Back second-fiddle Sadio Mane to call the tune for Liverpool.
It’s must be hard to get the love when you stand next to Mo Salah, but the Senegal ace is doing all he can about it.
His record going into this weekend would be second to none at any other Premier League club (if you set aside Cristiano Ronaldo, the enduring statistical abnormality).
Mane’s scored in eight of his 12 starts this season – that’s the raw equivalent of 1/2 ‘anytime scorer’ odds.
The bleak news for Liverpool is that he and Salah – plus Naby Keita – could leave for the African Cup of Nations the day after Boxing Day, and might not return until February.
Of the 47 goals the Reds have scored so far, more than half came from those three. They’ll leave that massive hole for up to eight games.
Whoever steps into the void can at least count on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s astonishing quality of delivery – and the England star’s wide threat looks a good fit for West Ham ’s soft spots today (4.30pm).
TAA’s crosses can put any fox-in-the-box among the pigeons – and Mane looks the value ‘anytime scorer’ to ruffle feathers at 13/8 (SkyBet, BetVic) .
Antonio Conte's loose end has brought him to London on an 18-month deal, the football version of a zero-hours contract. But the wily Italian won’t be delivering 20 parcels an hour and pooing in the back of the van. He’s doing holiday cover at Tottenham ’s home for distressed gentlefolk.
Harry Kane’s out of bed again, nurse! His every grim step shaving another £10k off that famous asking price...
Conte will fear more for Spurs’ low-rise defence on the trip to Everton (2pm). The 8/11 (Fred) YES ‘both teams score’ looks right. And have an ‘anytime’ on Michael Keane at 14/1 (Bet365).
Your modern Arsenal sides seem able to turn any silk purse into a sow’s ear and, despite a recent upswing, the 4/11 they beat visitors Watford (2pm) has a very familiar whiff of regrets-to-come.
Trust goal-hog Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang instead, ’anytime scorer’ at 19/20 (BetVic) - it’s bob-on for his numbers so far this season.
Jamie Vardy’s data makes similar ’anytime’ sense at 6/4 (Unibet) for Leicester at leaky Leeds (2pm).
Over in Serie A, get on Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the general 6/4 ‘anytime scorer’ in what has all the makings for a brilliant Milan derby (7.45pm).
Last week: Winner at 9/4
