World Cup: Which Team Would be Successful in a World Cup Winners Tournament?

Only eight teams have successfully lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy since the inaugural World Cup took place in 1930. Five of those winners have been European whilst the remaining three hailed from South America.

Brazil are the most decorated side, clinching five titles, but they haven't been victorious since the 2002 staging of the event whilst Germany are the current holders following their success in 2014. We take a look at which of these triumphant teams would prevail if each of these teams were to face one another in a winner's winner tournament.

Brazil (2002)

The Selecao's first success arrived in 1958 and more domination soon followed. They also lifted the trophy in 1962, 1970, 1994 and most recently in 2002.

In the process of Brazil wrapping up their fifth World Cup title, Ronaldo proved unplayable, notching eight goals throughout the tournament and taking the Golden Boot in the process. They hit 11 goals throughout the group stage, finishing with maximum points at the summit of Group C.

Rivaldo and Ronaldinho both played a huge part in helping Brazil reach their zenith with an impressive supporting cast of Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Denilson. A side filled with such attacking verve can often be susceptible at the back but Luiz Felipe Scolari managed to guide his side to three clean sheets from four in the knock-out stage.

Brazil would prove difficult to stop in the winner's winner tournament with very few sides likely to find a way to contain a confident Ronaldo whilst the Cafu/Roberto Carlos combination would provide endless ammunition.

Tite's side were the first team to officially qualify for the 2018 World Cup and have been playing with a confident swagger. They've been installed as 5/1 joint-favourites for the tournament with 888Sport.

Spain (2010)

Vincente Del Bosque led Spain to success in 2010 claiming their only title to date. A hugely talented squad featuring many Barcelona and Real Madrid players (two sides who had been dominating European football) lost their opening match to Switzerland but that defeat proved academic as they bounced back in perfect style.

Whilst the likes of David Villa and Fernando Torres provided plenty of firepower to the squad, they weren't renowned for high scoring games and only fired in eight goals during the tournament. Carlos Puyol led by example at the back with Spain keeping four successive clean sheets during the knock-out stage whilst Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Silva provided style and flair in the middle of the park.

Whilst many football fans were left salivating at the Spanish possession-based football, they conspired to miss numerous chances and with a measly eight goals, they may struggle to go all the way in the winner's winner tournament.

They remain a hugely powerful force in world football and have been priced up as joint fourth favourites at 8/1 with 888Sport for World Cup 2018 following a fairly trouble-free qualification campaign.

England (1966)

England's one and only success in the tournament came in 1966 in their own backyard. Captained by the irrepressible Bobby Moore, England beat West Germany in controversial fashion. They needed extra time to secure the 4-2 victory but their third goal was deemed to have crossed the line by the officials despite mass protestations from the visiting side.

Further analysis has shown that the linesman made an incorrect decision and it remains one of the most talked-about incidents in the World Cup history. The Three Lions beat Mexico, France and Argentina en-route to the final although the latter were amongst the sides who had struggled to acclimatise to long-distance travel.

England were known as the 'wingless wonders' due to their narrow formation, which helped guide them to success and whilst this may have worked in 1966, we're not convinced it would pay dividends in the winner's winner tournament where they could be easily exploited. Coupled with the lack of home advantage, England would likely fall short in this competition.

The current England squad qualified for the World Cup 2018 with ease and have been priced up at 20/1 for victory in Russia with 888Sport.

Italy (1982)

Italy have been successful on four occasions, but it's the 1982 side that left the greatest impression on footballing history. They were a tough team to break down as well as showing plenty of skill and exuberance in the final third. Paolo Rossi plundered six goals as Italy gradually warmed into the tournament following a slow start.

They failed to win a single game during the group stage which almost saw Cameroon qualify at their expense. In the second round of the competition, they ratcheted up the style beating South American duo Argentina and Brazil before going on to power past Poland and West Germany to clinch the title.

Rossi netted both goals in the final at the Nou Camp and they could prove extremely hard to stop at the winner's winner tournament. Italy risk falling behind if they make a similarly slow start once again.

Unfortunately, Italy missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup after losing their two-legged playoff with Sweden in November.

Germany / West Germany (1990)

Joachim Low led his side to glory in 2014, which included his side hitting seven past a beleaguered Brazil side but the 1990 squad featuring Jurgen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthaus just edges them out. This was the third title for West Germany and despite the tournament being deemed "poor", Franz Beckenbauer's side provided plenty of quality and were deserving winners.

They stuck four and five past Yugoslavia and the UAE, respectively, before seeing off England and Netherlands prior to a 1-0 win against Argentina in the final. Three players were named in the end of tournament all-star team including defender Andreas Brehme who netted three times during the competition.

This side always found a way of winning, although they had plenty of flair in their ranks and would go deep into the World Cup winner's winner tournament. 

Germany are aiming to defend their title when the World Cup 2018 gets underway in Russia and are joint 5/1 favourites with 888Sport to make it successive triumphs.

France (1998)

France's success on their own patch was one of the least convincing successes in this tournament. Undoubtedly a fine side, they toiled in the knock-out stage and were helped by home advantage during the group stage.

Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Denmark were just about the easiest collection of teams they could have hoped for and they were hardly convincing against Paraguay just days later. They required extra time on that occasion and penalties to see off Italy before hammering Brazil in the final.

Lillian Thuram provided steel, whilst the likes of Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira were undoubtedly world class. They hardly set the world alight during their success though and therefore can't be considered for glory in the winner's winner tournament.

The current France squad is once again jam-packed full of talent with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba in their side and they are 11/2 with 888Sport for the World Cup 2018

Argentina (1986)

Two-time Champions Argentina deserve their position in World Cup history and their 1986 victory is their most memorable. Diego Maradona is synonymous with their success but they proved to be more than a one-man team at this tournament.

Implementing the sweeper system worked perfectly as they beat South Korea and Bulgaria during the group stage before easing past Uruguay, controversially beating England and seeing off Belgium and West Germany to clinch the silverware.

The inspirational 25-year-old Diego Maradona captained the side and proved the match winner on many occasions but he was complemented by Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga and they were a joy to watch. This side could go far in any tournament but they came up against plenty of substandard opposition along the way and may come unstuck in the latter stages of the winner's winner event.

Argentina initially struggled to qualify for World Cup 2018 but a Lionel Messi hat-trick saved them. They are joint fourth favourites with Spain at 8/1 with 888Sport for success this time around.

Uruguay (1950)

Uruguay have been successful in two World Cups with the 1950 success the most recent and notable of the pair. They beat Bolivia 8-0 in the early stages of the competition before triumphing over Sweden and Brazil in the final round of fixtures.

The talented Oscar Miguez netted five times whilst Alcides Ghiggia added a further four. The Penarol were all-conquering and were free-scoring and fearless in their approach to games. The fact that they beat Brazil in their own backyard and managed to silence to the Maracana gives them every chance in the winner's winner tournament.

Uruguay are a big price of 40/1 with 888Sport for success at World Cup 2018.

Conclusion

There have been some memorable teams over the years who have been victorious in this iconic competition. Whilst Argentina, France, Italy and England all deserve their place in footballing history, they are likely to fall behind the remainder of the pack here.

West Germany and Brazil would meet yet again for the final with the imperious Ronaldo netting the winner for his side to ensure they become the ultimate World Cup winners!

Final standings:

1. Brazil

2. Germany

3. Uruguay

4. Spain

5. Italy

6. Argentina

7. England

8. France

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

November 25, 2017
Football

By 888sport

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The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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Watford Head Saturday's 23/1 Premier League Accumulator

It has been one of those weeks - a joyous one for sports fans across the globe. We have had football every single night of the week, we have the first Ashes Test, we have autumn internationals this weekend, and the final Grand Prix for the Formula One season.

The cherry on top of that delightful gateaux is, of course, the Premier League this weekend. You can find plenty of other previews on our site, but here we are giving the 3pm kick-offs the once over.

CRYSTAL PALACE vs STOKE CITY

Performances have improved dramatically for Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson. Results, though, have not been ideal.

Still only on five points, the Eagles are rooted to the bottom of the table. An eventful – and controversial – draw with Everton last weekend was handy, but Hodgson needs to start picking up wins if Palace are to have any chance of safety.

Stoke battled to a 2-2 draw of their own with Brighton on Monday night. An unbeaten run of three has helped to reduce some of the pressure on Mark Hughes, while giving the Potters a bit of breathing space.

Goals have been common in Stoke matches this season. There have been 39 in their 12 matches to date, in fact, including over 2.5 in eight of their last nine.

I can’t pick a winner here. Two flawed defences are likely to provide goals, though.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 11/10

NEWCASTLE UNITED vs WATFORD

Newcastle have slipped into the beginnings of a rut. Three league defeats in a row have seen them score just the one goal, which came in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

Rafa Benitez has everything under control, but the Magpies will be keen to stunt this slide in front of their home crowd.

via GIPHY

Watford ended their own losing streak last weekend with a win over West Ham. The club have rejected advances from Everton for Marco Silva, and are set for a solid top half finish this season. Currently sitting in eighth, the gap to seventh placed Burnley could close to one point this weekend.

This is a tricky match to predict. Watford have seen over 2.5 in their last four on the road, but there have been under 2.5 in Newcastle’s last four at St James’ Park. The Hornets’ defence should not be too troubled by a struggling Newcastle attack, though, and should just have enough to snatch a win.

TIP: Watford to win @ 12/5

SWANSEA CITY vs BOURNEMOUTH

Back-to-back wins have given a completely different feeling to Bournemouth’s campaign. What was a concerning few months is now a solid enough beginning, as they sit on 13 points from 12 Premier League matches. Plenty of punters will be backing the Cherries to win in 888sport's football betting odds this weekend...

Their hosts this weekend have not been in such form. Languishing in 18th, the Swans have lost four in a row and this match has become as good as a must-win for Paul Clement.

The five points that separates the two teams seems like a vast chasm with Swansea’s form. Their dependence on Tammy Abraham in attack has been paired with defensive errors for a pointless cocktail. Abraham is a doubt this weekend, too.

With Callum Wilson coming off the back of a brilliant hat-trick last weekend, Bournemouth might just have hit their rhythm in the final third. It could be another painful afternoon for Swansea.

TIP: Bournemouth to win @ 17/10

Tottenham vs West Bromwich Albion

Tony Pulis’ departure was inevitable after defeat to Chelsea last weekend. West Brom will be hoping that can shock them out of this dire run that has seem them go winless since August.

Unfortunately, they face a Tottenham side who return to Wembley off the back of an impressive win at Borussia Dortmund. North London derby defeat will still sting, but the Lilywhites are hardly the perfect opponent for a struggling team.

Fatigue for the hosts is the Baggies’ best chance. Harry Kane looked leggy last weekend, but played again in midweek. Injuries have limited Mauricio Pochettino’s rotation options.

Despite the talk of Wembley woe, Spurs have a very solid home record, winning their last three under the arch. Anything else this weekend would be one of the shocks of the season.

TIP: Tottenham to win @ 6/25

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

November 24, 2017
Football
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox

Spotlight on the Betfair Chase (2017)

Now in its thirteenth year, the newly extended 3m 1f 125y Betfair Chase is the first Grade One Chase of the season and the starting point for some of the top staying chasers in training.

The race now has the added incentive of being the first leg of the Jockey Club’s ‘Chase Triple Crown’ £1-million bonus.

The Betfair Chase has produced some superb finishes over the years. Few will forget the thrilling climax to the 2009 race, when a nose separated Kauto Star and Imperial Commander. Some people still cannot believe that latter did not get the verdict to this day.

Infused in many memories is the reception given to Kauto Star when he recorded a fourth Betfair Chase victory in 2011 with scenes of Paul Nicholls pumping the air in the paddock...

Here are some trends and statistics based on the last ten renewals of the race followed by a runner-by-runner summary and conclusion.

Age (winners-placed-run)

6-y-o: 1-1-3                     

7-y-o: 2-4-15

8-y-o: 1-3-22

9-y-o: 3-3-17

10-y-o: 2-1-5

11-y-o+: 1-0-4

As you can see there has been a fair spread of wins across the age groups so it is very difficult to rule something out for being too young/too old.

Breeding

Irish Bred: 2-4-22

British Bred: 2-0-17

French Bred: 6-8-27

It appears being a French bred gives you a distinct advantage in recent years. Bristol De Mai and Traffic Fluide are both French breds this year.

Trainer record

Colin Tizzard has saddled Cue Card to win this in 2013, 2015 & 2016.

The Paul Nicholls yard has won the prize in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2014. He unfortunately has no representative this year.

Starting Price

Nine of the last ten winners have been priced 9/1 or under. Only the slightly fortuitous Snoopy Loopy has bucked that trend.

Other key pointers

  • Seven winners finished in the first three on their preceding start.
  • Six winners had contested the race before.
  • Eight winners had won a Grade One Chase.
  • Four winners had won the Gold Cup.
  • Seven winners had had a prep run.

Our guide to the runners:

Bristol De Mai

The conditions will be ideal for Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey on Saturday afternoon after the Merseyside track saw some rainfall almost every single day this week.

The six-year-old put up the best performance of his career when he won the Charlie Hall Chase from stable companion Blaklion at Wetherby last month on his seasonal return.

As expected, Sizing John was the sole absentee from the final field when six were confirmed at Thursday's declaration stage, which made his prospects of landing the first prize even stronger.

Bristol De Mai has never finished out of the frame on going described as heavy or soft in nine starts and has won five times on that type of ground.

The 22-length winner of last season’s Peter Marsh Chase will be a tough nut to crack on a course he clearly thrives at.

Cue Card

Colin Tizzard’s veteran chaser is already a three-time winner of this race and he will be hoping to emulate the great Kauto Star by winning it for a fourth time.

Cue Card unseated Paddy Brennan in the Charlie Hall, so Colin Tizzard’s eleven-year-old will be partnered by Harry Cobden for the first time.

Connections are hoping that Cobden can reignite Cue Card’s fortunes following his second fall in his last three starts and some people see it as quite a gamble to take.

Brennan’s mixed record on Cue Card has been five Grade One wins and amongst those a total of three falls.

Cue Card clearly has plenty of stamina and on paper the race looks like being a heavyweight battle between himself and Bristol De Mai, slogging it out up the home straight. But races aren’t won on paper are they?

Outlander

In the absence of the Gold Cup winner Sizing John, the only Irish entry is Gordon Elliott’s Outlander, who bounced back to form last time out by scooping the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old had disappointed on his previous three starts, including in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Gordon Elliot is likely to have him primed for this task, especially with the lure of a £1million bonus being up for grabs.

The teenage sensation Jack Kennedy gets the leg up and you can expect him to be sitting just off the pace ,hoping to pick up the pieces late on in the day.

Shantou Flyer

Shantou Flyer made his first start for trainer Richard Hobson in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby where he came last of the five finishers.

A Grade Three handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and a runner-up spot to Cue Card in the Ascot Chase in February are some possible glimmers of hope connections can cling onto in this contest.

It would take a leap of faith to back this one but that’s what they said about Snoopy Loopy back in 2008.

Tea for Two

The Nick Williams-trained eight-year-old rounded off last season with a Grade One triumph at Aintree, seeing off Cue Card by a neck in the Betway Bowl under Lizzie Kelly.

He made his seasonal reappearance back at Aintree in the Old Roan Chase earlier in the month, but trailed home a well-beaten ninth, leaving his connections scratching their heads.

Tea For Two does have good form on soft to heavy going but that last run does not exactly inspire confidence going into this.

Traffic Fluide

Traffic Fluide is set to step up trip to three miles and back up to Grade One level on Saturday but his trainer Gary Moore believes the going will make the race somewhat of a leveller.

He shaped well on his first run of this season, finishing fourth behind Smad Place in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and takes up his engagement in this race rather than going to Ascot.

Is that a tip in itself?

Conclusion

It is very hard to get away from the top two in the market and Cue Card and Bristol De Mai are pretty much expected to finish one-two on the day, but in which order it is difficult to say.

It may be worth chancing putting Traffic Fluide into a combination forecast just in case one of the principles fails to make their mark.

December 20, 2017
Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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    Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

    He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

    Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

    He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations. 

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    Premier League: Top 5 Betting Markets in the Battle for The Title

    The 2017-18 Premier League season is starting to take shape, painting a clearer picture for fans and pundits alike to form their opinions, with key battles at both ends of the table giving an early indication of who could lift the title next May, or who could be tumbling towards relegation.

    Looking beyond the league table and team performances, there are plenty of individual players catching the eye already this season, proving they are vital components in the hopes and aspirations of their teams, who could be in the running for prestigious individual honours.

    As we head towards November and with the level of competition as fierce as ever, every goal, every killer pass, every Man of the Match performance; all can make the difference towards success or failure, as we look at the key movers and shakers so far this season in the outright markets.

    The Title Race

    Manchester City might be leading the Premier League race in thrilling fashion and are already clear 2/5 favourites in mid-October, but just like their famous fans Noel and Liam Gallagher once sang with Oasis, ‘Some Might Say’ that with less than a quarter of the campaign played, it’s still far too early to draw any foregone conclusions.

    Pep Guardiola’s side are playing phenomenally, dominating opponents with both style and substance, creatively tearing apart defences and scoring lots of goals, whilst also remaining solid at the back.

    However, across town and still within touching distance at the Premier League summit, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United at appetising 4/1 odds for the title cannot be ignored, and although the Red Devils don’t perhaps have the same depth to their squad, their battle for supremacy against City will remain constant.

    Although they are the reigning champions, Chelsea just haven’t reproduced their consistent form of last season. With odds lengthening to 16/1 and already nine points off the pace after the first eight games of the campaign, manager Antonio Conte is far from happy and there’s also speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge.

    The strongest contender to break the Manchester duopoly this season appears to be Tottenham Hotspur. Although their odds are lengthy at 14/1 for the title, there are still plenty of twists and turns to come this season and Mauricio Pochettino’s side are the best positioned of the chasing pack, should the leaders slip at any moment.

    Perhaps the surprise package of the season so far is Watford FC. Fourth in the table after eight games, they might remain 750/1 rank outsiders for the title and 80/1 for a top-four finish, they’re certainly worth keeping an eye on as a longshot option for the latter, especially given the inconsistency of other sides in the top half of the table and their habit for last-minute wins.

    Top Goalscorer

    Having already won the Premier League Golden Boot for the last two seasons running, Harry Kane remains the tip of the lance for Tottenham Hotspur and at 8/5 odds, he is priceless for his team’s growing ambitions and the favourite to retain the award. Given his consistency both for club and country, in domestic competition or the Champions League, the 24-year-old is maturing into one of the best strikers in Europe.

    Romelu Lukaku has taken to his summer move from Everton to Manchester United with aplomb. Up until the 0-0 bore draw against Liverpool at Anfield, the towering Belgian had scored in every game and leads the Premier League scoring charts. At 3/1 and as the main focal point for United attacks, he should get plenty more goals if he keeps getting the excellent service from the creative players around him.

    With three strikers already having registered six Premier League goals amongst their ranks, Manchester City certainly aren’t short of firepower. Raheem Sterling is considered an outside bet at lengthy odds of 33/1 for the Golden Boot, with Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus both at 6/1 odds considered the best challengers.

    Either of the two would be a good bet for the award at these odds, given the flood of goals from Guardiola’s side.

    Top Assists

    For strikers to demonstrate their firepower often enough, they need a consistent supply of ammunition, and Manchester City are blessed with an abundance of creativity to keep feeding the forward line.

    David Silva currently leads the Premier League charts for assists after eight games and at 3/1 odds he’s fancied to stay there. However, his teammate Kevin De Bruyne with five assists already, is by far the outright favourite at 5/4 and his killer passing has been a joy to behold.

    In the battle for the Premier League title and if Manchester United are to keep in the race, the early season form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be priceless. The Armenian international has contributed five assists in his first eight league games of the season and at 5/2 odds, he is expected to carry on cracking open stubborn rival defences for his team.

    For an assist to count, of course, the recipient also has to hit the back of the net. This leads to the tempting outside option of Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie at 40/1, who has already notched up an impressive four assists in eight games by mid-October.

    He will continue to feed his forward line well throughout the season, but how high he ranks will ultimately depend on those ahead of him taking those chances he provides.

    PFA Player of the Year

    De Bruyne has been in stellar form for City so far, so it’s hardly surprising to see the supremely talented Belgian as the 7/4 888sport favourite and top tip for this season’s award, but with plenty of the season yet to be played, there’s plenty of times for others to win the votes of their peers.

    Harry Kane fancied at 5/1 odds and Romelu Lukaku at 10/1 are the next favourites, and both are good value options, but there are some interesting outside tips well worth considering, such as Nemanja Matic at 33/1 or David Silva at 20/1 and both performing admirably. N’Golo Kante was last year’s winner, although at 40/1 odds, he isn’t considered to be in the running this time around.

    PFA Young Player of the Year

    Based on his exceptional form so far, Gabriel Jesus at Manchester City is the clear favourite at 6/5 for the 2017-18 award, but he will face stiff competition for the end of season award. His teammate Raheem Sterling is fancied to his impressive start to the campaign as a 5/1 option, whilst Manchester United rival Marcus Rashford continues to shine when given his opportunities by Jose Mourinho.

    Dele Alli has won the award for the last two seasons running, so he certainly can’t be ruled out of completing a hat-trick this season. At 7/1 he’s a good option to consider and winning the award yet again would be a particularly impressive achievement. Why? Since the award began in the 1973-74 season, nobody has won it more than twice.

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

    November 9, 2017
    Football

    By 888sport

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    The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

    888sport

    Brighton vs Stoke City: Hosts Value To Snatch Win At 11/2?

    Chris Hughton’s Brighton have quietly worked their way to 15 points from 11 matches. It might only be on goal difference, but the newly promoted side are up to eighth in the table before this weekend’s matches.

    Stoke sit just three points behind thanks to a surprise win at Watford and draw with Leicester. The Potters have become synonymous with the Premier League mid-table, but endured a rough start to the season and still sit just three points above the drop zone. Mark Hughes will be pleased that the pressure has eased.

    At this point, though, the two teams are locked on to the same aim: avoid relegation. Brighton’s start has been solid, but, as fixtures get trickier, they must keep their points ticking over. Stoke, meanwhile, had an unenviable run of matches to start the campaign. The visitors this Monday need to keep on track after recent improvement.

    Davy Propper is in line to return to the hosts’ midfield after featuring for the Netherlands during the international break. The summer signing had been struggling with a niggling injury prior to the fortnight Premier League hiatus, but he is expected to line-up in the middle two of Brighton’s 4-4-1-1.

    Stoke will again be without Jack Butland after the impressive ‘keeper suffered another injury on international duty. Lee Grant will step in – and he did well last season – but there’s no doubt that it is a blow for the Potters. Peter Crouch will be optimistic of a starting berth after being effective from the bench again, while Geoff Cameron could return.

    The Seagulls are a well-organised unit out of possession. With the ball, though, there is a dependence on Pascal Gross to create. Jose Izquierdo against Mame Diouf and Anthony Knockaert against Erik Pieters could provide some joy for Hughton’s men, but neither have produced on a regular basis this term.

    Gross has been one of the stars of this Premier League season, and has to be picked up by Darren Fletcher or Joe Allen when he drops into midfield to link play. Gross is at 21/5 to find the net for the third time this season.

    Stoke have a similar reliance. The team is short of individual magic without Xherdan Shaqiri, and really suffered without him against Bournemouth. In their 3-4-3, the Swiss international has a relatively free reign, and makes them a real threat on the break.

    His inconsistency can be infuriating, but he has to receive the ball regularly in space if Stoke are to take anything from the Amex Stadium.

    Although the key attackers have taken the focus so far, it may well be the back lines that determine this one. Brighton have done well to stifle opponents for much of this season, yet Stoke have suffered defensively, largely through individual error and injury.

    Neither team are potent in attack, either, making a low scoring match probable. The 4/5 price on both teams to score – no – is longer than I expected. I fear that this match will have everyone bemoaning Sky’s TV selections again.

    Brighton to win 1-0 could be a decent correct score punt at 11/2...

    TIP: Brighton to win 1-0 @ 11/2 

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

    November 19, 2017
    Football
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox