There is no time for the January Blues this week with a jam packed schedule to look forward to. There is action from darts, snooker, cricket, and football as we pick out the highlights of the week ahead.

The below prices are indicative and may be subject to fluctuation

Please remember that unlike fixed odds betting, when spread betting losses can exceed deposits.

DARTS – 2023 WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

The long slog at the Ally Pally is almost over and just two men remain in the hunt for the Sid Waddell Trophy as Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen go head to head in a rematch of the 2019 final. Four years ago, the Dutchman prevailed and is fancied to do so again. The Green Machine is a 5/2 favourite with Bully Boy a 5/2 outsider.

Michael Smith will have his work cut out this evening, but his scoring was impressive last night as he despatched Gabriel Clemens 6-2 and the spread on Total 180s is currently 30.9-32.1 – last year’s final between Smith and Peter Wright saw 41 maximums scored. Finally, MVG’s clash last night with Dimitri van den Bergh saw both players take out the Big Fish and you can get 3/1 on either player finishing a 170 this evening, with a 9-dart finish at 13/2.

FOOTBALL – ARSENAL v NEWCASTLE

Arsenal have gone from strength to strength so far this season, but they will be given a real challenge tonight when they face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are odds on favourites at 4/5, the draw is 29/10 and the visitors are priced at 15/4 having drawn with Leeds on New Year’s Eve.

We have boosted odds on two goalscorers for tonight with Eddie Nketiah anytime pushed out to 17/10 from 6/4 , meanwhile England international Callum Wilson is 12/5 from 21/10 to get himself on the scoresheet . Newcastle and Arsenal saw 80 and 60 Booking Points in their last matches respectively and the spread on Bookings tonight is set at 36-40, whilst Total Goal Minutes is priced at 136-146.

CRICKET – AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA 3^RD TEST

Having won by an innings and 182 runs in the Boxing Day Test, Australia will expect to complete a clean sweep against rivals South Africa and they are 4/11 to complete the whitewash. The Proteas have been way off the pace and odds of 15/2 are available on the tourists to get an unlikely win, with the draw at 7/2.

The Aussie batsmen have cashed their chips this series with Steve Smith’s Run spread at 95-102, David Warner’s at 87-94 and Marnus ‘No Run’ Labuschagne available to buy or sell at 92-99 for this Test. With ten points awarded per wicket and a 25 point bonus for taking a ‘five-for’ in an innings, the Bowling Performances spread can be an interesting market to play. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are the pick of the South African attack and are priced at 43-48 and 41-46 respectively. Meanwhile Pat Cummings is available to buy or sell at 52-57.

FOOTBALL – CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY

Thursday night sees 4/6 shots Manchester City make the trip to the capital to face Chelsea (home win 9/2, draw 16/5) in a massive clash for Pep Guardiola’s side. City can’t afford too many more dropped points if they are to keep the heat up on Arsenal at the top of the league, especially after stuttering to a 1-1 draw at home with Everton last time out.

Both teams to score in this match is 8/11 and you can get the same price for over 2.5 goals and our traders think both keepers could be kept busy at Stamford Bridge. The minutes spread for 1^st Match Goal is at 33-36 and you can play the Total Goal Minutes spread at 139-149.

SNOOKER – 2023 MASTERS

Having seen the darts players have their turn, the cream of the snooker world head to Alexandra Palace for the 2023 Masters which gets underway on Sunday. Defending champion Neil Robertson is the 4/1 second favourite, whilst Ronnie O’Sullivan is 15/4 to win his 8^th Masters and his first since 2017.

England’s Mark Selby and Judd Trump have  both won this event before, and are priced at 5/1 and 8/1. Meanwhile, Befast-born Mark Allen is also a previous winner and he is a 10/1 shot to take the title and the £250,000 prize for the winner.

The action gets underway on Sunday with Neil Robertson’s clash with Shaun Murphy and viewers will be able to catch the action on BBC Sport.

Note - Spread Betting losses can exceed deposit