MATCH PREVIEWS

Liverpool vs. Man Utd: Anfield Turns Up the Heat 🔥

Liverpool welcome Manchester United to Anfield to kick off their new year and the vibes couldn’t be more different for these two teams. Liverpool are cruising at the top, while United are stuck in 14th, trying to piece their season together.

Key Stats to Know: 

Liverpool Are Flying: The Reds are unbeatable at Anfield. Six wins and a draw in their last seven. They’re scoring 2.43 goals per game (xG: 2.35) while conceding just 0.57 (xG: 1.35). Salah is in vintage form, bagging 20 goals this season, five of them in his last five outings. 

United’s Rough Travels: Two wins in their last six away games don’t exactly scream confidence. Scoring 1.33 goals per match (xG: 1.94) while shipping 1.83 (xG: 1.39). It’s hard to pick any Manchester United player to shine for the rest of the season. Maybe Diallo?

Betting Suggestions:

Goals are on the menu, and over 3.5 at 2.0 feels like a solid shout. Liverpool are relentless at home, and United’s defence doesn’t look ready to handle the heat.

If you fancy Liverpool to start fast and crush United’s hopes early, the highest-scoring half being the first at 2.85 is worth a look. Anfield is no place to play catch-up.

This game is available via our partner Booms Bet. Click here

Valencia vs. Real Madrid: Trouble Brewing at the Mestalla

Valencia plays Real Madrid at the Mestalla on January 3rd, and it’s shaping up to be a tough night for the home side. Struggling in 19th place, Los Che face an uphill battle against a Real Madrid team cruising in second place.

Key Stats to Know:

Valencia’s Finishing Spark: Despite their struggles, Valencia have been clinical at home, scoring 1.67 goals per game from just 0.73 xG. However, injuries to Giorgi Mamardashvili, Mouctar Diakhaby, and captain José Gayá, along with Pepelu's suspension, leave them vulnerable in key areas.

Real Madrid on the Road: Los Blancos are delivering results away from home, scoring 2.14 goals per game (xG: 1.73). Kylian Mbappé, although seen as not performing to the highest level possible, still scored 12 goals this season, including 4 in his last 5 matches. Defensively, Madrid will be missing Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão, which could offer Valencia some hope.

Betting Suggestions

If you're backing a player to steal the show, Jude Bellingham to score 2 or more goals at 12.5 is worth considering. For those expecting Real Madrid's defence to hold firm, betting on them to keep a clean sheet at 1.92 looks like a safe option.

You can back these bets via our partner Booms Bet. Click here.

WTF?

Gum & Games: When Cruyff's Superstitions Got Silly 🍬

Ever blame your bad day on not wearing your lucky socks? Amateur hour. Johan Cruyff turned pre-game rituals into an art form that would make OCD specialists take notes.

The superstition spreadsheet:

• Mandatory goalkeeper stomach slaps ✅

• Strategic gum-spitting locations 🎯

• One missing piece of Sportlife = 4-1 loss to AC Milan 😬

• Success rate: Pretty darn high

• Keeper Gert Bals' abs: Presumably rock-solid

Big picture: Cruyff was perfecting his pre-game gum trajectory while most players were practising free kicks. The one time he forgot his Sportlife? Ajax got absolutely demolished in the 1969 European Cup Final. Talk about a fresh-breath fiasco.

Bottom line: Next time someone calls your game-day rituals weird, just remember: The greatest Dutch player ever believed his success hinged on properly placed kauwgom. Sometimes, genius is just weirdness that works. 🌟

DID YOU KNOW?

From PE Whistle to Football Whistle: When Your Gym Teacher Goes Goated 🏆

Just picture this: The guy making kids do burpees in the school gym ends up revolutionising global football. That's basically Rinus Michels' story, who went from PE teacher to becoming the mad scientist behind "Total Football."

The real flex:

• Started making kids do laps

• Ended up making Cruyff do magic

• Casual transformation of global football

• Still probably made players run suicides in training

• Probably the only PE teacher with a World Cup final on their CV

Bottom line: Next time your gym teacher tells you to "be more creative" during dodgeball, remember - they might just be the next tactical genius in disguise. Though we're still waiting for another PE teacher to casually invent a whole new way of playing football... 🤔

MEME OF THE DAY

Seriously, we won all the time!

WHO WILL WIN?