The MLS season is over after Lionel Messi secured another title for his trophy case. But don't worry, the European leagues are in full winter mode.
We got a double-dose of Champions League play this week and have a weekend slate loaded with goodies.
It's off-pitch drama, though, that leads this addition of the Weekend 5. See what's piquing my interest and get my best soccer bets across a handful of games.
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I'm keeping my eye on several things this weekend, including a Canadian running hot in La Liga.
But before we touch on that, let's dive into one of the biggest stories in the English Premier League.
The Salah situation
Is this it? Has Anfield seen the legendary Mo Salah for the final time?
All things Liverpool blew up last Sunday, when the team’s talisman over the past seven years went public in a withering analysis of his situation with the Premier League champs.
- Manager Arne Slot had the audacity to drop Salah for three straight games following an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, for both player and team. Seems reasonable, right? Depends on who you ask.
- Salah feels like he has been thrown under the bus and turned into a scapegoat. The star believes he has earned his spot in the starting XI, form be damned.
- The Egyptian was dropped from the travelling squad in a 1-0 win over Inter Milan midweek, and whether he's back in contention at home vs. Brighton this weekend is anyone’s guess.
Salah is leaving next week for the African Cup of Nations. If his behaviour is the result of a strategy to force a transfer this January — as has been cynically speculated in some quarters — the Brighton match may very well be his swansong at the ground he has been King at for almost a decade.
This would be a sad way for the club to say goodbye to one of its all-time greats.
If Salah does play this weekend, he's +105 to score.
-> Like Salah to score? Bet on the Liverpool star at NorthStar Bets
-> Like Salah to score? Bet on the Liverpool star at NorthStar Bets
Best bet: How about where Salah is playing post-transfer window? He's been linked to Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia in a league known to throw around cash. That seems like a wise bet to jump on, though the general odds consensus is that the 33-year-old will remain with Liverpool.
Will Toffees stick it to Blues?
If Everton beats Chelsea on Saturday, the Toffees would remarkably leap over the Blues and potentially sit in the Champions League spots.
Chelsea is struggling, dropping four straight, including a midweek UCL loss to Atalanta. But make no mistake, Everton is the story here.
The club has edged up the table in recent weeks, winning four of five. David Moyes’ team, as expected, is tough to break down, but it doesn’t score goals. Expect normalcy to resume this weekend.
Best bet: Chelsea to win & under 2.5 total goals (+260).
-> Get in on the action — bet on Chelsea vs. Everton
-> Get in on the action — bet on Chelsea vs. Everton
Title contenders... and City?
I jest. Of course, Manchester City are title contenders. Following Arsenal’s loss to the brilliant Aston Villa, City are in second place, two points off the top.
But who's in the fourth spot? That’s right, Crystal Palace, sitting five back of City. A win at home to City and Palace is right back in the hunt.
- As brilliant as Palace have been, it is largely due to their otherworldly form away from home. No team has more away points in the Premier League.
- At home? Barely mid-table. That partially explains why City are -115 road favourites.
This promises to be an exciting match. And it's a solid example of how the parity in England this season is creating compelling battles every week.
Best bet: City to win and Phil Foden to score (+325). As much as Erling Haaland’s record-setting exploits this season have made headlines, Foden’s return to form (five goals in his last three matches) has also excited both City and England fans.
Best soccer bets: More for Igor
Brentford vs. Leeds may not have the same appeal as some other fixtures. But truth be told, it has the potential to be thoroughly enjoyable.
One of the stories not getting enough attention this season is the form of Brazilian Igor Thiago.
- The Brentford striker has an incredible 11 goals this season, second to Haaland’s 15.
- He has been a revelation, scoring over half of his team’s goals and helping the club get on the board early.
- Five of his 11 goals have been the first of the match, helping Brentford surprise in the post-Thomas Frank era.
Best bet: There's value on Thiago to score first (+280).
-> See Igor Thiago's odds to score first + more props at NorthStar Bets
-> See Igor Thiago's odds to score first + more props at NorthStar Bets
CanCon in the house
We were all excited to see Tani Oluwaseyi join Tajon Buchanan at Villarreal this summer.
But while Buchanan has excelled for the Yellow Submarine, Oluwaseyi has understandably taken his time to adjust to a new country and league.
Of course, it helps when your new team is really good, sitting third in La Liga.
- But the former Minnesota United man has slowly earned the trust of this manager, scoring in the league and also potting a hat trick in the Copa del Rey.
- As of this week, Oluwaseyi is also a Champions League goalscorer. He came off the bench on Wednesday vs. Copenhagen, scoring a tying goal in an eventual loss.
At home against last-place Levante, look for Oluwaseyi to get the start and stay hot.
Best bet: Oluwaseyi to score (+200).
-> Bet on all of this weekend's soccer action at NorthStar Bets
-> Bet on all of this weekend's soccer action at NorthStar Bets
