Premier League Trophy begins Wednesday

The pre-season friendlies continue Wednesday as the Premier League Asia Trophy gets underway. This is the sixth edition of the tournament from Hong Kong that features three Premier League sides (Man City, Tottenham, Sunderland) and one local team (South China). The first semi-final is the game between Tottenham and Sunderland which is a repeat of the fixture from the final day of the season which the London side won 1-0. Andre Villas-Boas

expects the Black Cats to be a different side from the team they faced in May as they have made eight new summer signings. Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six games with the North Eastern side and they can be backed at 4/6 (CORAL/SKYBET) for victory here. Four of the last six games have been won by a one goal margin and a Spurs win by one goal here is available at 11/4 (SKYBET).

Paulo Di Canio is a man who wll not let his players rest even if it is preseason and they might be value at 21/5 (BETVICTOR) while the draw is 3/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR).

Gareth Bale has been the target of numerous transfer rumours this summer and he is 7/2 (SKYBET) to grab the opener here while new Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore is 8/1 (bet365/SKYBET) to score the opener.

I like the look of the under 2.5 goals market in this match as Tottenham have been struggling for goals in pre-season netting just once against Swindon and failing to fire against Colchester. Under Di Canio Sunderland have tightened up at the back and have conceded more than once in just one of their last seven games so take the 23/20 (BETVICTOR).

The second semi-final is excpected to be a more one-sided affair as Man City take on South China. Manuel Pellegrini will be back in charge of the side after missing a couple of friendlies following a family bereavment. City will progress with ease here and they are an unbackable 1/8 (william hill) while the draw is 10/1 (bet365) and South China is 18/1 (bet365). You can try enhancing that price by backing City to win to nil at 4/6 (BET365) or in the half time/full time market at 40/85 (BETVICTOR).

Also early Wednesday morning Liverpool take on Melbourne Victory in a game that could see Luis Suarez make his first appearance in a red shirt since biting Branislav Ivanovic. The Merseysiders have been on fire in pre-season banging in the goals and I like the look of the 11/10 (BET365) on them to score over 2.5 goals against the A League side.

The pick of the friendlies Wednesday is the one that pitches Bayern Munich against Barcelona in a special testimonial for the Chairman of Bayern Munich. The German side are a 4/7 (boylesports/paddy Power) for victory and I can understand why as they ripped Barca apart in the semi-finals of the Champions League and in addition are much further on in their preparations than the Spanish side. Those who fancy Barcelona can get them at 4/1 (GENERAL) while the draw is a best priced 16/5 (BET365/SKYBET). The recommend bet is on Thiago to score as he has looked sharp netting in a recent friendly and will be hungry to do the business against his old side. He can backed at 11/2 (CORAL) in the anytime scorer market.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Liverpool to score over 2.5 goals v Melbourne, 11/10 (BET365)
SILVER: Under 2.5 goals between Sunderland and Tottenham, 23/20 (BETVICTOR)
BRONZE: Thiago to score anytime v Barcelona, 11/2 (CORAL)

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23/07/2013     © Frixo 2026