Premiership Betting: Liverpool v West Brom - Return of Torres can open the floodgates

Premier League / Richard Walker / 07 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Rafa Benitez has finally learnt the lesson that you play your best players as often as you can and a returning Fernando Torres is expected to start. Bad news for West Brom, bad news for the Liverpool layers, says Richard Walker.

You have to go back to early October for West Brom's last Premier League win (1-0 at home to Fulham).

So while there's a sense that all three promoted sides have done "okay so far", it's the Baggies who're doing least okay of the trio and I'm afraid they won't be feeling any better come half seven Saturday evening.

This incarnation of Rafa Benitez's Liverpool has added a winning edge (as in the ability to do when not fully firing) to their game sadly lacking in previous seasons. You could, in fact, argue that this facet to their game was all that was separating their 'Big Four certainties' tag and a genuine title contenders mantle which they rightly hold this time round.

Some more good news for Albion: Fernando Torres is expected back from injury. The old Benitez would definitely have put him on the bench but the new-style Reds' boss - who's finally worked out that you play your best time all the time if you can - is now just as likely to thrust the Spaniard back in from the start.

Whichever 11 takes the field for the Anfield hosts, expect a largely one-sided contest. Am I telling you anything new? Probably not - so let's find some opportunities to swell your Betfair coffers, in spite of a likely one-sided affair.

Large stakers might still enjoy a bit of the [1.25] to back a home win. When it's that short, I've made it pay before by backing both Liverpool/Liverpool in the Half-Time/Full-Time list at [1.72] and Liverpool Win Both Halves, a [2.24] shot. If you're convinced about either of those scenarios, then plunge in. A Baggies' devotee? How about grabbing a bit of [20.0] in Match Odds, with the cover of [6.4] for The Draw. Fat prices - fat chances.

At [14.0] to back, 3-1 to Gerrard and co. looks the sort of scoreline it could well end up as in front of the Setanta Sports cameras. It's [8.6] about 3-0 and that looks tempting too. Quite a marked difference there really, the suggestion being that West Brom are to be unlikely scorers at Anfield. However I reckon they might well get one.

Over 2.5 goals, a [1.77] shot to back, makes sense to me. It's [2.28] about Unders and while you might argue that the Reds can still chuck in a dour 1-0, I think the opposition's leaky defence might be exposed on more than one occasion.

Torres might be something like [2.0] in the To Score list, but omit him from your selections at your peril in a match like this. I can see him getting at least half an hour against what may be a toiling Albion by then. Wide man Albert Riera is my main choice here, I've just got a feeling that he'll pop up with one at around the [4.5] mark.

So even when things look one-sided, Betfair's wide range of markets mean you'll always have good reason to be involved right up until full-time. Good luck.