Liverpool will have been happy to take a win from their first game against a resilient Sunderland side (1-0); Torres’ 79th minute strike won a game that they might not have taken 3 points from last season - an ability to squeeze away wins has been missing in recent years for Liverpool and has maybe been their main stumbling block as far as a decent title challenge is concerned.

New signing Robbie Keane has not gelled with Torres up front in their 2 games together, but he is a proven goalscorer and should be amongst the goals sometime soon.

Gareth Southgate’s lack of summer spending did not affect Middlesbrough in their opening 2-1 win over Tottenham last week.

Tuncay, Alves and Downing were all effective on the break for Middlesbrough and Southgate’s faith in his young players, in particular David Wheater, who scored the opener, was rewarded with a deserved win.

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke

Although Middlesbrough have gained 3 draws in their last 3 games at the Riverside against Liverpool, at Anfield they have struggled in recent years; Boro have not won at Liverpool for 32 years and have lost 6 times in their last 8 games there.

7 of Liverpool’s last 8 wins at Anfield over Middlesbrough have been by 2 goals or more and in those wins the score has been 2-0 five times; the correct score option of 2-0 at $7.00 from Ladbrokes can be used to boost the handicap price of $2.10 from Bet365.

BETZINE UK TIP *****

Bet: Liverpool to win on handicap (-1 goal) Odds: $2.10 Stake: 5pts Bookies: Bet365 Bet: Correct score 2-0 Liverpool Odds: $7.00 Stake: 1pts Bookies: Ladbrokes

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke