Weekend Review: Liverpool in seventh heaven as United undone in Anfield ambush

Liverpool handed Manchester United their heaviest defeat in more than 90 years after a 7-0 romping sent shockwaves through football on Sunday afternoon.

Heading to Anfield, United had the majority of the backing after finding a rich vein of form and disposing of Barcelona in the Europa League.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth confirmed United went into the game at 9/5 for the first time on Merseyside since 2011, with the punters jumping on the bandwagon.

However, the script was flipped on its head as Jurgen Klopp’s side put the Red Devils to the sword in stunning fashion with a superb six-goal second half.

A Cody Gakpo strike just before half-time put the home side in front going into the break in what had been a tight game, but, the second 45 minutes were nothing of the sort.

United capitulated, as another goal from Gakpo, braces from Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez and a Robert Firmino finish put the cherry on the icing of the cake in the 88th minute.

A huge amount of interest, zero goals for a deflated United and the blitzing of the overs goal line left the bookies bouncing at the close of the weekend.

An extraordinary day for all Liverpool fans. I’m honoured to keep making history with this great club! pic.twitter.com/aRR2n5Ss8l

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) March 5, 2023

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “No surprise Liverpool versus United was our biggest overall event of the weekend, but what transpired over 90 minutes at Anfield was nothing short of incredible.

“Punters came for United, so a Liverpool win was always the result we wanted. The game wasn’t shy of well-backed scorers, and the overs goal line was just about passed but with United failing to find to back of the net at all, overall it was a great way to close out the weekend’s action,” he added.

Freeth remarked that a 7-0 outcome was almost out of the realms of possibility, with the result also sending Liverpool odds-on for a top four spot.

He said: “Even at half time there was no sign that ten Hag’s side were going to throw the towel in. The biggest price on 7-0 was 350/1 in-play at 2-0 with four bets at such a price. Although Marcus Rashford did manage a shot on target for Super Boost backers (4/11 – Evs), it was a game where we came out on top – although not as much as Liverpool.

“Jurgen Klopp’s team were 4/1 for the top four less than a month ago, but with this result and the inconsistencies and lack of form of the likes of Spurs and Newcastle, they’re now odds-on to finish in the Champions League places to salvage something from the season and 9/2 to finish above Manchester United,” he added.

Freeth and Gill also praised low-scoring games throughout the Premier League and Europe, including Spurs’ 1-0 loss away to Wolves and Real Betis holding Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw in La Liga.

There was some joy for the punters as Arsenal continued to show their credentials as champions after coming from 2-0 down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 in the final seconds at the Emirates.

A picture that tells a thousand words 🤯 pic.twitter.com/N4pbeakAit

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 5, 2023

A Reiss Nelson strike sealed all three points for the Gunners after conceding after just 9.11 seconds to Philip Billing and then going 2-0 in the 57th minute thanks to Marcos Senesi.

Goals from Thomas Partey and Ben White drew the game level before academy product Nelson sent the crowd into raptures.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “It was a case of look what you could have won at the Emirates, as Arsenal came from two down to beat Bournemouth. No one should be scoring, unless it’s in the last World Cup, after 97 minutes. It kept our noses just in front overall, but that could have been a beaut.

“Latest title betting sees destiny men Arsenal, with their five-point lead, at 5/6; Manchester City Evs, and United now out to 33/1.”

Freeth was less than pleased to see the Gunners emerged victorious after Bournemouth hit bet365’s two goals ahead payout offer.

He commented: “Saturday was a much better day [for punters] with Arsenal leaving it late, again, much to our disgust, after paying out on Bournemouth thanks to our two goals ahead early payout offer.”

Kindred Group’s Gill added: “Arsenal’s late, late, late winner against Bournemouth definitely wasn’t something we wanted to see as punters got some respite there, but overall it was a layers weekend.”

Breaking through at Bay Hill 🏆 @Kurt_Kitayama claims his first victory on TOUR @APInv! pic.twitter.com/iba9xz3yFS

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 5, 2023

The weekend of shocks continued as 125/1 shot Andrew Gilding won darts’ UK Open, while 200/1 outsider Kurt Kitayama landed the Arnold Palmer.

In horseracing, 11/1 shot Benson ran out victorious in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. Gill said the outsider’s victory was tempered by some well-backed runners filling the places, allowing the layers to “just about come out ahead”.