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Who is 50/1 to open the scoring in Manchester City vs Liverpool? Jones Knows...

Our betting expert Jones Knows puts forward two bets for the big clash at the Etihad this weekend; watch Leicester vs Wolves and Manchester City vs Liverpool all live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday; Play Super 6 Extra to win £5,000!

Laporte
Image: Aymeric Laporte celebrates after scoring his last goal against Watford in July

Our tipster has found a 50/1 shot in the Man City vs Liverpool encounter...

How did last weekend go?

First the bad news. Both bets lost.

Burnley (1pt at 11/2) failed to find their spark against Chelsea and Bukayo Saka (18/1 first goalscorer) could not find the net with one of his two efforts against Manchester United. Winners will be around the corner though if keeping on that line of thinking. We were close.

And the good news? I'm still in a job, despite the calls from a few disgruntled Chelsea fans that I should be dismissed instantly after going against their club.

Don't be like those naysayers. An opinion that blows against the wind should never be discouraged as long as you have evidence to back it up.

Remember, whatever I tip, I back, we're in this together.

20/21 P+L = -4

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Manchester City vs Liverpool, Sunday 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports - 1pt on Aymeric Laporte to have a shot on target (11/2 with Sky Bet - bet here!) & 0.5pts on Laporte to score first (50/1 with Sky Bet - bet here!)

My brain doesn't quite work in the same way as the norm. Yes, the footballing world is drooling at the prospect at this football match - Liverpool should win by the way at 12/5 - but my main interest in this fixture is my long-term aim of trying to secure some profit in Liverpool's deficiency of defending from set-pieces without Virgil van Dijk.

Much has been made of Van Dijk's injury since he limped off against Everton but most of the arguments have missed a key feature. The organisational factor. Liverpool have coped fine in general play but look significantly more vulnerable from set-pieces without him.

John Egan (Sheffield United), Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta) and Lisandro Martínez (Ajax) have all been presented with good openings from set-plays without Van Dijk, they just didn't take them. Michael Keane did score for Everton in the 2-2 draw with Van Dijk off the pitch and I'm willing to invest in more dangerous centre-backs causing Liverpool problems from set-plays over the course of the season.

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Predict what will happen when Manchester City face Liverpool to win £5,000!
Image: Predict what will happen when Manchester City face Liverpool to win £5,000!

Manchester City wouldn't automatically be regarded as carrying a huge threat from set-plays but no team scored more goals than them last season from such situations (17) - having Kevin De Bruyne delivering the goods probably explains that surprising statistic.

That has sparked an interest for City defender Ayermic Laporte in the goalscorer and shot-on-target markets.

In both of his starts in the Premier League this season against Leeds and Sheffield United, a decent chance has fallen Laporte's way, equating to an xG figure of 0.22, which makes him the seventh most dangerous centre-back in the league from set-plays, albeit from minimal data this season. Stretching it further back, a total of six goals since joining from Athletic Bilbao is a healthy return for a defender.

The 11/2 for a shot on target and a boosted 50/1 for him to opening the scoring are both worth following.

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