The Most Statistically-Backed Over 2.5 Goals Tips - 23/02/22

The first tip on this list comes from the Australian A-League where 10th placed Newcastle Jets takes on eighth in the table Western Sydney Wanderers at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

When these two sides last met in late November, the match resulted in a 2-2 draw as goals by Bernie Ibini-Isei and Tomer Hemed put Western Sydney ahead having fallen behind to a Beka Mikeltadze penalty, before Olivier Boumal 52nd minute equaliser tied the game up at 2-2 with neither side able to find a winner in the remaining minutes of the match.

All of Newcastle’s last five matches have had over 2.5 goals in them, following 3-0 and 4-2 losses to Melbourne City, as well as 2-1 wins against both Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar. Their other result was a 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United in late January.

Two of Wanderers’ last three fixtures in the A-League have seen the over 2.5 goals market land, as they have been beaten 3-2 and 3-1 by Western United and Melbourne City on either side of 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

Liverpool and Leeds United go head to head in what is expected to be a feisty affair at Anfield on Wednesday night, with Jurgen Klopp’s men looking to close their gap to top of the table Manchester City to just three points.

One of the more memorable meetings between these two clubs was the seven-goal thriller that they played out on the opening weekend of the 2020/21 season which Liverpool edged 4-3 thanks to a Mohamed Salah hat-trick and a Virgil van Dijk goal.

Just two of the Reds' last five matches have seen over 2.5 goals in the, having beaten both Norwich City and Cardiff City 3-1 in the Premier League and FA Cup, but, they will be confident of scoring past a Leeds defence that has leaked 50 goals in 24 games, the second-worst record of any side in the division.

Marcelo Bielsa’s sides’ defensive frailties have shown in recent matches, as they have conceded 10 goals in their last three matches, having been beaten 4-2 by fierce rivals Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday, as well as 3-0 by Everton just one week prior. The Whites' last point came in a 3-3 away draw at Aston Villa, whilst their last victory was by a 3-2 scoreline at West Ham where Jack Harrison scored a hat-trick.

In the Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Benfica hosts Ajax at Estadio da Luz, with the Dutch Eredivisie side coming into this match as favourites.

Four of Benfica’s last five matches have seen the over 2.5 goals market land, following a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Gil Vicente in early February, as well as in 3-1 and 2-1 victories against Tondela and Santa Clara before drawing 2-2 away at Boavista in their last outing.

Ajax have won all of their last five games in the Dutch Eredivisie, with four of them yielding over 2.5 goals, firstly, by two 3-0 victories over Utrecht and Heracles on either side of a 2-1 win away at PSV, before hammering FC Twente 5-0.

Erik ten Hag’s men have been free-scoring in the Champions League so far this campaign, firing in 20 goals in six matches, conceding five. Former West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller is also the current top scorer in the competition, with 10 goals and two assists in six matches.

Top of the table Fulham faces relegation battling Peterborough United at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night in what is expected to be a routine win for Marco Silva’s men.

The Cottagers suffered a shock 2-1 home loss to Huddersfield Town last time out off the back of 1-0 and 3-0 victories of both Hull City and Millwall. Their FA Cup run ended in brutal fashion, as they were thrashed 4-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium off the back of drawing 1-1 against Blackpool.

Silva’s side are the top scorers in England’s second-tier this season, having found the back of the net 79 times, 30 more than any other side in the division and they face a Peterborough defence that has leaked 61 goals.

Posh come into this match managerless, following the shock resignation of Darren Ferguson in the aftermath of their 1-0 loss to Derby County on Saturday. Before this, results hadn’t been up to scratch, as they had drawn 0-0 at home to Reading and been beaten 1-0 by Preston North End. Before these dismal performances, the London Road club had been thrashed 4-0 away at Cardiff City.

The final tip on this list sees Atletico Madrid and Manchester United go head to head in the Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano in what will be a fascinating encounter.

Atletico come into this match having seen the over 2.5 goals market land in four of their last five matches, following victories over Osasuna, Getafe and Valencia by 3-0, 4-3 and 3-2 scorelines, as well as in a 4-2 away defeat at Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Manchester United managed a crucial 4-2 win in the Pennines derby against fierce-rivals Leeds United on Sunday thanks to goals by Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Anthony Elanga, but, this is their only game from their last five that has seen over two goals in it, as they beat Brighton 2-0 at Old Trafford last week and drew 1-1 with both Southampton and Burnley. Prior to this, they suffered a humiliating defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra-time.

What must be noted though, is that United’s Champions League campaign has been dramatic throughout, as to get through group stages, they suffered a 2-1 loss to Young Boys, as well as coming back from 1-0 and 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 2-1 and Atalanta 3-2 at Old Trafford.