right track against the strugglers after a few indifferent results in recent weeks.

West Bromwich Albion

It would be fair to say that the sacking of Tony Pulis and indeed appointment of Alan Pardew at the Hawthorns Stadium has not quite gone to plan. Since arriving in the West Midlands, the former Crystal Palace and Newcastle man has only managed to win one league game. As a matter of fact, the Baggies have only managed to take maximum points in five clashes during t…

Mauricio Pochettino declared Paris Saint-Germain are ready to do business before the transfer window closes – but refused to discuss Tanguy Ndombele.

Tottenham midfielder Ndombele is thought to be a target for the Ligue 1 leaders, with reports that a loan deal is being discussed between the clubs.

Pochettino brought Ndombele to Spurs in 2019 and thinks highly of the former Lyon playmaker, but a move back to France is not yet a formality.

The Argentine head coach declined to explain PSG s apparent interest in the 25-year-old when his name was mentioned in a news conference on Saturday.

I don t like speaking about rumours or players who are at other clubs, said Pochettino. We have a squad with enormous quality. The club made a huge effort in the summer…

Jurgen Klopp welcomed the news Pep Guardiola has committed his future to Manchester City, but the Liverpool manager is wary of challenges from elsewhere in the Premier League.

Liverpool and City have been England s two leading teams in recent seasons, with Guardiola s men winning consecutive titles before the Reds narrowly beaten in 2018-19 took their crown last term.

That battle is set to continue, even with both sides facing problems, after the City manager signed a new two-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Klopp is looking forward to further tussles with the Catalan coach, yet he does not see a two-horse race resuming at the top of the table.

I m happy about Pep signing the new contract, but I m a little bit afraid that it will be Guardiola versus …

Chelsea and Manchester City enjoyed successful away trips in gameweek three of the Premier League season, with the Blues turning to youth for inspiration while the champions were inspired by longstanding heroes.

A transfer ban has forced Frank Lampard to rely on a batch of talented Chelsea youngsters as he looks to make a positive start to life as a Premier League manager, and some of his hottest prospects showed more than just potential on their trip to Norwich City.

While Chelsea picked up a first league win of the season and Manchester City took three points from their trip to Bournemouth, it is Liverpool who remain the top flight s pace-setters after they brushed Arsenal aside at Anfield.

With the help of Opta s stats, take a deep dive into the weekend s bigg…

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus for the rest of the season, according to multiple sources.

The 26-year-old joined the Serie A club from Barcelona in a deal which saw Miralem Pjanic go the other way in 2020. Since then, he s made a total of 63 appearances for the Old Lady, scoring and assisting once apiece from his position as a defensive midfielder.

Liverpool s midfield ranks are looking extremely slim at the moment, with Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of action, and it seems captain Jordan Henderson is a big doubt for the Merseyside Derby this Saturday. Luckily for manager Jurgen Klopp, Curtis Jones has recovered from injury and has already featured in the stunning win over Newcastle on Wedn…

Didier Deschamps highlighted Denmark s quality as he warned of the difficulties of France s 2022 World Cup draw.

World champions France were entered into Group D on Friday, alongside Denmark, Tunisia and one of Peru, the United Arab Emirates or Australia.

Les Bleus also faced Denmark, Peru and Australia in the first round en route to the title in Russia four years ago and are now expected to comfortably get out of their group.

However, Deschamps was anything but complacent following the draw, well aware of the threat Denmark in particular pose.

Semi-finalists at Euro 2020, Denmark are ranked 11th in the world, with only Mexico and the Netherlands above them from pot two. Germany, widely considered the toughest opponents, are 12th.

And Kasper Hjulm…