Former Manchester City star Richard Dunne believes Pep Guardiola’s men are capable of raising the bar further still on a record-breaking season and this time remaining unbeaten throughout. What’s more he’s certain that the players believe this too.

The defender, who was capped 80 times by the Republic of Ireland in a career that spanned two decades, was speaking exclusively to 888sport just moments after another six-goal masterclass from the Blues and though the ruthless attacking football greatly impressed, what encouraged Dunne the most was City’s eleventh clean sheet of the season. It’s a miserliness founded on a recently established centre-back pairing of John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, a partnership that the 39 year old pundit insists is breaking new ground.

“They are very different to when you go back over the years to the centre-back pairings that United had. Vidic and Stam, Steve Bruce and Pallister even. They were tough tacklers whereas the two City have – who are the only two centre-backs that Pep has bought – are completely within his profile of ball-playing defenders.

They don’t seem to be in positions to need last-ditch tackles. Instead they read the game really well and obviously with the team they have ahead of them - and Fernandinho in particular - they are not under so much pressure. This brings its own issue though because they need to concentrate all the time and remain switched on.”

While the Spaniard has been in imperious form to this point, it’s the heightened performances of Stones that should have English supporters drooling, with Dunne stating that the Three Lions are ‘very lucky’ to have him. As for City they have a ready-made successor to Vincent Kompany, armband and all.

“Whether John Stones becomes the captain in the long-term or not he’s certainly becoming a leader in his own way. He had a tough first season when he signed because he made mistakes but he was always brave enough to stand up to it then come back out and try the same things. He’s gradually getting the mistakes out of his game and is improving all of the time and he’s someone who is happy to accept responsibility. He’d be a good captain for City.”

If defensively City are impregnable at present, the same cannot be said of their arch rivals across town who are unusually looking somewhat suspect at the back. If this is a cause for concern at any time, that concern can be multiplied ten-fold for Manchester United ahead of a combustible derby this weekend and Dunne believes Jose Mourinho can’t and won’t stand for it much longer.

“It’s not easy for United because when you look around the world there is not that many centre-backs playing at that top level who they can get from other clubs. Since the days of Ferdinand and Vidic, United have struggled to get a settled two and I’m sure as soon as Mourinho has the opportunity he will change the two he has now for different ones.

At the moment he has Lindelof and Smalling but they don’t inspire confidence throughout the team and as soon as that transfer window opens I’m sure they will be out looking for centre-backs again.”

United’s problems of course do not solely reside with their back four and Dunne – who remains a firm fan favourite within the blue camp of Manchester after winning the club’s Player of the Year award four years’ running in the mid-2000s – insists their short-comings are as much to do with a lack of organisation off the pitch as on it.
 
“When you look at how Manchester City are run all of the decisions, all the way up, are made by footballing people; people who understand the game and have been involved in football for a long time and know all about the coaches needs and the player’s needs. Whereas at United it is businessmen all the way up who are qualified in other areas but with no understanding of actual football.”
 
“This is why they fail in terms of transfer negotiations and the structure of the club. They don’t understand that it’s not just about the first team and the here and now. It’s about planning for the future and for all the money Manchester United have spent you don’t look at them and think ‘well in five years’ time they’ll be great because they have all these young players’. They are going to have to buy again and again and again.”

“They need to restructure everything from top to bottom if they want to catch up with Manchester City.”

Having come up against the very best forwards the world has to offer during his time with City and Ireland, and later Aston Villa and QPR, Dunne knows all-too-well what separates the truly special from the merely elite and indeed man-marked this Sunday’s two main front men during the latter stages of his playing days. For the amiable Irishman there is simply no comparison.

“I played against Lukaku and Aguero and I know straight-up that the hardest opponent is Aguero. He’s just the greatest striker around. He is physically strong, he’s sharp, he can shoot from any distance and his movement is brilliant. He is the complete centre-forward and City have been blessed to have him for so long. The goals he has scored tells you everything you need to know about him and without doubt he’s one of the best Premier League strikers of all time.”

Widening the scope and looking ahead to Sunday the narrative surrounding this derby clash contrasts hugely with Dunne’s day when Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were in the ascendancy gobbling up silverware by the bucketful while City were consistently the relative paupers. Does he believe those days might return anytime soon with the Reds regaining the upper hand? 

“As long as Pep is there and as long as they’re playing the way that they are you’d fancy Man City over Manchester United every single time. There has been a shift in the city over who is the most dominant team and City have the brighter future. Whether they admit it or not United are coming into the game on Sunday as underdogs.”

That is not to say however that United should be completely ruled out of contention in a domestic battle at the top that is becoming more and more enthralling with every passing week. 

“I think United will improve over the course of the season and they will still have a say in things but towards the end they won’t be challenging for the league. You’ll be looking more towards Liverpool being the biggest threat this year and that’s because since Pep has come in football has changed and it’s now more about attacking.

Whereas United are still stuck in a situation where they are so desperate not to lose they forget to go and attack sometimes. Liverpool, City and Chelsea want to express themselves and win matches and that’s what the fans want to see and what makes this league so exciting.  

Richard Dunne’s quick-fire questions

Score prediction for Sunday’s derby?
1-0 to City
Goal-scorer?
Aguero
Who will win the Premier League?
Manchester City
Who will win the Golden Boot?
Harry Kane
Who will win the Champions League?
Manchester City

With five of the Premier League’s top six clubs in action on Sunday, you could be forgiven for thinking that Saturday’s top-flight fixtures will be underwhelming.

However, every game is crucial in England’s primary club competition – whether you are fighting at the top of the table or attempting to avoid relegation.

It should be an excellent day of football with so much at stake; Tottenham Hotspur are our top tip to prevail at Selhurst Park. Without further ado, let’s get down to the fixtures.

CARDIFF CITY vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

The Bluebirds have lost seven of their previous eight Premier League games but Cardiff fans will be quietly confident ahead of this encounter.

You’d almost put this match in the ‘must win’ category for Neil Warnock’s side. Lose here and an instant return to the Championship could be on the cards.

31/20 is a solid price for those fancying Cardiff to claim three points on Saturday afternoon. The home crowd will be expecting a positive result after their recent woes.

Meanwhile, Brighton have picked up just four points from six away fixtures in 2018/19 and road form was always going to be key to their survival hopes.

Chris Hughton’s side had won three on the spin before falling short at Goodison Park last time out and this is the perfect opportunity for Brighton to claim an away win.

If you look back to last season, the Seagulls have emerged victorious in just one of their last 19 Premier League away games. 8/15 for Brighton to avoid defeat isn’t much of a price.

Both clubs will be going all out for the win but it may be a case of endeavour over quality. It probably won’t be a classic but I do like the 27/25 for both teams to score.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 27/25

PREDICTED SCORE: Cardiff 1-1 Brighton (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)

Crystal Palace vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Crystal Palace are winless in their last six Premier League encounters – a run that stretches back to a narrow victory over Huddersfield Town in September.

Roy Hodgson worked wonders at Selhurst Park last season but the Eagles have failed to inspire confidence in 2018/19. Only three top flight clubs have scored fewer goals than Palace.

With that in mind, opting for under 2.5 match goals in Saturday’s clash might be the way to go. Available at an appealing 21/20, a low-scoring contest looks likely.

Tottenham showed plenty of grit and resilience to turn things around against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night – Spurs found themselves a goal down after less than two minutes.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are made of stern stuff these days; Tottenham’s spineless days are well and truly over. Another Premier League victory beckons here…

The 3/4 price for Spurs to score two or more goals is a good one. That has landed in six of Tottenham’s 11 Premier League games this season.

Taking everything into account, 23/10 for an away win to nil is one of the bets of the week. Spurs should have no problems dispatching Palace on current form.

TIP: Spurs to win to nil @ 23/10

PREDICTED SCORE: Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham (Priced at 8/1 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Transfer windows are often defined by the transfers that don’t happen. It is galling for clubs and players alike when long transfer sagas fail to resolve successfully.

It may be too early to gauge the effects on Liverpool and Spurs of missing out on Nabil Fekir and Jack Grealish respectively, but they are unlikely to have the same consequences as when Sheffield United missed out on a certain legendary Argentine forward.

Here are eight transfers that failed, but whose success could have reshaped the global footballing landscape.

Alfredo Di Stefano to Barcelona

One of the greatest players of all-time, Alfredo Di Stefano's name is near synonymous with that of Real Madrid. That is what propelling the club to five European Cups and scoring in each final will do for a player.

Yet it was nearly so very different. Barcelona were in pole position to bring Di Stefano to Spain, but mishandled the complex negotiation process.

Real Madrid swooped in to strike a suitable deal when realising that Barcelona were stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire. Barcelona remained convinced that they had done enough to formalise the transfer of Di Stefano.

The Spanish Football Federation was required to determine Di Stefano's destination. Somewhat diplomatically, it was ruled that Di Stefano should play for alternate clubs over four years.

Luis Figo has since gone on to prove that such a strategy does not go down too well. Barcelona refused the deal and ripped up their contract for Di Stefano.

That may have been a bit hasty; a month into his Real Madrid career, Di Stefano smashed four goals past Barcelona in his first El Clasico.

David de Gea to Real Madrid

It’s not inconceivable that most modern footballers wouldn't recognise a fax machine, preferring to use wacky concepts like email instead.

That’s good news for the temperamental fax machine that prevented De Gea sealing his much-desired transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid. The world-class goalkeeper could have been forgiven for wanting to take a baseball bat to the fax machine.

This was the summer of 2015. Real Madrid have won the Champions League in every season since. Manchester United have made it past the group stage of the Champions League once in those three seasons.

Madrid are odds of 9/1 to win another Champions League, compared with United's 35/1; for De Gea, Real Madrid is the one that got away.

Garrincha to Juventus

Garrincha's silky skills made him one of the greatest dribblers of all-time.

He came close to making the jump to Europe in a novel transfer; Juventus, AC Milan and Inter each bid one million dollars to take Garrincha for a year in a unique act of sharing among football clubs that now seems bizarre.

Alas, a curious set of circumstances derailed what was already a curious transfer. Juventus' manager at the time was Paulo Amaral, a former Botafogo manager aware of Garrincha's long-running battle with a knee injury.

Juventus scouted Garrincha in two friendlies to convince them the signing was worth the risk. Garrincha's poor performances encouraged Juventus to reduce their bid to $700,000, which Botafogo rejected.

What Juventus didn't know was that between the two friendlies, Garrincha honoured an agreement to play two more friendlies that left him fatigued and unable to show Juventus his dazzling best.

Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers haven't had the best luck when it comes to snapping up future world-beaters. Robert Lewandowski almost joined in 2010, the Polish striker set to fly to the UK to seal the deal.

However, Borussia Dortmund took the chance to snap him up when the ash cloud created by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano grounded Lewandowski's flight, making the news as difficult to take as it was to say for Blackburn fans.

Lewandowski is not the most illustrious player to have eluded Rovers' grasp though.

Zinedine Zidane, who would later go on to break the transfer world record, nearly swapped Bordeaux for the Premier League champions in 1995, but Rovers chairman Jack Walker had other ideas.

Walker blocked the transfer, allegedly stating that Zidane was an unnecessary signing when Blackburn already had Tim Sherwood.

If Jose Mourinho is to be the next manager to be sacked in the Premier League, Manchester United fans will be hoping they don't tread a similar path to Blackburn by choosing Sherwood over Zidane.

Eusebio to Sporting Lisbon

As a teenager, the forward played for Sporting’s feeder team in Mozambique. Benfica’s own feeder side had rejected the chance to snap up Eusebio. As his huge talent became increasingly evident, Eusebio began to seek a move to Portugal.

The nature of feeder clubs placed Sporting in pole position, but by this time Benfica had realised their fallacy in missing out on Eusebio. They would not miss out again.

Benfica offered a financial package that Sporting couldn’t match, with the ramifications proving defining for both Lisbon clubs. In his fifteen years at Benfica, Eusebio drove his team to win eleven titles and a European Cup.

The effects of missing out on Eusebio outlasted the striker’s career. When Eusebio joined, Benfica and Sporting had each won 10 league titles. The score now reads 36-18 in Benfica’s favour.

Rivaldo To Bolton Wanderers

Sam Allardyce hasn't always been a figure of derision in English football. There was a time where he was even linked with the Real Madrid job, although that link was propagated exclusively by Big Sam himself.

England's greatest ever manager enjoyed great success at Bolton, assembling an impressive side.

The big names went way beyond Stelios Giannakopoulos; Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo all arrived in Bolton under Allardyce's watch, but there was almost a star to outshine them all.

In 2004, The Guardian reported that World Cup winner Rivaldo was on the verge of sealing a move to Bolton. Allardyce had allegedly been integral to persuading the former Barcelona star that Bolton was the place to be.

Kevin Davies sent out a warning message to one of the best players of his generation: 'we will see how good he is at tracking back!', said Davies of Rivaldo. Perhaps Davies scared him off, with Rivaldo tracking back all the way to Olympiakos instead.

Jean-Marc Bosman to Dunkerque

Jean-Marc Bosman may have had the most inauspicious footballing career out of the players listed here, but his failed transfer is the most significant of all.

Bosman was playing for RFC Liege until his contract expired in 1990. The midfielder fancied a switch to Dunkerque, but Dunkerque weren't sufficiently invested to pay Liege the demanded transfer fee.

Liege took this to mean that Bosman was theirs indefinitely, not that they really wanted him. Bosman saw his wages reduced because he was no longer considered a first-team player. Bosman sued Liege for restraint of trade, and won.

His legacy is the ability for players to sign pre-contracts to facilitate a free transfer. Bosman even gave his name to the type of transfer that has since been completed by much more fashionable footballers.

Diego Maradona to Sheffield United

Diego Maradona is one of the most influential players to have ever kicked a ball/punched a ball into the net at a World Cup. How would that influence have been affected if Maradona had joined Sheffield United as a 17-year-old?

Perhaps Maradona would now be mentioned in the same breath as Ade Akinbiyi when discussing strikers who failed at Sheffield United. In all likelihood, Maradona's prodigious talent would have become evident no matter where he played. 

Sheffield United's board baulked at the £200,000 fee to sign Maradona from Argentinos Juniors in 1978, despite manager Harry Haslam's enthusiasm to snap up the promising talent.

Instead, the Blades saved £40,000 by signing Maradona's compatriot Alex Sabella instead. Sabella was good, but he was no Maradona.

Sheffield United are currently flying in the Championship, with odds of 6/1 to lift the title, but maybe they'd be a Premier League fixture if Maradona had become a club legend.

Of course, the benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing in football. So many players are touted as the next Maradona or the next Zidane but prove to be the next Stracqualursi or the next Guivarc’h.

No wonder Jim White is getting so excited on transfer deadline day; perhaps one of those signings could define the next decade for a club.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Crunch time is approaching in the 2018/19 Champions League group stages; the race to qualify for the knockout rounds is heating up.

Only two teams from each group can advance to the next stage of the competition and most are still difficult to predict.

Both Manchester clubs are in action tonight ahead of Sunday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium – and both will be expecting positive results.

Without further ado, let’s get down to our 10/1 four-fold ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League football.

VALENCIA vs Young Boys

Valencia were comprehensively outplayed by Young Boys less than a fortnight ago but the La Liga outfit can get back to winning ways here.

On paper, the hosts are superior in almost every department and Young Boys may struggle to cope with the daunting Mestalla atmosphere.

The Swiss side will be hopeful of a positive result though – three points in this clash will give the visitors a great chance of snatching a Europa League berth.

Young Boys showed plenty of promise against Manchester United but crumbled after falling behind. Keeping this one close will be a priority for the away side.

1/2 may look short but Valencia should go for the jugular. With the chance to climb above Manchester United into second, the Spanish side must claim three points.

TIP: Valencia to win @ 1/2

PREDICTED SCORE: Valencia 2-0 Young Boys (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)

BAYERN MUNICH vs AEK Athens

The Niko Kovac experiment has NOT gone to plan. The Allianz Arena faithful are disgruntled after a slow start to the season by Bayern Munich’s high standards.

Currently third in the Bundesliga table and second in their Champions League group, Bayern need a convincing performance here to silence some of the doubters.

AEK Athens held Bayern for 60 minutes before the Bavarians notched a quickfire double last time out – and the Greek side will be looking to frustrate Kovac’s side once again.

With three defeats so far in the 2018/19 competition, this is going to be difficult to AEK but football is a funny old game. The visitors will give it a good go…

Bayern will dominate the lion’s share of possession and 8/15 for over 7.5 home corners is a decent bet. Expect the German champions to spend most of the game camped in AEK’s half.

TIP: Over 7.5 home corners @ 8/15

PREDICTED SCORE: Bayern Munich 3-0 AEK Athens (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)

Juventus vs MANCHESTER UNITED

Juventus are six points clear at the top of Serie A and the Old Lady have been particularly dominant on home soil, winning nine of their last 10 games in all competitions.

Max Allegri’s side are genuine contenders to win the Champions League this season and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Juventus run riot on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils have the small matter of a Manchester Derby looming and Jose Mourinho will want to maintain momentum ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Etihad.

United have been solid enough since losing at home to Juventus, winning four of their last five Premier League games – the only blemish being that 2-2 draw away at Chelsea.

Juventus were dominant at Old Trafford but United could spring a shock here. 29/20 for the visitors to avoid defeat is my top tip ahead of this one.

TIP: Man United to win OR draw @ 29/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Juventus 1-1 Man United (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)

MANCHESTER CITY vs SHAKHTAR DONETSK

This is a tough one to call. With Sunday’s big domestic clash on the horizon, Pep Guardiola may wring the changes for City – but he cannot afford to take Shakhtar lightly.

The Blues are sitting pretty at the top of Group F and three points here could be enough to secure passage through to the knockout stages.

Shakhtar will need plenty of luck to secure a positive result here; the Ukrainian side hardly had a touch of the ball in the first half two weeks ago.

After being comprehensively outplayed at home, Shakhtar may batten down the hatches on Wednesday evening. Damage limitation could be the way to go for the visitors.

Despite City’s obvious firepower, the under 3.5 goals mark at 19/20 carries plenty of appeal. The hosts should dominate but City may go into training mode if comfortable at 70 minutes.

TIP: Under 3.5 goals @ 19/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Man City 3-0 Shakhtar (Priced at 27/5 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Ice hockey is a tremendous sport at all levels, combining the intricacy of handling a puck on the end of a stick with speed skating and immensely physical encounters.

But, it’s not just the big hits and fights which bring the excitement as ice hockey is a fast-paced, end-to-end sport which often produces a tremendous amount of goals.

With the sport rising in popularity all over the world, it comes as no surprise that the ice hockey betting markets have seen a lot more action in recent years.

So, to help to make the most of your ice hockey knowledge and the many great ways to bet on ice hockey, we’ve crafted this guide.

What Ice Hockey Markets Can I Bet On?

When it comes to ice hockey betting, there are a lot of leagues and markets to bet on.

You can bet on outright winners of many leagues, such as the CHL, KHL, Extraliga, DEL, SHL, and more, as well as more intricate outright bets in the NHL, including winners of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

This season, experts rule that the Tampa Bay Lightning are the favourites to win the Stanley Cup, and sit as the joint-favourites in the betting at 9/1 alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But, the ice hockey action doesn’t stop there, as there are hundreds of betting markets for each game in the biggest leagues, including the NHL, CHL, and KHL. The NHL match betting offers the most intricate markets to bet on, including player points and player shots.

When Is The Best Time To Bet On Ice Hockey?

You can place a bet on the outright markets during and before the season but you may want to back your hunch earlier on because, that way, you’ll get better odds if they suddenly string a bunch of wins together and become heavy favourites.

Due to leagues like the NHL featuring over 1200 games per season, they play multiple games each week. So, bookies put the match markets for these on the day of the game.

In the UK, while the occasional game will be played at around 18:00, most days will see the earliest puck drop take place at 00:00, or 23:00 when the clocks change in the USA.

So, the best time to bet on match markets is a bit later in the day when the oddsmakers have had the morning to upload the odds for all of the markets.

Most of the time, the odds for all of the NHL markets will be live in the early afternoon, which include player points, three areas of period betting, and player shots.

Other leagues that don’t play as often may have their complete offering available much further in advance.

What Outright Bets Can I Place On Ice Hockey?

You can bet on a huge range of the most popular ice hockey leagues in the world, with outright markets for the eventual champion available in each.

Right now, you can find odds for the winner of Europe’s most prestigious competition, the CHL, for which Djurgardens and Skelleftea are currently the favourites at 9/1 each.

Then there’s also the KHL, NHL, World Championship, Czech Extraliga, Finland’s Liiga, the DEL Bundesliga, Norway’s GET-ligaen, the SHL, and the NLA in Switzerland.

Both the NHL and KHL outright betting markets also offer odds on their respective Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions.

In the KHL, Avangard Omsk sit with odds of 43/20 to become the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic in the NHL, the revamped San Jose Sharks who now have the almighty Erik Karlsson in their defensive lines come in as the joint-second-favourites to claim the Western Conference at 5/1.

Ice Hockey Match Betting Markets

Ice hockey match betting offers a huge range of leagues to find matches in and then a plethora of markets to bet on in each game.

The match markets expand into many leagues beyond that of the outright betting, with the most popular leagues available daily.

In almost every match, you’ll find over 40 markets to bet on, which include match, period, and event betting. The more popular leagues will also include odds on goal scorers, player points, player shots, wincasts, scorecasts, and more match events.

How Do I Bet On The Winner Of An Ice Hockey Match?

One of the most popular forms of ice hockey betting is betting on the match. In ice hockey, games that finish regular time with the score even can go to overtime. So, there are in fact two lots of match markets.

When betting on the regular time markets, you are betting on the result of the game at the end of regular time, so you can back either team to win or the instance of a draw.

Or, if you think a team is going to win but want the safety net of your bet to include the potential of overtime, you can bet on either team to win in overtime and the potential penalty shootout.

You’ll get better odds by backing a result for regular time, but betting on a team to win including overtime and penalty shootout gives a nice safety net just in case the game goes beyond regulation, even though you’ll be taking shorter odds.

What Are The Best Match Markets To Bet On?

Like in many other team sports, you can find markets for draw no bet, total goals, handicaps, three-way handicaps, correct score, both teams to score, odd/even goal total, home goal total, and away goal total in ice hockey betting.

You can also back markets for the specific periods, including the winner of the period, the total goals, correct score, and if a goal is to be scored in the first ten minutes of the period.

When it comes to the best markets to bet on, handicap markets come in as very popular.

This is because, when a team is losing by one or two goals in the final minute of the game, they will pull their goaltender to get another skater on the ice in an attempt to score more goals.

While this strategy does sometimes find the team an equaliser, most of the time, it results in the leading team adding another goal to their tally thanks to the empty net. So, a -1 or even a -2 handicap has a nice chance of coming in with ice hockey betting.

Where Can I Bet On Goal Scorer And Point Scorer Markets?

In ice hockey betting, the goalscorer markets in many of the biggest leagues are very popular, but it’s the player points markets for the NHL betting which often dominates the betting slips.

In the 2016/17 NHL season, there was an average of 5.5 goals per game. Compare that to the 2.7 goals per game average in the Premier League last season, and you can see why people favour the ice hockey goalscorers markets.

On top of this, assists work differently in ice hockey, with the last two teammates to touch the puck before a goal being noted as providing an assist.

In ice hockey, the goal scorer and two assisting players all get a point when the puck hits the back of the net, meaning that players have a greater chance of scoring a point than footballers are a goal or an assist in their respective betting markets.

As ice hockey players are set up in lines of three forwards and two defensemen that rotate throughout the game, you can hone in on players on lines with many top players to find favourable odds in the goal scorer, player points, and player shots markets.

Also, the best offensive players will be utilised on the powerplay – which is the full-strength unit used when the opposition is down one or two skaters due to penalties – giving them even more chances to score points.

Using line-up tools like Left Wing Lock can help you to decipher which players you think have a greater chance of scoring a goal, point, or having plenty of shots.

Bettors who favour the point scorer markets often prefer to stack point scorers of one night into an accumulator to enhance their odds, as most of the most prolific scorers sit below evens in the odds.

Can I Bet On Live Ice Hockey Matches?

Due to the number of goals and the back-and-forth style of ice hockey, in-game live ice hockey betting has become very popular.

You’ll find many markets for almost every single live game in the ice hockey live betting section, including the match winner, total goals, events in the period, and handicaps.

If you’re watching the game and can see momentum switching to the team which is down by a goal or two, you can take advantage of the live odds to win the game, as they’ll most likely be at longer odds than when the game began.

Want To Learn More About How To Bet?

If you fancy engaging in some of the ice hockey betting detailed above but don’t quite know how to go about doing so, check out the useful, easy-going guides below:

How betting odds work
What’s a Canadian bet?
How do accumulators work?
The Ultimate Sport Betting Guide

The Melbourne Cup is the biggest day in the Australian racing calendar and never disappoints for action on the track.

Thousands of spectators descend upon Flemington Racecourse for the event every year in November to watch the action unfold and, occasionally, for racing history to be made.

Rekindling is the current champion, having triumphed at the race in 2017 with a confident performance to take the crown for trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner Lloyd Williams.

Williams and other members of the ownership team won the cup for the second year on the bounce after Almandin triumphed in 2016 under the tutelage of Aidan O’Brien.

Rekindling will not get the opportunity to join an elite group of horses to have won the race twice in its history due to concerns over his weight handicap, despite being the youngest competitor to have claimed victory at the meet.

British horse racing may be the envy of the world, but there have been some incredible stories to emerge from Flemington and we’ll now break down five of the most memorable moments.

Makybe Diva

No horse in the history of the event had won the race three times. Makybe Diva became only the fifth competitor to win two races when she backed up her triumph from 2003 to claim the crown in 2004.

Owner Tony Santic and trainer Lee Freedman put the bay mare forward for the Cup once again in the 2005 season.

Form was on the side of Makybe Diva as she displayed no signs of slowing down during the campaign, winning three of her four races before the prestigious meet, including one at Flemington.Due to her history at the Melbourne Cup, she was the overwhelming favourite to win the event. Freedman’s charge made a steady start to proceedings in the two-mile race with Glen Boss in the saddle.

The jockey was able to gradually shift the horse through the gears to come through the field before making a charge for the line one furlong out.

Makybe Diva had the pace and the stamina required to see out the victory, finishing ahead of her nearest rival On A Jeune, who was a 70/1 outsider, by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

The bay mare is a legend of the race – the finest competitor to grace the Melbourne Cup in its 157-year history.

Prince Of Penzance

Makybe Diva’s success was not a surprise considering the quality of the horse. Freedman’s charge was a top quality competitor with numerous wins under her belt before triumphing at Flemington.

However, Prince of Penzance was almost the complete opposite. The horse was responsible for the biggest surprise in the history of the Melbourne Cup, triumphing as a 100/1 outsider in the horse racing betting odds.

The bay gelding enjoyed a couple of victories in the early stages of his career but struggled to kick on in the 2015 campaign.

Darren Weir’s charge endured a miserable run of form from late August to the beginning of October when he failed to finish inside the top three at meets at Caulfield, Ballarat and Moonee Valley.

He found a semblance of rhythm just before the Melbourne Cup with a second-place finish at the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, although his status as a rank outsider was still justified.

Michelle Payne looked to become the first female jockey to win the cup, although her hopes and the chances of her charge looked to be over as the horse dropped into 10th place.

However, Payne was able to find a surge of speed out of Prince of Penzance to charge through the field to claim the crown, beating out Max Dynamite by half-a-length, while race favourite Fame Game placed in 13th.

The result yielded the biggest upset in the history of the Cup and the first female jockey to triumph.

Media Puzzle

Media Puzzle’s triumph is perhaps the most emotional of all the horses that have achieved success at the Melbourne Cup. Damien Oliver had already won the race in 1995 with Doriemus and was established as one of the finest jockeys in Australia.

A week before he was due to compete with Media Puzzle at the Melbourne Cup, his brother Jason – also a jockey – died in a racing accident at Belmont Park, Western Australia.

Despite the tragedy, Oliver managed to return to the track for the event riding the chestnut gelding, who had been up and down over the course of the 2002 season.

Media Puzzle had found his form entering the race with Oliver in the saddle with a triumph at the Holden Geelong Cup two weeks prior.

As a result, he was a strong contender for the crown, although Vinnie Roe was the pre-meet favourite. Oliver was able to put his emotions to one side for the race, delivering an outstanding ride on the back of the five-year-old.

He timed Media Puzzle’s race to perfection, ensuring he had enough left in the tank to pull away down the straight.

The American horse closed out the victory by two lengths ahead of Mr Prudent, recording the second-fastest time in the history of the event. Oliver dedicated the race to his brother declaring: “This one's for you, Jase."

Almandin

Williams is the most successful owner in the history of the Melbourne Cup, with six triumphs to his name. Almandin was the competitor to take him clear of the rest of the pack on four wins as the German horse prevailed at the 2016 race.

It proved to be one of the most exciting in the history of the Cup as Hickmott’s charge claimed the victory by the narrowest of margins.

He did have form on his side entering the race, delivering wins at the Bart Cummings at Flemington and the Harry White Classic at Caulfield in the weeks before the meet.

Almandin was a 10/1 contender for the crown in the antepost horse racing betting and he had to endure a tough battle with Heartbreak City for the crown.

Kerrin McEvoy got a surge out of his charge towards the end of the race. However, his rival managed to keep pace down the stretch to set up a tense finale.

Almandin found the extra gear just at the right time to edge away from Heartbreak City to secure the win by a head – one of the closest margins of victory in the history of the race.

Kingston Rule

Bart Cummings’ charge delivered one of the most memorable performances in the history of the event in 1990.

Kingston Rule was an equal favourite heading into the contest with pedigree behind him, notching wins at the Tommy Woodcock Handicap, H A Currie Handicap and the Moone Valley Cup.

However, he was struggling in the contest in a fast-paced race, hanging near the back of the field in eighth place with 800m remaining.

Savage Toss and Our Magic Man were battling for the lead before Kingston Rule finally made his charge through, finding the speed to surge through the crowd.

His pace allowed him to surpass the duo at the front of the pack, but The Phantom emerged to provide pressure in the latter stages of the meet.

However, Kingston Rule’s pace was enough to secure the win, which proved to be the quickest time in the history of the Melbourne Cup. The time has not been broken, standing alone at the top of 3:16.30.

The NFL is the most popular sport in the United States with viewing figures rising on a yearly basis. Its notoriety is spreading across the globe, especially towards the United Kingdom, where three games per season are played.

As a result, it’s a perfect time to learn about the betting markets involved in the sport if you’re not already familiar with a breakdown.

If you’re a fan that will be tuning in every Sunday or perhaps just a spectator for the Super Bowl showdown it’s always worth knowing where the value lies. The popularity of the sport has seen the emergence of NCAAF's rise abroad.

College teams play the day before the professionals and provide just as much entertainment. The rules are more or less the same with few obvious differences, especially when it comes to punting.

We’ll now break down the forms of betting that are available to American football bettors.

What Are The Types Of Betting In American Football?

Outright Betting

This is the simplest form of punt for the sport. It’s merely picking the winner of the event just as you would in a football, cricket, tennis or boxing match. The favourite for the contest will have the shortest odds which are represented by a fraction.

To place the bet online, select the odds of the team you wish to back and enter your stake. You will not get great value for an outright bet in the NFL unless you’re taking the underdog.

There are few matches where the odds are in the balance for both teams. Therefore you may have to take a slight risk to yield a larger reward on the outright.

Handicap Betting

This is where value can be generated for bettors. Knowledge of the teams involved comes to the fore in this system. The bookmaker will decide a number known as the spread based on the two teams involved in the contest.

The favourite or stronger team will have a minus number given that they are expected to win the game. For example, if the New England Patriots have a -6.5 handicap, then they are expected to win the game by a touchdown – seven points.

A bet on the Patriots would win if they were able to defeat their opponent by seven points or more. On the other side of the coin, their opponent would have the value of +6.5.

They are expected to lose by a touchdown, therefore a bet on the Miami Dolphins at +6.5 would win if they were to be defeated by six points or fewer, and alternatively if the Dolphins were to triumph.

A 21-17 defeat for the Dolphins would pay out if the bettor backed the Dolphins on the spread. However, a 31-17 defeat would see the bettor lose if they opted for the Dolphins rather than the Patriots.

The points are a very important aspect of handicap betting, which makes late field goals or touchdowns crucial.

Learning teams’ records with and against the spread is vital in the success of punting using the handicap. There’s greater value for bettors given the unpredictable nature of how and when points can be scored.

If utilised correctly it can be a lucrative market, especially if used on an accumulator as you would for a round of football matches.

There's a range of numbers on the handicap market allowing the bettor to select their own values. Having a hunch about a particular game can reap dividends if you’re willing to go against the grain.

Total Points

The final major betting market is the total points to be scored in the contest. Points are being scored at a record rate in the NFL in the 2018 season as opposing defences have had no answer for the quality displayed by the quarterbacks this term.

Rules are being swayed in the favour of offences, which has enabled teams to put up the staggering numbers. Bookmakers will set the line on the number of points that the two teams combined in a match will be expected to score.

Bettors can punt on whether the two sides will combine for over or under the points expected.

If two strong offences are playing, it’s always worth taking the over as there have been a number of shootouts over the years in the NFL, especially when the elite quarterbacks are facing off.

If two elite defences are playing and the quarterbacks are not from the top tier of players at the position, the bettor would be more inclined to take the under.

It is more of a specialised punt and requires knowledge of the teams and players involved before delving into a punt.

How To Place Outright Bets With 888sport

Placing the bets with 888sport is routine by going onto the website and selecting the American football section on the left-hand side of the page. All the fixtures are available in the selection for both college football and the NFL.

Simply click the odds that wish to back and enter your stake and then select the place bet button once you’re satisfied with your selection. To add more games to the bet, simply click the odds to make your single bet into an accumulator.

Advanced Betting Odds And Strategies

For experts of the NFL and college game, there are specialised odds for individual games based around the players involved in the contest.

We’ll now break down some of these markets, which provide greater value for punters if they’re willing to put their knowledge to the test.

Touchdown Scorer

888sport offer markets on who will score the first and last touchdown for both teams along with an anytime option. Therefore if you have knowledge of a teams’ strategy it could be worth betting on a market.

For example, a team with a good running back such as the New York Giants, may be more inclined to run the ball early in the game. Saquon Barkley would be a solid punt to score the first touchdown.

However, if it’s a team that throws the ball more such as the Patriots, backing a player such as Rob Gronkowski to score the first would make more sense.

Certain players find the endzone more than others, Gronkowski is a fine example of that, therefore, his odds will be a narrower to score a touchdown anytime.

If there’s a particular match-up that favours a team, who may have a deep receiving corps, while the other side has poor cornerbacks, it could be worth backing the fourth player on the list to win his matchup for better value.

Player Props

You have to know the players and teams involved once again to delve into this market. 888sport provides the lines for yardage for passing, receiving and rushing, setting the markets for individual players.

It weighs the quality of the competitor in question against the team and players they are facing off against. For example, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady averages around 280 passing yards per game.

A line might be set at 280.5 passing yards and the punter has to decide like points whether he will be over or under the mark.

The bettor must take into the account the player and the opposition. Against a weak team, Brady will likely pass the mark with ease, although that will be reflected in the value.

Whereas, against a strong team, he may struggle to pass the ball downfield, which will also be reflected in the value. To get the best value sometimes it’s to better go against the grain.

It’s a similar story for the receiving and rushing yards where the value and the outcome will be affected by the opposition. If you’re feeling confident it can be a lucrative option.

Further Reading For American Football Fans

If you now fancy dipping into some American football betting but could use some extra help, be sure to check out the helpful articles below:

NFL: Players To Watch And Best Bets Ahead Of The 2018 Season

A Guide to the Super Bowl

The Ultimate Sport Betting Guide

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

When footballers make ridiculous attempts at simulation or try to argue with goal-line technology, it makes you wonder if they forget that they’re being watched by huge crowds and television cameras.

Similarly, when managers confront referees or team-mates start wrestling, you ponder what they think they might gain from such an endeavour.

Footballers and managers are a passionate bunch, so we looked at a few moments where that passion was channelled inappropriately into bust-ups and fallouts.

Dyer vs Bowyer

Kieron Dyer vs Lee Bowyer is the classic example of players failing to get along. The two players decided the best way to deal with their mutual dislike was to duke it out in front of a stunned St James Park.

With Newcastle already 3-0 down at home to Aston Villa, it probably wasn't the best way to get the crowd back on side. Dyer recently revealed what caused him and fellow England international Bowyer to merge wrestling with football.

Dyer told Bowyer that he was choosing other passing options because Bowyer was a bit rubbish, or words to that effect. This initiated the fight, prompting the confused referee to send them both off.

Dyer later claimed that he didn't realise fighting one's team-mate on the pitch was an offence worthy of a red card, so if nothing else it was a useful bit of market research for similarly hot-headed footballers.

The problem with hot-headed footballers is that they rarely learn; Blackpool recently saw two of their players sent off for fighting each other, although one of those red cards was rescinded in some good news for the Tangerines as they bid to return to the second tier.

Roy Keane

Keane was a masterful central midfielder who could dominate everywhere between the two boxes, a dynamic and dominant player who defined the Premier League glory years of Manchester United.

Roy was certainly keen on the pitch, with his prodigious stamina enabling him to annoy opponents from start to finish.

Keane's commitment to belligerence is the footballing equivalent of Daniel Day-Lewis' method acting; what better way to ensure that you can play on the edge than to live your whole life there?

This was no more evident than the Saipan incident, a spat so seismic that it has its own Wikipedia page.

Bubbling tensions between Keane and Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, no shrinking violet himself, came to boil just before the 2002 World Cup.

McCarthy questioned Keane's commitment, suggesting he had undermined the side in the press, in addition to faking injury. Keane took this exactly as you'd expect Keane to take it: by unleashing a sweary rant towards McCarthy.

Keane was sent home from the squad and missed the World Cup, a blow for a side heavily reliant on their midfield general. Keane brought the same fiery disposition to his post-playing career.

Jon Walters has felt the brunt of that a few times. Forced to take a picture of his vomit to satisfy the then-Ipswich manager that he was indeed sick, Walters claimed that players were terrified of Keane.

Walters then provoked a classic Keane rant by having the temerity to be injured while in the Ireland setup. Keane remains assistant manager of Ireland, presumably not for his man-management skills.

Failing To Manage Emotions

The general concept of managers operates under the assumption that they know better than the players. However, managers are only human, and there's nothing more human than the basic urge to kick a rival on the backside.

In 2007, Catania coach Silvio Baldini grew displeased with his Parma counterpart, Domenico Di Carlo, and took action by unleashing a kick where the sun doesn't shine.

It's worth clarifying that this was during a match and took place on the touchline, although Baldini may well have kicked Di Carlo irrespective of time and place.

Baldini refused to apologise after the match in stubborn belief that Di Carlo deserved it. As first league matches in charge go, that's a particularly cheeky way to make an impression. 

While fighting an opposing manager is never advisable, it at least reinforces an us-vs-them mentality. Fighting one of your own players has more negative consequences on team morale, and indeed your job prospects.

Delio Rossi learnt this the hard way. It's never nice to be substituted in the first half, with Fiorentina's Adem Ljajic being hauled off by Rossi just 32 minutes in a 2012 match against Novara.

Ljajic showed his discontent, which provoked Rossi to hit him. Unsurprisingly, Fiorentina sacked Rossi after the match. 

Rossi lacked the subtlety of Alex Ferguson, with the legendary Scotsman ensuring that he never kicked a boot at David Beckham in public.

In the dressing room, however, Ferguson used a conveniently-placed boot to make a point to Beckham about work-rate.

Beckham sported a cut above his eye that was pounced upon by an intrigued media, with Ferguson eventually confirming the much-speculated story in his autobiography.

When The Stars Didn't Align For France

Such is France’s pool of talent that the nation should always be considered among the favourites for a major tournament. Yet a penchant for drama in the past couple of decades saw France go from World and European champions to a waste of ability.

The pinnacle of disappointment came at the 2010 World Cup. Coach Raymond Domenech’s tendency to rely on star signs to inform team selection did not make him the best candidate to negotiate growing dissent in the French ranks.

Nicolas Anelka vocalised the squad’s discontent in a rant at Domenech during a defeat to Mexico. Domenech channelled the spirit of Mick McCarthy to send home the angry player, but this only served to inspire anger in the rest of the squad.

Captain Patrice Evra was instrumental in organising a boycott of training, raising questions over if he does indeed love this game.

It’s easy to forget that all of this was happening during the World Cup. This makes England’s crushing defeat to Germany at the same tournament look like a respectable way to exit a World Cup.

Domenech went out in style, refusing to shake Carlos Alberto Parreira’s hand after France lost to South Africa. Fans believed Domenech and his squad to be arrogant and disconnected from the French public.

World Cup holders France are now 5/1 favourites to win Euro 2020, so those days of discontent are fortunately behind them.

Reffing And Blinding

Officials are supposed to be a mediating presence on the football pitch, but all too often they become an undeserving focus of a player or manager’s ire. This disrespect of officials is among the game's ugliest features.

Alan Pardew shoved an assistant referee to complain about something as trivial as a throw-in, while Paolo Di Canio famously pushed over referee Paul Alcock and received an 11-match ban as retribution.

The somewhat good news for officials is that these are among the more extreme expressions of disgruntlement towards decisions.

Pep Guardiola was recently responsible for maltreatment of officials. Guardiola confronted the referee at half-time in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool last season.

You’d be forgiven for expecting that one of the most meticulous and rational managers in the game would be above futile rants at officials during the match, yet Guardiola's displeasure with Manchester City's inevitable exit from the competition heightened his anger.

Guardiola received a touchline ban, denying him the chance to influence fortunes in City's defeat to Lyon this season. With City 5/1 favourites to win the Champions League this year, Guardiola's spirits should remain higher for now.

Steve Harmison can sympathise with Guardiola when it comes to touchline bans. Yes, that is former England fast bowler Steve Harmison.

Harmison took charge of Northern League side Ashington, declaring that it would be unlikely for him to “blow his top” as a football manager. It took just over a year in charge to bring him to the dark side, with Harmison banned for 12 matches for confronting a referee.

In a sport where the stakes are always high and the scrutiny is always intense, it is unsurprising that bust-ups and fallouts occur.

With players now having the ability to take to social media in the immediate aftermath of a match to express their thoughts to a global audience, it is going to get increasingly harder for everyone to get along.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*