08 January 2023 , 01:01
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Bet on another sickener for Chelsea this afternoon.
The Blues head to Manchester City (4.30pm, BBC ) for an FA Cup date that must look about as inviting as a colonoscopy appointment.
You could build a top-six XI just from the players laid up in the Stamford Bridge treatment room right now, but the probing question is could Graham Potter?
The prognosis looks grim for the Chelsea boss, under the knife again after Thursday’s 1-0 home defeat by City. But unless you’re expecting him to pull a 20-goal striker out of his backside, it’s sticking-plaster time again today.
The fact is that Erling Haaland has outscored the entire Chelsea squad combined in the Prem this season.
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The big lad’s even got as many goals with his ‘wrong’ foot as Potter’s seen last-man-standing Kai Havertz manage with both of his, plus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s.
The party seems over for Auba, who had the flaccid demeanour of last month's balloon as a subbed-sub in midweek.
Haaling looks solid ‘anytime scorer’ value at 4/6 (Bet365) and so does a fired-up Riyad Mahrez at 13/5 (Unibet). Have both, but check starters.
Worldie hunters want air threat Nathan Ake ‘anytime scorer’ at 12/1 (Bet365).
A classic case of ‘which side most couldn’t care less’ when Leeds go to Cardiff (2pm, ITV ) – and good luck if you can unravel that! Neither seemed to be fussed about the EFL Cup this season, Leeds boss Jesse Marsch rotating hard before exiting, and 6/5 (Paddy) NO ‘both teams score’ is a fair coin-flip single.
Same NO shout for Aston Villa-Stevenage (4.30pm, BBC) but have it in a double with NO in the Cardiff game, that pays over 5/2 (Paddy).
Cup magic is up for grabs, and the road to Hartlepool will glow with promise for Stoke (2pm). A banana skin in theory, but these Monkey Hangers concede goals by the bunch.
Former Chelsea loan wanderer Lewis Baker will fancy a poke – get on him ‘to score from outside the box’ at 8/1 (Bet365). Swansea’s Joel Piroe (12.30pm at Bristol City) is worth a go ‘anytime scorer’ at 12/5 (Paddy) and ‘from outside the box’ at 14/1 (Bet365).
Over in Spain, Barcelona are weakened by bans – try Antoine Griezmann ‘anytime assist’ at 11/4 (Paddy) for hosts Atletico Madrid (8pm, La Liga).