Take Mo for your answer when Tottenham go to Anfield this afternoon.
Quizzed after the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea in midweek, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said his side had “bigger issues than set-pieces” despite having just let in yet another two goals that way, both headers.
Big Ange looked a bit downcast, like a man who’d lost a fiver and found a quid, then lost the quid, then slipped on a dog poo outside Boots and split his trousers.
Some angles on the data say Tottenham’s set-piece problem IS being over-hyped. Hosts Liverpool (4.30pm) have conceded a higher share of goals from set-plays, if fewer in total.
But stats shenanigans don’t obscure the fact that Liverpool set-piece threats get an ‘anytime scorer’ boost. Mo Salah has scored as many Prem goals from set-pieces as Virgil van Dijk this season, and is solid ‘anytime’ at 5/6 (Paddy).
But the Reds have kept one clean sheet in their past 15 home games and two Spurs ‘anytime’ prices add up nicely – Heung-Min Son at 12/5 and Cristian Romero at 16/1 (both Paddy).
Olympiakos made it look easy to score against Aston Villa on Thursday. It clearly won’t be so simple for Brighton (2pm) if Emi Martinez returns in Villa’s goal, though all the rest is murky – with question marks about focus, in particular the home side’s.
So let’s pause there, to salute Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric, who’s won the Seagulls’ goal of the month award for April with a back-pass own-goal whoopsie that was both spectacular AND the only goal Brighton scored all month.
If Martinez starts, try 2/1 (Hills) NO ‘both teams score’ and ’no goalscorer’ at 20/1 (Skybet).
It’s a six-pointer at Stamford Bridge (2pm) as the struggle to swerve being London’s second-worst Prem team heats up. Chelsea can almost put the whole thing to bed with a win here, but don’t bet on it at 4/7.
The goals forecast is sunny all round, and with Jarrod Bowen in sizzling form, as a Euros summer beckons, get on the Hammer ‘score or assist’ at 7/5 (Paddy).
Over in Italy, Juventus are busy nailing down a Champions League ticket one point at a time. Bet the 11/5 DRAW at distracted Roma (7.45pm).
Last week: Winners at 7/4, 10/11, 5/2 & 5/2