Premier League / Bettorlogic / 27 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Albert Riera was injured in Liverpool's home draw with Birmingham and hasn't featured since.

Bettorlogic look at key players who will be absent this week through injury and suspension and how we as punters can benefit from knowing the trends when they're absent.

"Without their Spanish Armada, Liverpool’s attack lacks the same threat and in what promises to be a fiercely contested derby, Everton should be able to take something out of this game. They can be backed at [2.04] +0.25 goals on the Asian handicap."

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Bettorlogic have compiled a report using our player analysis tool Player PRO highlighting the most important players that are likely to be missing across England's major leagues this weekend.

NB Player appearances are based on a player starting and completing at least an hour of the match unless otherwise stated. The sample is based on a team's home and away league matches since the start of last season unless otherwise stated.

Everton v Liverpool

Albert Riera

Liverpool have been missing their Spanish international winger Albert Riera for the past few games during which time they have struggled badly.

Since the start of last season, the Spaniard has played 28 and missed 20 of Liverpool's matches with a good degree of success - the Reds winning 17 and losing only two of the matches he's played at an average 2.14 points per game, while falling to 1.95 without him, losing on five occasions.

The goal-scoring winger has helped Liverpool average 2.21 goals per game when he's played, compared to just 2.05 when he's been missing, though they've also had more problems defensively in the matches he's missed - goals conceded rising from 0.79 per game to 1.20.

Liverpool may well have an even bigger problem in finding the net should top-scorer Fernando Torres not be fit for the trip to Goodison, as in the 22 matches that the club's record signing has missed since the start of last season, Liverpool's average goals per game has reduced to 1.77, compared to 2.31 in the 29 he's played).

Without their Spanish Armada, Liverpool's attack lacks the same threat and in what promises to be a fiercely contested derby, Everton should be able to take something out of this game. They can be backed at [2.04] +0.25 goals on the Asian handicap.

Round-up

Man City v Hull

Martin Petrov made a brief return to the Manchester City team this season having missed the majority of last term, before a knee injury ruled him out for the next few weeks. Since the start of last season, Petrov has played only seven matches for City but during those games they've won only twice - including just one of the three matches he's played this season. In the 43 games Petrov has missed, City's PPG has risen by 29% from 1.14 to 1.47 as they have become far tighter in defence - average goals conceded falling from 1.86 to 1.23 per game.

The Eastland's club should get back to winning ways this weekend against Hull and a Manchester City clean sheet at [2.04] or a City W/W at [1.81] both look good value.

Plymouth v Barnsley

With very few significant injuries or suspensions in the Premier league this week we have taken a look at one of the matches from the Championship. Plymouth host a Barnsley team that have been rejuvenated since Mark Robins took charge earlier this season, but will have to do so without their leading scorer Jamie Mackie. The former Exeter forward has played 49 and missed 14 of the Pilgrims matches since the start of last season. With him, Plymouth have won 14 and lost 23 of their matches (1.10 points per game) and whilst nothing to write home about, they've been even worse without him - winning only three and losing eight of the 14 matches to average just 0.86 points per game. Unsurprisingly, given Mackie has been their top scorer in this time with 10 goals, Plymouth's average goals scored falls from 1.00 to 0.79 without him.

Plymouth have had a bit of a revival recently but with Mackie unavailable the Green Army may have to witness more disappointment this weekend and Barnsley should be backed on the Asian handicap at [2.1] for the draw no bet.

Tags: Albert Riera injury, Fernnado Torres injury, football bets, football tips, Martin Petrov injury, Premier League matches