RECORD BREAKER: Lampard is Chelsea’s top scorer and looks great at the disco with these moves

By Josh Powell | Chelsea v Benfica, Europa League Final

Chelsea face Benfica in tonight’s Europa League Final as they attempt to become the first club ever to hold the Champions League title and the Europa League title at the same time. It might only be for 10 days but expect some fans to have it hastily written on a bed sheet in black marker before they face Everton on Sunday.

The Champions League’s less attractive sister might not get the pulses racing but it saves you from a Wednesday evening of Coronation Street and Made In Chelsea repeats so we can’t complain.

Throw in the chances of making some money off the back of it and making a truckload of John Terry jokes and we’re definitely sold.

We’ve rooted through the teams’ record this season and their history in European Finals over the last 25 years to put together the trends for tonight’s best bets. To make our job easier Paddy is refunding selected losing bets if serial Euro-goal hogger Oscar nets during the 90 minutes.

That way your wallet might not necessarily feel the hit with our dubious tipping.

Under 2.5 goals – 4/6

It is a short enough price but the trends are hard to ignore. Four of the last five Europa League finals have had under 2.5 goals in 90 minutes, as have four of the last five Champions League Finals. Barcelona’s 3-0 mauling of Manchester United is a stand-out exception. To further hammer home this bet these clubs have competed in five European Finals since 1988 and all five of them have had under 2.5 goals.

Half-time result is a draw – Evens

Again it might not be the biggest price but the stats say it can’t fail and plenty of people in Power Tower are backing it. The same people also said Hear’Say were going to dominate the charts and Eric Djemba Djemba was world-class so don’t take that as gospel. What you can’t argue with is that the five finals these sides have competed in during the last 25 years have all been level at the break and four of the last six Europa League finals have been all square at the oranges.

Lampard to score anytime – 16/5

Chelsea will be led onto the pitch by their captain for the night Frank Lampard. Super Frank notched his 203rd Chelsea goal against Aston Villa to make him the club’s record goalscorer. There are reports of a one-year deal with the Blues in the making and a goal tonight would help dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Lamps hasn’t scored in Europe yet this season but is Chelsea’s leading scorer for the season. He has history of scoring in European Finals with his equaliser in 2008 against United so if you’re a horses for courses kind of punter, Frank is your man.

Correct score 1-1 – 5/1

The last 1-1 draw in a Europa League Final was in 1994 when it was still played over two legs  and the BBC hadn’t inflicted The Vicar Of Dibley on the nation yet. Parma drew 1-1 with Juventus in the San Siro for the all the stat-fans out there. This season both Chelsea and Benfica have played a combined 111 games in all competitions and just the five have ended 1-1, which is 4.5 per cent. Despite all this Chelsea’s last two European finals have ended 1-1 and a low scoring draw is appealing.

Half-time 0-0, Full-time Chelsea 1-0 – 11/1

As mentioned above all five of the European Finals these clubs have competed in during the last 25 years have been level at the break. Of these, 80 per cent of them have been 0-0 at the oranges and in a tight game it could be scoreless at the break again with Chelsea getting a winner after a Rafa team-talk. 10 of Chelsea’s 15 goals in the Europa League have come in the second 45 minutes and more than 70 per cent of the goals Benfica have conceded in the Europa League this year have come after the break.

Cast your eyes this way for all of tonight’s Europa League Final odds

RAF-TERNOON DELIGHT: He’s oblivious to the anti-Rafa signs drawn in felt-tip marker behind him

By Josh Powell

If Chelsea pull their fingers out it is very possible they could win two trophies, finish in the top four and Rafa Benetiz will still have his P45 drop through his letterbox in mid-May. Paddy Power have made the Champions League and FA Cup holders favourites for more European glory this season.

Rafa might not have had much success in the Premier League, but when it comes to knock-out games over 90 minutes he’s one of the best. the Spaniards record is second-to-none and you only have to look at the Liverpool squad that won the 2005 Champions League as proof. A team that included Djimi Traore, Steve Finnan, Harry Kewell and Igor Biscan. Incredible.

Now Chelsea are the 9/4 favourites to win the ‘Trophy that nobody really wants Trophy’, also known as the Europa League. They face Rubin Kazan in the quarter-finals in April.

Three other English clubs  made it through to the Europa League quarter finals and the draw has Tottenham taking on Basel, Fenerbache playing Lazio, and Benfica playing Newcastle. After sneaking through against Inter Milan, Tottenham are second favourites to win the Europa League at 11/4 followed by Benefica at 4/1 as third favourites.

In the Champions League Spanish giants Barcelona have been drawn against David Beckham’s PSG and are now 7/4 to win the tournament for a fifth time.

The other Champions League quarter finals have Real taking on Galatasaray, Malaga taking on Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich taking on Juventus. Real Madrid are second favourites to win the Champions League at odds of 9/4 after knocking out Manchester United, and last year’s finalists Bayern Munich come in as third favourites at 5/1.

A Paddy Power spokesman said; “Barca will now be the team to beat after their salvo against AC Milan and we’ve got them as favourites to reclaim the Champions League title. Three English clubs making it through to the Europa League quarter finals is a shock and now the smart money is on Spurs or Chelsea to take home the title.”

• Betting: Europa League outright
• Betting: Champions League outright

Champions League outright odds

7/4 – Barcelona

9/4 – Real Madrid

5/1 – Bayern Munich

7/1 – Borussia Dortmund

12/1 – Juventus

35/1 – PSG

40/1 – Malaga

80/1 – Galatasaray

Europa League outright odds

9/4 – Chelsea

11/4 – Tottenham

4/1 – Benefica

13/2 – Lazio

12/1 – Fenerbache

14/1 – Newcastle

16/1 – Rubin Kazan

33/1 – FC Basel

Football

Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle all progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League but it was a tough night for Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Zenit St Petersburg 3-1 thanks to another two goals from Luis Suarez but it wasn’t enough as the Reds crashed out on away goals.

Chelsea, last season’s Champions League winners, are the 7/2 favourites to win the Europa League, closely followed in the betting by Zenit at 15/2. Tottenham are 17/2 after a last-minute Moussa Dembele strike saw them see off Lyon, and Newcastle are 20/1 to win the tournament outright.

Europa League last 16

Viktoria Plzen v Fenerbache
Benfica v Bordeaux
Anzhi v Newcastle
Stuttgart v Lazio
Tottenham v Inter
Levante v Rubin Kazan
Basel v Zenit
Steaua Bucharest v Chelsea 

• Betting: Europa League outright

Racing

Today’s racing comes from Sandown and Warwick or if you like getting down and dirty on the all-weather there are meetings from Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Dundalk.

With the temperatures dropping, Paddy’s got his eye on all the meetings across the UK, Ireland and abroad. Stay up to date with all the racing information right here.

American actress Goldie Hawn has been in a relationship with Kurt Russell since 1983 but never tied the knot. 30 years later the two are still together but Kurt hasn’t put a ring on it. This evening in the 5.20pm at Warwick, Goldie Horn, the horse not the actress, has her first race under rules for the duo of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies. Goldie Horn will be hoping she won’t always be a bridesmaid and never a bride by getting her nose in front first time out.

#17sleepsuntilCheltenham

• Betting: All Friday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Golf

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have both sensationally been knocked out in the first round of the WGC Matchplay Championship at The Golf Club in Arizona. Apparently the weather and the fashion sense aren’t the only unpredictable things in the desert. This is the first time in 11 years that both of the top two seeds have been eliminated in the opening round.

It is the most competitive competition in golf with 64 of the world’s best going head-to-head and Luke Donald is now the man who leads the betting at 9/1. He faces Scott Piercy in round two this afternoon. The pick of the clashes today are Sergio Garcia against Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson against Jim Furyk.

If your selection is leading through 12 holes but fails to win, Paddy Power will refund your losing bet on that match.

• Betting: Matchplay coupon
• Betting: Matchplay outright

FALCAO: Atletico will need his quality to overcome a two-goal deficit (Getty)

By Rob Stanworth | Europa League

The second-leg fixtures of the Europa League round of 32 get underway on Thursday with many of the ties precariously placed.

The usual suspects have meandered their way through the group stages, despite the majority playing their second 11, and they are now looking forward to progressing to the latter rounds, although they will have to overcome the third-place dropouts from the Champions League.

In order to do that, some will have to overcome deficits in their second leg. Here is the lowdown on Thursday night’s top ties, with the first leg score in brackets.

Liverpool (0) v (2) Zenit St Petersburg, 8.05pm, ITV1 

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers described his side’s first leg performance as almost the perfect showing away from home in Europe. Pity that they lost 2-0 then, leaving them plenty to do at Anfield on Thursday. Daniel Sturridge, who has made such a big impact since arriving from Chelsea, is cup-tied which piles the pressure on Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard to carry their side through. If you think Liverpool can qualify then they can be backed at 5/2, with the Russian side available at 1/4.

• Betting: Liverpool v Zenit 

Rubin Kazan (2) v (0) Atletico Madrid, 5pm 

The Russians pulled off a major surprise by beating the in-form Spanish giants 2-0 last week. Having won this competition twice in the previous three years and mounting a strong case to usurp Real Madrid as Spain’s second best side, Diego Simeone’s side should not be written off. They are priced at 5/1 to qualify for the next round, with the Russians at 1/10 to keep hold of their advantage.

• Betting: Rubin Kazan v Atletico Madrid 

Metalist Kharkiv (0) v (0) Newcastle United, Live, ESPN, 6pm

Newcastle travel to Ukraine knowing that they have to improve on their league performances this season to go through to the last 16. Papiss Cisse had two goals wrongly disallowed for offside in the first leg, and he will need to be on form on Thursday if the Magpies are to progress. They might also have to contend with a heavy Metalist  pitch, which could disrupt the passing flair of Yohan Cabaye and Newcastle’s French legion. The hosts can be backed at 4/6 to qualify, with Alan Pardew’s side available at 11/10. Cisse’s odds of scoring two goals, this time legitimately, are 18/1.

• Betting: Metalist Kharkiv v Newcastle United 

FC Viktoria Plzen (3) v (0) Napoli, 8.05pm

FC Viktoria Plzen’s 3-0 victory in the first leg was undoubtedly the shock of the round. Despite a team boasting the in-demand Edison Cavani and Marek Hamsik, the Italians crumpled and have left themselves a mammoth task in the second leg. There isn’t a lot of value in Plzen’s 1/66 odds of qualifying, but Napoli can be backed at 11/1 if you fancy a night of sitting on the edge of your sofa and praying for goals.

• Betting: FC Viktoria Plzen v Napoli 

• Betting: Europa League coupon 

MAIN HEADLINES

• LIVERPOOL ON THE BRINK OF EUROPEAN EXIT
• OSCAR PISTORIUS DUE IN COURT ON MURDER CHARGE
• TIDAL BAY OUT OF THE GRAND NATIONAL

Football

Liverpool are on the verge of a premature Europa League exit after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Zenit St. Petersburg in north-western Russia last night. In a frantic opening, both sides had chances to take the lead, but we had to wait until the final 20 minutes for the goals to come. Goals from Hulk and Sergei Semak and Luis Suarez’s uncharacteristically wasteful finishing have put the Russians in a strong positin to progress even giving the luxury of being able to afford a narrow defeat when they visit Anfield next week.

After the match, Liverpool gaffer, Brendan Rodgers, who seems to be growing ever more adept at seeing positives that probably don’t exist, explained:

I thought it was a near-perfect away performance

The Reds had begun the evening as a ‘just behind the favourites’ 16/1 shot to win the Champions League’s smaller and less wealthy younger brother, but drifted to 33/1 after the defeat.

Elsewhere, it was a better night for the other Premier League clubs. Chelsea (9/2 favourites for the competition) claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Oscar.

Tottenham (9/1) beat Lyon thanks to some more brilliant one-man-teaming from Gareth Bale, but the gloss was kind of taken off the victory thanks to the away goal. That will cause some nagging doubts ahead of the return leg in France next week.

Newcastle (25/1) ended up with nothing but a lingering sense of injustice thanks to a couple of disallowed goals at home to Metalist Kharkiv. Papiss Cisse was the aggrieved party and they’ll need to keep that motivation as they face a tricky trip to Ukraine next Thursday.

• Betting: Europa League Outright
  

Athletics

The news of Oscar Pistorious’s arrest and murder charge is one of the most unbelievable on the history of all sport. The six-time Paralympic gold medalist was taken into custody on Thursday after his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at the runner’s home. He’s appearing in court this morning.

With so much rumour, counter-rumour and idle internet gossip flying around, it’s difficult to know what to say about what unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning. One day, the legal process might get us a snapshot of what happened on the night, but until then all we can say is it’s a tragedy. First and most importantly, the family are left with the realisation that their young, vibrant daughter will never be coming home and secondly, a man who has been an inspiration to millions of people across the world has possibly thrown his life away.

Horse Racing

Trainer, Paul Nicholls has revealed Tidal Bay’s attempt to win the world’s most famous steeplechase will not go ahead after the 12 year old suffered a stress fracture. a classy and versatile horse, he won the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and was considered one of the leading fancies for the Grand National in April. Prior to being withdrawn he was 14/1 co-third favourite for the National.

When news of the withdrawal broke, Prince De Beauchene was trimmed at the top of the Grand National Betting. The Willie Mullins trained charge had been 12/1 earlier in the week, but was clipped in to 10/1 and now sits as clear favourite for the famous race.

Before all that, we’ve got a busy weekend of racing and depending on what your definition of the weekend is, it could start today. Today we have meetings from Fakenham, Sandown, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and. Dundalk.

• Betting: All Friday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Zenit v Liverpool, Live on ITV 4,
Thursday, 5pm

Liverpool are up against a good side in Russian Premier Division team Zenit and Brendan Rodgers’ needs to put out his best side to keep this tie alive for the second leg. The Reds lost to Anzhi  on their last trip to Moscow but they’re a much more experienced side now and should be going there to get a result they can build on at Anfield.

Daniel Sturridge is cup-tied as he was a part of Chelsea’s squad for the Champions League while Daniel Agger is being rested and has been left at home. Other than that Liverpool are expected to play a strong side and did well to top their group to make it to the last 32 of the Europa League.

Liverpool are 11/5 to record their third win out of four on the road in the competition with earlier victories at Young Boys and Udinese in the group stages.  Those games ended 3-5 and 0-1 respectively and a repeat of either of those scorelines against Zenit is 500/1 and 8/1 with Paddy Power.

The Reds will be desperate for an away goal and will have to rely predominantly on 17  Premier League goal-getter Luis Suarez in Sturridge’s absence. The Uruguayan is 5/1 to get the first goal of the game, 8/5 to score at anytime over the 90 minutes or 11/4 to score first for his team with Paddy Power.

I think Zenit will be too strong for the visitors on the night and I fancy the home side to win at 13/10.

• Betting: Zenit St Petersburg v Liverpool  

Football

The big game certainly lived up to all the hype Sky Sports had thrown at it, as Manchester United drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in Spain. Danny Welbeck opened the scoring midway through the first half before Cristiano Ronaldo rose like a salmon to nod in the equaliser after half an hour. It means the tie is delicately poised going into the second leg at Old Trafford with both managers backing their sides to progress.

Tonight the Europa League takes centre stage with Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool all in action. It’s the tournament nobody really wants to be in but none of these teams will want to suffer any embarrassment. There’s 16 Europa League games in all tonight which is great news for coupon lovers.

• Betting: Europa League coupon
  

Read all about it: Paddy Power pays out on Manchester United to win the league!

Golf

Phil Mickelson is catching some sunshine up in California and will try to continue his blistering streak in the Northern Trust Open and put Pebble Beach behind him. Good old ‘Lefty’ led wire to wire in that remarkable Waste Management Phoenix Open and after flirting with a round of 59, Phil would love to seal the deal again at Riviera County this weekend. He’s won this tournament twice before and finished runner-up twice making him the clear 12/1 favourite.

Bubba Watson is another left-hander who could excel at the quirky course while Sergio Garcia has been showing all the signs that he is ready to finally win a major this year. Throw in last year’s runner-up Keegan Bradley and Englishman Luke Donald and you have a tournament that is jam-packed full of quality, class and questionable fashion sense.

• Betting: Northern Trust Open outright

Darts

Robert Thornton is back in his native Scotland tonight as the Premier League rolls into Aberdeen. He notched up his first win on his debut under the bright lights but has a tougher ask tonight against World Champ finalist Michael Van Gerwen. The Thorn will have the majority of the support in front of what is always a raucous atmosphere in Scotland but he might need more than that to stop Mighty Mike. The Dutchman had darts to beat Phil Taylor last week and won’t be in the mood to hand Thornton a win on home soil.

In other games Wes Newton faces Raymond van Barneveld, Andy Hamilton takes on James Wade and Gary Anderson will try to use the home crowd as motivation against Simon Whitlock. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is in action against double-World champ Adrian Lewis who will easily be the most-booed man of the evening.

If any game ends in a draw tonight Paddy will refund losing singles on that match! This special clicked on the opening week and Paddy could be emptying his pockets for punters again if any game ends all square this evening.

• Betting: Darts coupon

Racing

Today’s racing comes from Kelso, Kempton and Thurles. Unfortunately Leicester has been abandoned due to the severe weather. You can keep up to date with all the racing in the UK, Ireland and abroad right here.

With just 25 days to go Cheltenham you’d be forgiven for thinking some of the senior jockeys in the weigh room might start to pick and choose their rides ahead of the Festival.

Wrong! AP McCoy travels to Kelso today for four rides and only one of them – Unique de Cotte in the 3.10pm – is for his guv’nor JP McManus.

The iron man of jumps racing has ridden seven winners from 19 rides in the past week and if you put two and two together you’ll get the number of mounts he has at Kelso today. Which fits nice and snugly into a Yankee.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

The mighty Newcastle that took the Premier League by surprise last season and almost sneaked into a Champions League spot seem to have disappeared.

Alan Pardew’s side have been replaced by a sorry-looking squad that can’t cope with seemingly constant stream of fixtures heading their way, particularly over the Christmas period.

BLUE IS THE COLOUR: Demba Ba is leaving the sunny north-east for London (pic: Getty)

The only thing that has kept their head above water this year is the presence of Demba Ba, and the Senegalese striker is heading for the exit door at St James’ Park.

Pardew and the Toon faithful are waving bye bye to Demba as he makes his way down the M1 to London and the riches of Mr Abramovich, all for just £7.5 million.

He missed the Magpies’ home loss against Everton last night to discuss a deal at Stamford Bridge. Even though our friend Mr Benitez has remained very coy on the matter, Ba is almost certain to be a Chelsea player, maybe in time for the weekend game against Stoke – which will delight the Potters fans.

Pardew was pretty candid last night “I don’t think he will be coming back; I think the deal will get done. We can move on – we’re a massive club here. This club is bigger than any player, for sure,” he said.

But is it? With their top goalscorer leaving the club, what does the rest of the season hold.

Well in the short-term, the Toon could be heading into crucial January relegation clashes with Norwich, Reading and Aston Villa hoping Papiss Cisse can reach the form he showed in the second half of last season.

Newcastle hover just two points above dropzone

Newcastle are 21/10 to sneak a win away at Norwich this weekend, but Chris Hughton will want to put one over on his former club and leave them deeper in the mire.

Losing Ba also means the Newcastle boss will be facing a very busy January, trying to add to his now pretty threadbare strikeforce, which consists of Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Adam Campbell and the troubled Nile Ranger.

While the side continue to plough on in the Europa League, there is a risk that domestic form will suffer. With the club hovering just two points of the dropzone it’s something Pardew can’t afford.

The Magpies are 7/1 with Paddy Power to leave through the trap door in May for another spell in the Championship.

Of course, a bit of wheeling and dealing in the window and the return of the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez could see Pardew’s side push on, and if you’re looking through black and white glasses, a Europa League triumph could be on the cards this season.

If you think Newcastle can pull it off, you can have a flutter on them to win the tournament at 33/1.

The next few weeks are make or break for the club. Have a good January, pick up some results and players and they could make mid table; fail and they could be dragged into a relegation scrap they may not be ready for.

• Betting: Newcastle team page

Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool travel to Udinese tonight with their Europa League campaign on a knife edge.

His side had the chance to secure qualification and end the chances of Young Boys last time out, but they managed to squander a lead at Anfield and were held to an exciting 2-2 draw.

The result means Rodgers’ men travel to Italy knowing they need to equal the result of the Swiss side, who play host to Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala in Bern.

UR THE MAN: Suarez is expected to lead the line for Liverpool last night. Not many options, really

The former Swansea gaffer says his improving Reds side are ready to take the next step into the knock-out rounds, with a win the only way to guarantee qualification against an already-eliminated Udinese side.

Despite recent Europa League results, the Italians will be confident as they picked up their only win of the campaign so far in Liverpool, claiming a 3-2 victory.

Fit-again midfielder Lucas Leiva and Daniel Agger will both be rested and Steven Gerrard hasn’t made the trip due to illness, but Luis Suarez has, showing how much Liverpool want to make it to the next stage.

With the Uruguayan hitman in the squad, Liverpool are 19/20 favourites to pull off a win. The draw may not be enough for Rodgers, but it is on offer at 13/5, while Udinese are 11/4 with Paddy Power to break Anfield hearts.

It’s time for Downing to shine. Yes, really

Rodgers is understandably under some pressure heading into the game and wants to continue the club’s legacy in European competition. Doing so could set up a mouth-watering tie with one of the sides entering the competition from the Champions League.

“This is a club that over the years has had a terrific association with European football,” Rodgers said. “It is important for us in our present and future that we can have as much involvement into the latter stages of these competitions as much as we can because this is what this great history is all about.”

His squad are also desperate to continue in the competition, with winger-come-left-back Stewart Downing keen to keep the playing time the Europa League has given him. “I’ve had a couple of good goals and some good performances. It’s obviously nice to play – that’s where most of my appearances have been this season,” he said.

If Liverpool do crash out, the former England man could be resigned to a season in the reserves, but if you think he can pull a goal out of the bag tonight, he’s on offer at 12/1 to grab the first of the game.

• Betting: Europa League

Football

It may have lacked the glamour and wow-factor of that win over Barcelona, but last night Celtic Park celebrated the hard-earned win over Spartak Moscow with similar jubilation. The Celts’ 2-1 victory over the Russian side combined with Benfica’s admittedly rather unfortunate draw with a disinterested Barcelona at the Camp Nou ensured that the Glasgow club will be in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2008.

Gary Hooper put them in the lead before the visitors equalised through Ari, but a Kris Commons penalty that got uncomfortably familiar with the crossbar saw them through to the Last 16. Having been given little chance of qualification when the groups were drawn, Celtic are now 100/1 for the Champions League, substantially shorter than the 500/1 on offer back in September.

Elsewhere, the champions are out. Chelsea upheld their end of the bargain by giving Nordsjaelland a solid 6-1 tonking, but Shahktar never looked like beating Juventus and providing the other part of the equation necessary for Chelsea’s unlikely progress. The good news is that Fernando Torres scored twice, but the bad news is people are taking it as a sign that things are about to change, which kind of tells you the level of straws we’re clutching at. The Pensioners get the mixed blessing of a place in the Europa League, a competition they last graced with their presence when it was in the UEFA Cup in the pre-Abramovich days of the 2002/03 season.

Manchester United lost at home to CFR Cluj of Romania. This is the bit when you expect talk of a weakened side, but it really wasn’t too weakened. Eight of United’s starting XI are first team regulars and will be hoping for a game in the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Tonight, it’s the last matchday in the group stages of the Champions League poorer, younger and less attractive little brother. Liverpool need to win in Udinese to progress, but a draw could suffice if Young Boys fail to beat Anzhi Makhachkala. The Reds are 19/20 to get that win.

Newcastle already know they’ll be in the Round of 32, but their game against Bordeaux will decide who goes through as group winners. The Magpies are 7/2 to pull off a surprise win in France.

Tottenham have passage to the knockout stage in their own hands. A win over Panathinaikos at White Hart Lane would see them through and at odds of 1/3, they’re expected to deliver.

• Europa League match betting
• Champions League outright betting

Horse Racing

Frankie Dettori has been handed a six month worldwide ban for failing a drugs test as Longchamp last September. It means he’ll be unavailable to ride in, amongst plenty of other things, the Dubai World Cup, the Guineas meeting at Newmarket, the Chester Cup meeting and the Dante Stakes meeting at York. He will return in time for the Derby meeting at Epsom.

The Italian jockey has accepted is punishment and a statement released via his solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, speaks about the regret caused by his actions. “He accepts that he has let down the sport he loves and all those involved with it, as well as the wider public, But most of all – and this is his greatest regret – he has let down his wife and children,” explained Stewart-Moore.

The Frankie-less world of racing continues today with meetings from Leicester, Wincanton, Lingfield, Clonmel, Vaal, Meydan, & Pau.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Ante-post prices on the Tingle Creek, King George and Cheltenham 2013 

Snooker

The shocks continue to come at the UK Championship. Last night three time world champion, John Higgins was knocked out at the hands of Mark Davis. The Celtic supporting Wishaw native could have been forgiven for having other things on his mind for the night, but he was hardly distracted, racking up the seventh 147 break of his career en route to a narrow 6-5 loss.

Elsewhere, 17 year olds Belgian prodigy, Luca Brecel secured his first appearance in the quarter-final of a ranking event. He overcame Mark King by a scoreline of 6-4 and will face former world champions, Shaun Murphy in the last eight. He’s 12/5 to pull off an upset when that make begins at around 7pm this evening. Neil Robertson is the 7/4 favourite to win the event outright with Murphy a 9/2 chance and Stuart Bingham third favourite at 11/2.

• UK Championship Outright Betting
• UK Championship match betting

LUIS LETS LOOSE: Suarez fires home his 10th Premier League goal against Wigan

By Lee Dover

A crisis at Liverpool? What crisis. Since the Reds lost 2-1 at home to bitter rivals Manchester United they’ve remained unbeaten in the Premier League.

And the Anfield club are not faring too badly in the Europa League either ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Swiss side Young Boys that could decide their fate in the competition. Win and they are strong favourites to go through. Lose and it could be game over.

Both teams are joint-second in Group A with Young Boys ahead of tonight’s clash.

Jamie Carragher is expected to take over the captain’s armband with Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez likely to start on the bench.  If Suarez starts the Uruguayan hitman is worth a punt to be the game’s first goalscorer at 13/5 and to score at anytime at 4/7.

The star striker has accounted for 59 per cent of Liverpool’s league goals so far this season and tops the Premier League top-scorer list after his brace against Wigan last weekend.

The Swiss underdogs have everything to play for though as a defeat will dump them out of the  Europa League. And their position in the Swiss Super League leaves them vulnerable to missing out on automatic qualification.

They’ve nothing to lose and that could make them dangerous.

• Betting: Liverpool v Young Boys 

Is Taison’s as good as MvB’s? Is it better? Watch both goals, feel a little sad that you, like us, will only ever achieve such volleying excellence through the medium of FIFA 13 or PreEvo, and then make up your own mind. Enjoy.

Taison vs Rosenborg (2012)

Marco van Basten vs USSR (1988)

Betting: Football Coupon

The lads did well tonight,shame about the result. Just lacking in the final third—
Phil Thompson (@Phil_Thompson4) November 08, 2012

Plenty of effort but we really only have suarez capable of scoring. Still fancy us to qualify.—
The Liverpool Way (@theliverpoolway) November 08, 2012

Fowler: "It was just a typical Liverpool game. They controlled it but didn't look like they were going to score"—
Liverpool FC (@liverpool) November 08, 2012

Thought #LFC competed ok, without ever really looking like they could score. Suso with a very impressive (central) cameo.—
Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) November 08, 2012

Jordan Henderson is young & hard working but nothing 'special', we've been trying to defend his price tag of £20m, that's all.—
Nico (@Lfc_Nico) November 08, 2012

Rumour has it that Joe Cole may be on his way back to Lille in a £3m deal. Liverpool are going to pay the fee up-front #JokeHole—
Know Your Enemy (@KopBlock205) November 08, 2012

Dirk Kuyt has scored! (for the benefit of Liverpool fans with short-term memory loss, he now plays for Fenerbahce—
  (@MirrorFootball) November 08, 2012

5 – Liverpool have failed to score in five of their last nine European ties. Passive.—
  (@OptaJoe) November 08, 2012

FACT: Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o has just earned £3,240 for his goal-less, 90-minute display against Liverpool.—
BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) November 08, 2012

Meanwhile…

In NAndos today with my brother. 3 whole chicken or 2 people and 2 mazorcas. Amazing NAndos ) http://t.co/RVvH4ppD—
jose enrique sanchez (@jose3enrique3) November 08, 2012

Football

Money bags Manchester City are 50/1 to win the Champions League after slumping to a 3-1 defeat at Ajax last night.

Roberto Mancini’s schizophrenic tactical changes have been called into question as the Italian switched to three centre-backs from a 4-4-2 formation when City were a goal up and promptly paid the price to leave them bottom of Group D.

Arsenal’s unbeaten record at home in the Group stages of the competition also came to an end as Shalke ran out 2-0 winners at a rapidly-emptying Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are still in a strong position to qualify from Group B but have a couple of nervy nights ahead.

Liverpool face a tricky tie against a Guus Hiddink’sAnzhi Makhachkala at Anfield tonight and are 11/8 to topple the Russian Premier League side who trade at 2/1. Brendan Rodgers will need to balance his stretched resources carefully as the Reds face Everton on Sunday in the new manager’s first Merseyside derby in charge.

Spurs travel to Slovenian to face NK Maribor and are 8/11 to come away with the points while Alan Pardew’s Newcastle take on Belgian side Club Brugge and can be backed at 8/13.

The vacant manager’s job at Ipswich has been left at the default setting by most bookmakers with Alan Curbishley (you are forgiven for asking who?) installed as 2/1 favourite to end his three years out of the game “if the right opportunity comes along”.

A team that is perennially anchored to the foot of the Championship hardly represents an ‘opportunity’ but until someone you never considered signs on the dotted line expect a few more familiar names in the frame.

• Betting: Liverpool v Anzhi Makhachkala
• Betting NK Maribor v Tottenham
• Betting: Europa League coupon 
• Betting: Premier League Coupon 

Golf

Jamie Donaldson holds a four-shot lead in the clubhouse on 10-under-par from Peter Hanson after an overnight 62 at the BMW Masters in Shaghai.

Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy is three under through 12 with a Ryder Cup who’s who of Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts still on the course and just behind McIlroy as the opening day’s play draws to a close.

If McIlroy wins the tournament Paddy Power will refund all losing single stake on the second place player(s).

• Betting: BMW Masters outright
• Betting: Race to Dubai 

Racing

Last weekend’s Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Excelebration is flying ahead of his trip to Santa Anita to the Breeders Cup on Saturday week.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt will be the highest rated runner in the two-day showpiece and the world’s joint second-highest rated thoroughbred (behind Frankel) alongside Cirrus Des Aigles. Racing today comes from Carlisle, Wolverhampton, Ludlow and Southwell in the UK and Thurles in Ireland.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards form and odds 
• Betting: Breeders Cup 

Football

Brendan Rodgers was left frustrated after watching Liverpool fall to a 3-2 defeat to Udinese at Anfield. ‘Lazy, loose and sloppy’ are the words he used to describe his teams performance and it now leaves the reds with a tricky test to qualify from group A of the Europa League. Elsewhere Spurs picked up a point in Greece as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Panithinaikos leaving them third in their group. It was a great result for Newcastle though who thumped Bordeaux 3-0 in front of a buzzing St James Park.

Athletico Madrid are 13/2 to lift the trophy with Liverpool the 14/1 third favourites behind Inter Milan at 11/1. Tottenham are 18/1 with Newcastle available at 22/1.

• Betting: Europa League outright

Formula 1

The Japanese Grand Prix looks set to be a thriller in Suzuka if the opening couple of practice sessions are anything to go by.

Mark Webber could possibly be making a last-minute title bid as he showed some excellent driving skill to top the second practice session 0.214 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel was 0.343 seconds behind his Red Bull team-mate with championship leader Fernando Alonso down in fifth place.

Webber is 10/1 to win the weekend’s Grand Prix with Hamilton the 7/4 favourite. Vettel is 3/1 with Alonso at 5/1 and last year’s winner Jenson Button is a tasty 12/1.

• Betting: Japanese Grand Prix winner

Cricket

The Twenty20 World Cup semi-final takes place today as Australia and West Indies battle for a place in Sunday’s final to face the hosts Sri Lanka.

Australia are ranked four places below West Indies in the official rankings but the wallabies are the 4/6 favourites for this match. The Windies have been playing well in the competition and at 13/10 will fancy an upset this afternoon.

Sri Lanka are the 8/11 favourites to be crowned world champions with Australia at 9/4 and the West Indies are 4/1.

If either match is decided on the final ball Paddy Power will refund all losing match bets on that game.

• Betting: Australia v West Indies
• Betting: World Cup outright

Racing

A load of racing today with cards at Ascot, Fontwell, Hexham, Wolverhampton, Yarmouth, Dundalk and Gowran Park.

The Sun newspaper’s top tipster Templegate has a tasty fancy in Miss Dashwood in the 8.45pm at Wolverhampton and she is Templegate’s nap of the day.

‘She improved on her maiden form when touched off at Kempton on her handicap debut. The wide draw meant she got further back than ideal and today’s race should be run to suit’.

• Betting: All Friday’s cards, form and odds