S.P. Read Esq. Liverpool v Middlesbrough (7.45pm)

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P.Read Esq. looks at the 7.45pm kick off in the Capital One Cup between LIVERPOOL v MIDDLESBROUGH and finds the best opportunity available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

The early market moves this morning at Star Sports fixed odds division noted the weakness behind the Liverpool price in expectation of a weakened side being fielded at Anfield tonight.

They wouldn’t want to weaken their side too much at the moment to give north east visitors Middlesbrough a real good chance in this game.

Liverpool, at present, look a pale shadow of the team that went so agonisingly close to being champions last season.

They come here on the back of their third defeat in five games against West Ham on Saturday which has left them in 11th in the Premier League and with the Merseyside Derby coming up on Saturday, boss Brendan Rodgers is likely to name a youthful side as he rests some of his key players.

It’s been over five years since the two teams last met in the Premier League…

Liverpool v Middlesbrough
Capital One Cup, 3rd Round
7.45pm SKY

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 2009 Premier Middlesbro 2-0 Liverpool
Aug 2008 Premier Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbro
Feb 2008 Premier Liverpool 3-2 Middlesbro
Jan 2008 Premier Middlesbro 1-1 Liverpool
Apr 2007 Premier Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbro
Nov 2006 Premier Middlesbro 0-0 Liverpool
Dec 2005 Premier Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbro
Aug 2005 Premier Middlesbro 0-0 Liverpool
Apr 2005 Premier Liverpool 1-1 Middlesbro
Nov 2004 Premier Middlesbro 2-0 Liverpool

Boro looked good when beating Brentford 4-0 on Saturday and have made a promising start to the new season lying in fifth in the Championship.

Their boss Aitor Karanka said: “The most important thing is that we keep going in this way and win games.”

I would have given Middlesbrough a squeak against the same side that Liverpool fielded on Saturday given their current form. Against a seriously weakened side I think that’s tilted things greatly in Middlesbrough’s favour.gest.

The Capital One Cup isn’t every teams cup of tea but Middlesbrough have won five of their last six away League Cup ties.

A sell of Liverpool superiority will hopefully be rewarded.

CLICK FOR LIVERPOOL v MIDDLESBROUGH MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

SELL LIVERPOOL / MIDDLESBROUGH at around 0.95 with Star Spreads for 15 points

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.