The Daily Acca: Roma to be left in a spin at Anfield

Bet 1: Back Liverpool HT/FT @ 13/10 – KO 19:45 BST

It doesn’t get much bigger than a Champions League semi-final and Liverpool look like a great bet to blow Roma away from the off at Anfield.

The Reds were 3-0 up at half time against Man City in the first leg of their quarter-final and in the round of 16 they were 2-0 up at Porto at the break, before adding another three in the second half.

In the group stage they won two matches by a 7-0 scoreline and Jurgen Klopp’s men will again be aiming to get the damage done early.

Roma pulled off a wonderful second leg comeback against Barcelona in the quarters, but I have concerns about their away results in the Champions League this year.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s side may have only been beaten once away from Stadio Olimpico in Serie A action, but in this competition, they lost the away legs to Barcelona and Shakhtar in the knockout phase, and in the group they only managed to beat Qarabag.

Bet 2: Back The Draw in Derby v Cardiff @ 23/10 – KO 19:45 BST

I have to admit I went back and forth on this selection as I was tempted to put in an away win, but in the end I came to the decision that the draw is a big runner between Derby and Cardiff.

The Rams are throwing their promotion hopes away as they have lost their last three matches to slip out of the top six. Victory over Cardiff would see them move back into sixth – two points clear of Millwall – but a draw would also see them in the play-off positions, on goal difference.

Neil Warnock’s visitors are battling it out with Fulham for the second automatic promotion spot behind champions, Wolves, and the Welsh club currently hold a one point advantage with this game in hand.

There is a bit of needle to this game as Warnock accused Derby of postponing the original fixture unnecessarily and while the three points would almost be enough to put Cardiff back in the Premier League, Warncok will just be desperate not to lose, and a point is also a good result.

Bet 3: Back Over 2.5 Goals in Notts Forest v Barnsley @ 5/6 – KO 19:45 BST

The pressure is on Barnsley as they sit third from bottom of the Championship and while Bolton were beaten on Saturday, Burton won at Sunderland to also put themselves back in the equation for survival.

The Tykes have this game in hand to haul themselves out of the bottom three with two matches to go, but only a win would achieve it. That’s something that they have only managed four times this season as away from home they have been pretty poor.

José Morais‘ side simply have to go for it at the City Ground tonight and Forest’s matches have been a bit more high-scoring of late as the last couple have both ended 2-1 – one in their favour and one against.

Add in the fact that Barnsley have had three of their last four away from home go over 2.5 and we should have a recipe for a winning selection.