We’ve teamed up with the Liverpool Echo and Radio City Talk host Tony Scott for this season’s football tipping. He’ll have his best selections every week throughout the season and kicks off with some ante-post bets before the big kick off this weekend…
IT’S that time of the year again.
Saturday mornings, the breakfast is being cooked, the football coupons are laid out, the newspaper pull-outs are piled up and you’re wondering which teams to stick in your ante posts league accas!
Allow me to run through ante post runners and riders for the season.
Sheridan Can Fire Spierites To National League Promotion
Let’s start with the National League were Chesterfield at 9/1 represent good value to win the title. Since John Sheridan took over back in January, the Spireites went from relegation certainties in 22nd position to a respectable 14th place finish – losing just five matches out their last 18.
They’re well worth a few quid each way.
| Saturday – 3.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott’s Ante Post Preview – National League | ||
| Chesterfield to win the National League (each way) Best Bet | 9/1 |  |
Mansfield Can Capitalise On Last Season’s Disappointment In League Two
League Two is wide open so it’s another each way selection for me, this time at double figures.
I’m sliding towards Mansfield at 10/1 who were the best team in the division last year not to have achieved promotion.
The Stags lost a last day shootout to MK Dons for automatic promotion last season and I’m sure they’ve got what it takes to go one step further this time around.
They’ve already capitalised on Bury’s financial plight by signing Striker Nicky Maynard who was much sought after in that division especially after his 18 league goals last term.
I’ll also be having a few shilling on Maynard to be Top Goalscorer in League Two at around 12/1.
| Saturday – 3.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott’s Ante Post Preview – League Two | ||
| Mansfield to win League Two (each way) Best Bet | 10/1 | |
| Nicky Maynard Top Scorer | 12/1 |  |
Lincoln Primed To Make It Successive Promotions In League One
In League One, Sunderland are red hot favourites but are too skinny for me at 7/2. Second favourites Portsmouth have recently lost their best player and are also on the cusp of losing their second best player in Jemal Lowe to a host of Championship clubs.
Ipswich’s squad seems inexperienced at this level although the signing of James Norwood will enhance their chances of going up.
There are worse 20/1 pokes in football than Lincoln City to win back to back titles.
The Imps won League Two on the bridle last term and they’ve also been very shrewd in the transfer market this summer.
Not many League One teams will fancy going to Sincil Bank and more importantly, they’ll have all the momentum from last season.
| Saturday – 3.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott’s Ante Post Preview – League One | ||
| Lincoln to win League One (each way) Best Bet | 20/1 | |
Leeds Can Last The Distance And Get Back Up To The Premier League
The Championship is Premier League Two nowadays with so many big clubs propping up in the second tier of English football.
19 out the 24 clubs currently playing in the Championship have played in the Premier League – This division really is the football equivalent of the Grand National.
Fulham tying down Aleksandar Mitrović will put them in the mix for promotion, West Bromwich Albion should be there or thereabouts while Cardiff City have promotion expert Neil Warnock at the helm and look a good bet for promotion at 7/2.
I’m predicting tough campaigns for Middlesbrough and Derby.
The team I’m tipping to win the Championship outright are Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa staying at the club is a tip in itself and they were desperately unlucky not to achieve promotion last season. The Whites sold their star man in Jack Clarke to Tottenham Hotspur last month but were shrewd enough to keep him for another the season while also adding hot Manchester City prospect Jack Harrison for a second season too which will only enhance their chances of promotion.
The Yorkshire club didn’t stop there this summer.
They just lacked something different in the final third last term and put down a massive statement of intent last month with the purchase of Helder Costa from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Costa with 25 Premier League appearances under his belt last season lit up this level in 2017/18 season and was a huge factor in Wolves promotion success.
I’m tipping Leeds United to clinch the title with games to spare (5/1).
| Saturday – 3.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott’s Ante Post Preview – Championship | ||
| Leeds to win the Championship Best Bet | 9/2 |  |
Spurs To Break Into The Premier League Top Two
The Premier League returns next weekend but will it be the two horse race most pundits think?
Manchester City and Liverpool were miles clear of the rest in May and just for sheer value, I’m sure most punters would slide with Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Champions Manchester City have boosted their squad with the signings of Angelino from PSV and Rodrigo from Atletico Madrid respectively.
Liverpool have decided not to dip their toe in the market and I think that they could rue that decision.
They’ve had a mixed pre-season with some unlikely defeats without their star men.
The Reds were very fortunate last season in terms of injuries with the likes of Van Dijk, Alisson, Salah, Mane and Robertson all playing a minimum of 36 matches each.
I can see Tottenham Hotspur providing the biggest threat to the front pair. The £65m signing of midfielder of Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon is a major factor why I’m backing Spurs for a Top 2 finish at 7/2.
They were right in the mix last season until the last couple of months were they just tailed off.
The lack of midfielders breaking to support the strikers in big games was a huge factor why Spurs blew out towards the end of the campaign.
Add the signing of Ndombele to Lucas Moura, Heung Min-Son and Harry Kane and you’ve got an attack ready to compete.
Chelsea without Eden Hazard will be miles off the pace, in fact I’m not sure I can see Frank Lampard lasting the season.
Unless Manchester United and Arsenal sign three defenders each by Thursday I can’t see them being a threat to the top three either.
| Friday – 8.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott’s Ante Post Preview – Premier League | ||
| Tottenham to finish in the top 2 of the Premier League Best Bet | 7/2 |  |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be Premier League top scorer. | 8/1 | |
| Liverpool to win the FA Cup | 6/1 | |
Arsenal Hotshot Can Land Successive Golden Boot Awards
In terms of Top Goalscorer market you’ve got to be looking at players who are taking penalties.
With the new interpretation of the handball rule and VAR this season we are going to see plenty of referees pointing to the spot.
Golden Boot holder and penalty taker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at 8/1 is my selection.
Other specials to look out for are Chelsea to finish outside the Top 6 at 10/3, and Norwich City to be bottom at Christmas 5/1.
Merseyside View
Seen as though I’m based on Merseyside I suppose it’s only right that I give you my best bets for Everton and Liverpool this term.
Everton’s Lucas Digne chipped in with four goals in his debut season while scooping both the clubs Player of the Year awards in the process.
The Frenchman is deadly from set pieces and there is a chance he could be on penalties this time around too. His anytime scorer price is one to keep an eye on through the campaign.
European Champions Liverpool have featured in one FA cup final since 2006 and I’ve a hunch Jurgen Klopp may target this trophy this time around 6/1.
Good luck!!