Weekend Talking Points: Liverpool delight and a Hamilton fright
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Round-up of the weekend’s sporting action
Another busy weekend of sport has been and gone, as the Premier League wrestled back the attention.
We review Liverpool’s hard-fought victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a real scrap in Formula 1 and a momentous occasion for Roger Federer,
It’s all here and more in our Weekend Talking Points…
Liverpool live to fight another day
The Premier League title race is becoming an endurance test as we enter the home straight.
Manchester City have their mojo back and are 2/5 favourites to retain their crown. But Liverpool are staying in the game – through a mix of divine inspiration and goalkeeping gaffes – and are at 15/8 to grab a first Premier League gong.
It was another error from their opponents that gifted Liverpool the win this week. As the clock struck the 90th minute a tame Mohamed Salah header was pushed onto his own player by Hugo Lloris and into the net.
2-1 Liverpool. The race goes on.
Federer still at the top
Roger Federer. The immoveable object it seems. The second-most decorated tennis player in history won his 101st singles title at the weekend, trailing only to Jimmy Connors (109 titles).
He took home the Miami Open in emphatic style after a 6-1, 6-4 win over defending champion John Isner.
Following Federer’s victory at the Dubai Championships, he’s become the first two-time winner on the ATP Tour this season.
The 37-year-old is still a dominant force in the game and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.
Hamilton may not have it all his own way
The Formula 1 season has come roaring into action and we’re already two races down. The Bahrain Grand-Prix was supposed to be Charles Leclerc’s coming of age.
Ferrari’s new recruit was on course for his first win in F1 after bagging pole position in qualifying.
But an engine failure robbed the 21-year-old of a deserved victory as he saw Lewis Hamilton and Valteri Bottas pass him.
Hamilton took home the win this time and is still the 4/5 favourite to grab his sixth world-title but Leclerc’s performance has him at a competitive 3/1 for the championship.
Tons up for Bairstow
England’s Jonny Bairstow hit a maiden Indian Premier League ton as Hyderabad thrashed Bangalore.
Bairstow smashed 114 from 56 balls as part of a 185-run opening stand which broke the competition record alongside David Warner.
Following his innings, Bairstow said; “I’m absolutely cooked.”
This was a good run out for the England international who is sure to be a main-man at the ICC World Cup and the Ashes later in the year.
VAR! Where are you?!
Chelsea scored a vital victory in the pursuit of the top-four – but it was awash with controversy after a clear offside decision was waved on.
Cardiff City went into the last ten minutes 1-0 up, which would have boosted their chances of Premier League survival.
But when a Willian corner was flicked on by Chelsea man Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta was on hand to nod his side level.
Pictures show the Spaniard was in a clear off side position. Could that see the Bluebirds go down?
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
