Weekend football betting tips and expert insight from Didi Hamann

What’s your best bet for the weekend?

Manchester United at Leicester. That was a good result for Leicester at Liverpool who have a habit of getting decent results against the big teams, but I reckon they’ll meet their match in United. United struggled to get behind a packed Burnley defence in midweek but with a bit more space at the King Power they can use their pace effectively.

Which favourites look the most vulnerable?

Chelsea at a short price against Huddersfield. You’ve got to wonder, given Maurizio Sarri’s recent outbursts, whether these players will go the extra mile for him. Having been publicly humiliated, I’m not so sure. Huddersfield will perform as though their careers depend upon the outcome and they can frustrate a team on the decline.

Where is the value in Man City v Arsenal?

Not with City. They’ve had three bad defeats recently – one more setback could be interesting. Four seasons at Barca, three at Bayern, coming to the end of a third at City, Pep works in cycles and won’t hang around if he thinks he can’t take the club further. He improved Bayern but by the end the players were fed up with his demands. Is the same thing happening at City?

Can Sarri turn it around and be a success at Chelsea?

No. When you publicly have a go at your team, questioning their motivation and integrity, you can only see more disorder. Whether he was right or not misses the point; the fact is he needs his players with him and it’s doubtful that they are. I don’t see Chelsea finishing in the top four and that would spell disaster for Sarri.

What was the best signing of the transfer window?

I’m impressed by Bournemouth signing Nathaniel Clyne and Dominic Solanke. Clyne was the England right-back and it was only a bad injury which enabled Trent Alexander-Arnold to leapfrog him in the Anfield pecking order. Solanke had no chance of breaking into Liverpool’s front three but he’s a class act. Under Eddie Howe, these two are in safe hands.

Give us a winner from the FA Cup replays

Having seen off Leicester at home, I reckon Newport can take care of Middlesbrough too. They’ve already drawn against a reshuffled Boro outfit at the Riverside and Tony Pulis is bound to travel light with Leeds and Sheffield United to play in the Championship over the following eight days. That forces Pulis’ hand and he could do without this 550-mile round trip.

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport