WILL LIVERPOOL START STARS AGAINST CHELSEA?
Simao Sabrosa says Atletico Madrid are “optimistic” ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg at Liverpool on Thursday. An early goal by former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan saw Atletico secure a narrow 1-0 win over Rafael Benitez’s team in the first leg last Thursday at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Quique Sanchez Flores’ team followed it up with a 3-1 win over Tenerife in the Primera Division on Sunday to round off a successful few days.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expects captain Steven Gerrard to lead from the front in their remaining matches. The Reds are just 90 minutes away from a Europa League final and still have hopes of snatching fourth place in the Barclays Premier League. Atletico Madrid arrive at Anfield on Thursday with a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their European tie. Benitez wants Gerrard, as he has done so often in the past, to inspire the team to victory just as he did at Burnley on Sunday with two goals in a 4-0 win.
Fulham (6/5) Draw (12/5) Hamburg (5/2) View all odds
Liverpool (8/13) Draw (3) Atl Madrid (5) View all odds
WITH CONSPIRACY theorists suggesting that Liverpool might deliberately field a weakened side against title chasing Chelsea, William Hill are offering odds of 11/2 that Steven Gerrard will NOT start the game (1/10 he does); 7/1 that Jamie Carragher will NOT start (1/16 he does) and 8/1 that Reina will NOT start (1/20) he will. ‘We’ve heard all the stories but don’t believe that Benitez will rest players for agame of this magnitude unless they are genuinely injured’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
William Hill…..How Many Liverpool Players Will Start Both Games?
0-3….25/1
4-6…..3/1
7-9..Evs
10 or 11….7/4
HILLS OFFER 6/1 THAT TORRES, BENITEZ AND GERRARD WILL HAVE ALL LEFT THE CLUB BEFORE THE START OF NEXT SEASON.
William Hill:
Liverpool to win nothing next season: 4/7 (5/4 to win one or more major trophies).
To be at the club first day of next season:
Torres 8/15 Yes, 11/8 No.
Gerrard 1/5 Yes, 7/2 No.
Benitez 5/6 Yes, 5/6 No.
All three to stay: 7/4
All three to go: 6/1.
EUROPA LEAGUE ODDS…..
To qualify……8/11 At Mad; Evens Liv……..8/11 Hamburg; Evens Fulham
Method Of Victory
Liverpool Extra Time16/1
Liverpool Pens20/1
Match Go To Pens11/1
Ath Madrid Extra Time33/1
Ath Madrid Pens25/1
Fulham Extra Time25/1
Fulham Pens28/1
Match To Go To Pens16/1
Hamburg Extra Time28/1
Hamburg Pens28/1
Nominate The Finalists
Liverpool/Fulham3/1
Liverpool/Hamburg12/5
Ath Madrid/Fulham12/5
Ath Madrid/Hamburg2/1
TO WIN EUROPA LEAGUE…..2/1 Liverpool; 13/5 At Madrid; Hamburg; 10/3 Fulham
