We were caught out slightly by Man United's team selection on Tuesday and you've got to be wary when looking at Liverpool and Man City in the Europa league tonight.
It was obvious from the side Sir Alex Ferguson put out against Rangers that it wouldn't be as easy as the odds suggested for the home side who were held 0-0.
Liverpool are likely to also put out a “Carling Cup” strength side at home to Steaua Bucharest as they prepare for Sunday's Premier League showdown at Old Trafford.
Boss Roy Hodgson has hinted at leaving out the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard so the Reds don't look as inviting as best odds of 1-3 with the likes of Ladbrokes and William Hill would suggest.
There should be starts for Joe Cole and David Ngog and one of them is a the likely first scorer. I'll plum for Ngog, who already has three European goals this season, at a best 4-1 with firms such as Paddy Power and 888sport.
Steaua have never beaten an English side away from home in five attempts and on the domestic front have taken only one point from their last three matches. They won the European Cup in 1986 but don't look that strong an outfit.
Four players – defenders George Galamaz and Pablo Brandan and strikers Marius Onofras and Marius Bilasco – are ineligible having previously played in Champions League qualifiers for Unirea Urziceni so even a weakened Liverpool side should be too good.
Man City, also paired with Juventus and Lech Poznan, will be hoping to make a solid start against Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
Salzburg won all six games at this stage last season so can't be treated lightly. City have yet to really get going in the league – their 3-0 Liverpool rout apart – but should be good enough to nick a win.
Joleon Lescott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jerome Boateng are among those missing but Carlos Tevez is expected to start. City are a best 3-4 with Chandler to win and I'm looking at Tevez to net first (9-2, bet365) or at any time (13-10, bet365).
Elsewhere I like the look of Stuttgart at home to Young Boys, Getafe at home to Odense and Besiktas at home to CSKA Sofia.
BRITISH DOUBLE
- Tevez and Ngog both to score
TONIGHT'S TREBLE
- Stuttgart
- Getafe
- Besiktas
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
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