Paddy Says – Gameweek 19

It’s been an annus horribilis for many, but 2016 was also the year of pricus superbus Paddius – and he’s got another fine selection of Anytime Goalscorer and Clean Sheet odds to take us blinking into the light of a new dawn.

Before that, there’s another round of enhanced offers available for new customers, starting with the mouth-watering encounter between Liverpool and Man City on New Year’s Eve.

You can get an eyebrow-raising 8-1 on Liverpool emerging victorious from what should be an attacking slug-fest and such is the see-saw nature of the fixture, there’s another 8-1 available on City claiming an away win.

Next year will involve any number of people travelling to Hull to take advantage of their City of Culture status. Until then you can get 6-1 on Everton making the trip to take advantage of Hull’s nearly back in the Championship status and coming away with a victory.

There’s slightly lower odds of 5-1 on Spurs beating Watford, while Paddy also has three prices of 4-1. One involves a victory for Man United over Middlesbrough, amother a win for Arsenal over Crystal Palace and, finally, league leaders Chelsea beating Stoke.

Paddy then draws the curtains on 2016 by offering a very generous Acca of 18-1 on Leicester, Liverpool and United all winning their home matches.

Be sure to check the terms and conditions on all those offers and, of course, we should state that all these specials are only available to those aged 18 or over. And if you’re going to wager, always gamble responsibly.

ANYTIME GOALSCORER ODDS – GAMEWEEK 19

Diego Costa, the most popular transfer target ahead of tonight’s 7pm deadline, stands alone at the top of the Anytime Goalscorer odds at 1.50, although he gets only second billing in our Captaincy Poll for the Gameweek.

Top dog in that is the 43.1%-owned Zlatan Ibrahimovic (1.57). The Swede is in red-hot form ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Middlesbrough to Old Trafford, with four goals in his last three outings and eight in seven.

What tips the odds Costa’s way is Boro’s defensive pedigree – Aitor Karanka’s men have kept two clean sheets on the road, which sounds underwhelming until you realise that only four teams have a better record. Boro are also fifth-best for away goals conceded (10).

Throw in a Diego fresh from taking Boxing Day off for bad behaviour and a rampant Chelsea facing a Stoke side that’s shipped seven goals in their last two away matches, and the lower price on the Spaniard makes plenty of sense.

The battle for the middle ground at the head of the Arsenal attack has been joined, with Olivier Giroud (1.72) given the nod ahead of Alexis Sanchez (1.61) against West Brom last time out. Paddy seems to favour the Chilean moving back from the flank to the middle for Sunday’s visit of Palace, however, if his lower price is to be believed.

There’s also just a hint that Daniel Sturridge (2.10) might well start in the New Year’s Eve mega-clash with Man City. The England forward came off the bench to score against Southampton. Divock Origi started that match and served up an assist, but he’s down at 2.62 to net tomorrow.

The second most popular transfer pick of Gameweek 19, Adam Lallana, has hit four goals in as many matches and is at 3.40 to continue his fine form.

For the opposition, the returning Sergio Aguero is at 1.90 to come back with a bang at Anfield. The main issue is whether Pep Guardiola will actually start him. Raheem Sterling has a goal and three assists to his name while deputising for Kun, and he’s priced at 4.20 to really annoy the Kop with a goal tomorrow evening.

The other half of Merseyside is in fine fettle at the moment, having secured two wins and a draw from five tricky fixtures that included Arsenal, United and Liverpool.

The 26.6%-owned Romelu Lukaku has scored three times in that run and is at 2.00 to make hay away at Hull City tonight.

CLEAN SHEET ODDS – GAMEWEEK 19

Adding up the respective clean sheet odds available for each match leads us to an inescapable conclusion – if you’re looking for a match to sap the footballing joy out of you while simultaneously paying out some cash, then Burnley v Sunderland is your best bet.

The Clarets have secured all but one of their points for the season at Turf Moor and they’ve kept as many home clean sheets (three) as Arsenal and Man United.

Small wonder then that only three goalkeepers are owned by more Fantasy managers than Tom Heaton. One of those, Hull’s Eldin Jakupovic, hasn’t actually played since the days when Donald Trump was still considered unelectable, so he’s clearly in 18.4% of FPL sides for his 3.9m price alone.

The key question in the Burnley match is can they stop a Sunderland side with just five away goals to their name? You’d like to think so.

Chelsea have kept five clean sheets in their last six home matches and are at 1.72 to continue the trend against Stoke City.

The Potters have only been blanked once on the road all season, but, you know, Chelsea and, you know, Chelsea with lynchpin N’Golo Kante available again after suspension.

Conclusion: you know, Stoke 0.

The most popular defender in the Gameweek’s transfers-in table is West Ham’s Winston Reid, courtesy of a goal and two clean sheets from his last three appearances.

A trip to Leicester used to be the stuff of nightmares, but Claudio Ranieri’s reigning champions are currently dilly-dinging their way into a relegation battle and the Foxes haven’t kept a home clean sheet since Gameweek 7.

Everton blanked them last time out and the Hammers are at a very generous 4.20 to repeat the trick.