Weekend Review: Layers lap it up as big guns continue to misfire in Premier League

A mixed bag of results left the bookies and punters almost at a stalemate this weekend as the big guns continued to struggle in the Premier League.

Biggest wins for the bookies came at Anfield and the Amex with shock losses for Liverpool and Chelsea.

It was not a welcome return to the south coast for Chelsea (7/5) boss Graham Potter as his Blues side were humbled 4-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion (2/1), who had previously gone without a win since his departure.

Freescoring attacker Leandro Trossard opened the scoring after five minutes before a brace of own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah left Potter feeling blue going into the break.

Kai Havertz gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope just after half-time, but a comeback failed to materialise as Chelsea’s misery was compounded when Pascal Gross added the fourth in injury time.

G⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️D MORNING! 👋 pic.twitter.com/UylQ0cbsgy

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 30, 2022

The other shock came in the North West as a jubilant Jesse Marsch masterminded his second win against big six opposition with an impressive 2-1 win for Leeds United (11/1) over a lacklustre Liverpool (1/5) at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Spanish forward Rodrigo opened the scoring early on before Mo Salah equalised shortly after. Substitute Crysencio Summerville scored a dramatic late winner to give Leeds all three points and left Liverpool eight points adrift of Newcastle in fourth, albeit with a game in hand.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “Brighton deservedly spanking Chelsea, and of course Leeds’ heroics at Liverpool, put paid to lots of Premier League multiples at weekend. Events at Anfield were particularly difficult to fathom, with beleaguered visiting manager Jesse Marsch and the travelling faithful absolutely thrilled with the resolve shown on the day.”

Firkins also let be known what punters could get if they still back Jurgen Klopp’s men to win the league, who are currently 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

He added: “Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool undoubtedly have problems – but if you fancy a miraculous turnaround you can have a massive 50/1 about them coming out on top in May.”

Elsewhere, Spurs (7/10) left it late to snatch a win at Bournemouth (4/1), as Antonio Conte’s men found themselves 2-0 after a brace from Kieffer Moore left them starring down the barrel of a third straight league defeat.

However, Tottenham showed true grit to claw this one back as goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Davies drew the game level before Rodrigo Bentancur scored in the second minute of injury time to send the away end into rapture.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth stated that this game saw backers of both teams in the money due to the firm’s early payout offer. He said: “It was also looking good for us at Bournemouth with the Cherries 2-0 up, triggering our 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout offer, before Spurs fought back to secure a 3-2 win with us paying out on both sides.”

HE'S THE REASON! 🎶

COME ON YOU SPURS 👏 pic.twitter.com/Fv6v3xZCtp

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2022

There were also good results for the bookies around the grounds, as a Erling Haaland-less Manchester City (2/5) squeaked to a 1-0 win over Leicester City (6/1) and Fulham (5/4) continued their good Premier League start after drawing at Everton (11/5).

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill remarked: “Chelsea losing to Brighton and Fulham drawing 0-0 with Everton were another two results which left a big positive in the book. Despite winning, City only putting one past Leicester and no Haaland to create almost inevitable winning goalscorer bets, that result was another one which left Kindred traders very happy at the final whistle.”

The story in Europe again was a mixed bag for the bookies as the Bundesliga turned up the heat this week. Borussia Dortmund edged a feisty encounter with Eintracht Frankfurt, 2-1, with English wonderkid Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet again. Behemoths Bayern Munich smashed Mainz 6-2, while RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart both secured wins this week.

Freeth added: “The Bundesliga was a horrow show. Borussia Dortmund winning with Jude Bellingham scoring again in a game with 10 cards, Bayern bagging six, Bochum banging in four with favourites Leipzig and Stuttgart also winning. And that carried on into Sunday with Union Berlin getting an injury-time winner and Freiburg winning at Schalke.”

Spain and Italy saved the day as Real Madrid could only manage a draw against Girona and Barcelona edging out Valencia 1-0. Atletico Madrid continued their disastrous week with a 3-2 loss against Cadiz. In Serie A, both AC Milan and Lazio fell to respective defeats.

In horseracing, the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby was won impressively by Bravemansgame, with the favourite Ahoy Senor finishing last of the five runners.

The pair reignited their ongoing rivalry, with Bravemansgame coming out on top after being bested at Aintree in the spring, in a what was billed as a tussle between the two favourites.

Ridden by Harry Cobden, Bravemansgame went off at 2/1 with Ahoy Senor at 11/10, with the victor breezing home by three-and-a-half lengths ahead of closest challenger Eldorado Allen.

Betfred’s Firkins noted Bravemansgame impressive showing boosted the runners credentials for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Firkins said: “Impressive winner Bravemansgame jumped beautifully and has been cut to 2/1 joint favourite for the King George on Boxing Day. The other joint ‘jolly,’ Willie Mullins’ Allaho, lies in wait. He might be different gravy, but it looks like a true Christmas classic in the making.

Paddy Power has also slashed Bravemansgame’s odds to 9/4.

"He's jumped them into submission!" 🤩

Bravemansgame wins the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase 🥇#ITVRacing | @WetherbyRaces | @CobdenHarry | @PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/hGGjYd8SCu

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 29, 2022

Over at Ascot, there was a poor first run over fences in the handicap chase for Goshen, ridden by Jamie Moore for his father. Goshen finished back in third of the four runners behind winner Gowel Road in a disappointing chase debut.

Reflecting on the weekend’s action, Gill commented: “At Wetherby on Saturday, the Charlie Hall Chase went the way of the highly impressive Bravemansgame, 2/1 winner as 11/10 favourite Ahoy Senor failed to deliver.

“Bravemansgame was well supported on the day and that race went the way of the punters. Over at Ascot, the Bateaux London Handicap went to 15/2 shot Highway One O Two in a race than went to the layers, as most the better backed horses missed the frame,” he added.