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Ask any world football fan to name the biggest clubs in the game, and sooner or later, they are sure to mention Liverpool. The Merseyside club has one of the world’s biggest fan bases, with supporters all over the planet and millions following every game and piece of Liverpool-related news.

This enormous support is all the more remarkable when you consider that Liverpool have been relatively unsuccessful over the last thirty years or so. Compared to the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Manchester United and Chelsea, their haul of silverware has been modest. The 2005 Champions League victory was a major triumph, but it was an isolated one. Above all, Liverpool have fallen short in the competition that their fans covet the most: the Premier League.

It is a sign of how long ago it was that the Reds last ruled English football that the Premier League wasn’t even called the Premier League. That last league title came in 1990, under the managership of Kenny Dalglish, two seasons before the inaugural Premier League, when the top flight of English football was still run by the Football League, not the FA, and was known as the First Division.

But it was the First Division that had provided Liverpool with the foundation that had enabled them to win four European Cups. Triumphs in Europe may have helped to cement their reputation around the globe, but their dynasty of dominance, passed down from manager to manager; from Bill Shankly to Bob Paisley, to Joe Fagan to Kenny Dalglish, was founded on League Championship success.

Of the eighteen First Division titles in Liverpool’s history, ten were won between 1976 and 1990 as the club took a stranglehold on English football. But with the resignation of Dalglish in 1991, the dominance began to slip. It was Manchester United who dominated the new Premier League while Liverpool endured a series of false dawns and dashed hopes, the latest of which came in 2013-14 when Brendan Rodgers’ side let the title slip in their final three games of the season.

But this year, under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have the Premier League title in sight. Once again, as it was in 2013-14, it is Manchester City who are their rivals. City may have the edge with bookmakers, while Liverpool are generally regarded as an 11/8 chance to win the title, but all the signs are that this season’s race will go down to the wire, and Liverpool fans will be eagerly following not just their own team’s games, but City’s fixtures as well, through highlights and live Sky Sports coverage.

And while the 2013-14 Liverpool side was well organised and attack-minded, there is a solidity about Klopp’s Liverpool that sets them apart. Having already assembled one of the Premier League’s most formidable front lines in Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, Klopp has added steel to the defence and a solid goalkeeper in the Brazilian Alisson, making his team much harder to beat and enabling them to grind out wins even when they aren’t playing well.

The Reds also have a more favourable fixture list, with two of their remaining three games against top-six sides coming at home and a relatively simple run-in. Of course, a lot can happen in the last few weeks of the season, and Liverpool fans are likely to be put through a rollercoaster of emotions. Some may be confident enough to back their team with one of the top bookmakers on the BigBetBookmakers.com site, while others will be chewing their nails. But above all, every Liverpool fan around the globe will be hoping and praying that this is, finally, their year.

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A ray of hope will burn bright for the crisis stricken country of Venezuela on February 22nd at the Venezuela Aid Live Event . The all-day concert will take place in the Colombian town of Cúcuta on the border of Venezuela.

The goal of the event is to raise as much money as possible to contribute to the huge amount of humanitarian aid Venezuela needs now to help their people most affected by this crisis. Organizer of the Venezuela Aid Live event, philanthropist Richard Branson , anticipates at least 300,000 in attendance to see more than 30 performers that include Alejandro Sanz, Maná and Paulina Rubio.

Betcris, a Bookmaker with a strong following in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America, has stepped up with a strong promotional plan encouraging their customers to donate to the Venezuela Aid Live Event. “It is a way to support a fair cause and also a way to demonstrate our gratitude to a country that was home for us for so many years. We lived Venezuela’s crisis first hand, not only because it affected our operation there, but we lived it through the stories of our close ones and employees who day by day have been facing it” said JD Duarte, CEO of Betcris.

Betcris contribution goes beyond a financial support. The company’s website is offering a direct access to donate through Venezuela Aid Live’s platform. “We want our thousands of customers around Latin America to have an easy and quick way to support this initiative and the same time get to know more about the difficult situation that Venezuela is going through,” Duarte added. You can visit: BETCRIS / BetForVenezuela for more information.

The Venezuela Aid Live concert, set for February 22, 2019, was inspired by The Concert for Bangladesh that took place in 1971  and the extraordinarily successful Live Aid Event that happened thirty-four years ago in 1985 .

It’s week three in the Darts Premier League and as the table begins to take shape, those at the bottom will be becoming wary of their need for a win to kick-start their campaigns.

So, as expected, world champion Michael van Gerwen remains the only player in the competition with a 100% record. Wins against Smith and Suljovic see him sit on top of hill with four points, with Raymond van Barneveld, Mensur Suljovic, Peter Wright and Michael Smith all without wins.

Gerwyn Price is continuing to prove to be the shock performer in the league this year after failing to win once in the 2018 season. The Welshman may be the focus of the boo-boys each week on the circuit, but is using this negative energy to get under the skin, and inside the head of his opposition.

Rob Cross and Daryl Gurney make up places three and four in the league, with plenty of points still to play for as we enter the third week in Dublin.

Let’s take a look at the line up inside the 3Arena, Dublin:

Gerwyn Price vs. James Wade

This one could get really spicy. Both players have fallen out with the PDC crowd in recent months after showing too much aggression at the oche, however, it’s likely that the Dublin faithful will back Wade over Price. Both have turned into fantastic match-player, capable of winning legs ugly without scoring too well. Price has shown his vulnerability when the pressure mounts, with Wade too experienced to let chances slip. Expect this one to go the distance, with Wade just shading it.

Gerwyn Price 5-7 James Wade @ 13/2 (BetVictor)

Steve Lennon vs. Peter Wright

It’s Lennon’s homecoming, as the Irish ‘Contender’ looks to become the first to take two points off of one of the Premier League players. Wright has battled to two draws so far, and despite playing well in patches ‘Snakebite’ is yet to hit his prime. He’ll be sure to tinker with his darts once again, but is likely to get the beating of the inexperienced local. Wright, at a canter.

Peter Wright to win @ 1/2 (BetVictor)

Michael van Gerwen vs. Rob Cross

Former world champion Rob Cross has found ways to tame the beast of MVG on more than one occasion; however, the Dutchman seems to be throwing on autopilot at the moment. Cross expressed his love for the sport again after a tricky year on the circuit; ‘Voltage’ will be expected to run van Gerwen close. All 12 legs should be thrown here.

Over 10.5 legs @ 8/11 (BetVictor)

Michael Smith vs. Daryl Gurney

A battle between two of the most exciting players on the circuit, each with aspirations of reaching this year’s playoffs. Smith is yet to win a fixture in two attempts, and with the experience of a world championship final under his belt, ‘Bully’ should start reaping the rewards. Gurney will score well as the 180-bed takes a pounding from both. Back high scoring.

Over 6.5 180s thrown @ 8/11 (BetVictor)

Mensur Suljovic vs. Raymond van Barneveld

In footballing terms, this is a real six-pointer. Sure, we are only on the third week, but both Barney and Suljovic will be wary of their positioning in the table as some of the big-hitters start to stretch their legs at the top. A loss for either would seriously dent their chances of making the playoffs in May. Barney will have the crowd on his side once again, and it may just be enough to push the Dutchman over the finish line.

Raymond van Barneveld to win @ 2/1

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It’s the British grudge match that supposedly “everyone was asking for”. Chris Eubank Jr. vs. James DeGale is a super-middleweight clash built off of sparring stories and, more importantly, a battle of egos.

At different stages of their careers, as well as different levels of achievement, Eubank and DeGale find themselves at a crossroads in the 168-pounds division. Dubbed by ‘Chunky’ DeGale as a “retirement fight” for both men, the loser may find themselves road blocked in the super-middleweight division, without a true path in sight to climb the mountain; a mountain that Britain’s Callum Smith currently sits on top of.

A true 50/50 is an enticing prospect inside London’s 02 Arena on Saturday night, with all four outcomes arguably feasible – a rare admission coming into a headline fight these days.

Chris Eubank Jr. by KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 15/8 (BetVictor)

The biggest hurdle for James DeGale coming into this fight is within himself. The former Olympic gold medalist has looked a shadow of himself in recent outings against underwhelming opposition, and with miles on the clock and battle scars at the age of 33, this may be one step too far for ‘Chunky’.

His back-to-back fights with the relatively unknown Caleb Truax raised several eyebrows in boxing circles. Citing an injury as the reason behind his loss of the IBF 168-pounds strap in the first fight was followed by a bruising rematch where he wrestled back his title; DeGale would later vacate his trinket to avoid fighting his mandatory.

His best performance was over three years ago when he bested Andre Dirrell over 12-rounds. That title-winning night in Massachusetts was followed by defences against Lucian Bute, Rogelio Medina and Badou Jack, where the champion took a lot more punishment than was needed. DeGale has a tendency to switch off in the latter half of fights, allowing an onslaught from his opponents.

For all of DeGale’s shortcomings, Eubank Jr. is yet to prove his worth. Twice he has stepped up to the level that he will face on Saturday, and twice he has failed: two points losses on the cards to Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.

For all the flashy clips we see of Junior in training, his ring IQ consistency lets him down when it matters most. Sure, he can unleash hundreds of punches in a round, but when his feet and positioning are all wrong then the shots won’t score. His athleticism shouldn’t be slept on, however, in a fight against a worn down DeGale.

Eubank finally has a trainer in his corner for this fight. Whether he will listen to the instructions of Nate Vasquez is another story all together, but at least Junior has accepted his flaws and isn’t willing to continue hiding.

DeGale isn’t as savvy inside the squared circle as George Groves – I expect ‘Chunky’ to engage in war with Eubank on at least two occasions in the latter rounds. This could prove pivotal. We all know Eubank has the miles in the bank to reach the final bell swinging, and a lapse in concentration could prove to be the end of James DeGale’s career.

I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘Chunky’; however, I get a sneaky suspicion that it might just be Eubank’s time. Finally.

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England may be the home of cricket, but when it comes to the limited overs versions of the game, the English international trophy cabinet is remarkably bare.

Victory in the 2009 World Twenty20 tournament remains their sole success, and despite reaching three of the first five World Cup finals, England have never won the world’s most sought-after cricket trophy.

In fact, after their defeat to Pakistan in the 1992 final, England’s World Cup performances have been in a steady decline. Two quarter-final appearances, in 1996 and 2011, represent the sum total of English achievement in the last six tournaments, and their abject effort in the last World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, was widely derided.

But if 2015 represents a low point in England’s fifty-over fortunes, their path to the 2019 edition has been firmly on an upward trajectory. The failure in Australia was the catalyst for a bold new approach to the fifty over game, which took the success of New Zealand under Brendon McCullum’s captaincy as its model. The old-fashioned methods that had often seen England’s innings’ becalmed before a frantic late scamper for runs was jettisoned in favour of a bolder, more aggressive game plan.

Ironically, the first test of their new approach would come that summer, against a touring New Zealand side that had reached the World Cup final a few weeks earlier, and England delivered a statement of intent that resounded around the world, scoring 408 in a crushing 210-run victory; the first time that an England ODI team had ever passed 400. In winning a hugely entertaining series 3-2, England twice passed 350 and laid the foundations for four years of limited overs excellence.

Three years on from that fresh start, England had climbed up the ICC Limited Overs rankings to become one of the top two fifty-over teams in international cricket, and in the third ODI against Australia in June, they broke the world record for an ODI innings score, recording a monumental 481, fuelled by centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales. They have maintained that position at the top of the pile and it is no surprise to see them generally rated as 9/4 favourites to win the World Cup for the first time, when it is staged in England and Wales this summer.

England have hosted the tournament before, of course, and it didn’t help them to succeed, but for the first time in decades, it feels as though English ODI cricket is at the cutting edge rather than bringing up the rear. With a batting line-up that features the explosive talents of Bairstow and Hales, along with Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Joe Root and Moeen Ali, as well as a host of talented all-rounders, England back themselves to chase down pretty much any total, no matter the conditions.

For English cricket fans, there will be plenty of opportunities to support their team this summer, and cricket punters will be similarly keen to back England, after checking out the best bookmakers for big bets on the Bigbetbookmakers.com site. There will be strong opponents, of course, in the form of a powerful Indian team, not to mention the tough South Africans and the talented squads of Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan, but this year, for the first time since the 1980s, England go into a World Cup as favourites, and have a genuine chance to end their World Cup wait.