First and foremost, I hope you all had a great Christmas spent with loved ones – and on behalf of me and all my staff at Betfred, I wish you a very Happy New Year.
What’s the best present I got this year? The return of the Premier League, of course…
The 2022 Qatar World Cup was a fantastic spectacle on the pitch, especially that extraordinary final between Argentina and France that will live long in the memory, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s great to have the domestic stuff back.
But first, we had the return of the EFL Cup. United’s comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley means we’re in the quarter-finals, and we could hardly have got a more favourable draw – Charlton at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s men are 11/4 at Betfred to pick up the first available piece of silverware this season, with our noisy neighbours City unsurprisingly 4/5 favourites.
Newcastle, who are flying high in the Premier League, can be backed at 5/1 – while it’s 14/1 bar.
As for the Premier League, United returned with a fantastic 3-0 win against admittedly a poor Nottingham Forest side, so it’s all smiles right now as a Red.
Our new gaffer has us playing excellent football and getting the results to match. Fingers crossed this purple patch continues.
And how could I not mention Marcus Rashford, my favourite player of the modern era?
He went into the World Cup, where he bagged three goals despite limited game time, in great form and he returned in the same fashion.
I couldn’t be happier for him after a tricky couple of years. He’s a role model off the pitch, and now he’s providing on it again.
United’s next engagement is on New Year’s Eve, when we visit the Molineux Stadium to take on Wolves. Betfred make the Red Devils 10/11 to get all three points, which looks a great price with the lads in this form.
City have some ground to make up on Arsenal at the top of the table and will themselves be confident of triumphing on Saturday when they host Everton.
Away from football, we’ve enjoyed some brilliant horse racing action over the festive period – a highlight being Bravemansgame’s emphatic King George success, giving trainer Paul Nicholls his 13th title.
The World Darts Championship at the Ally Pally in London is approaching the business end and, as it always is, has been full of drama and excitement.
Curzon land Leamington stopper
Several stars set to stay at Hurst Cross
Wilshaw returns
The Tour 2025: Round-up
