Why this Liverpool-coveted Saint is overdue an England goal

England’s preparations for the World Cup ramp up a few notches with the first of three pre-Brazil friendlies set for Wembley against South American side Peru, which will be shown live on terrestrial telly.

Roy Hodgson is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding the make-up of his starting XI, but we’ve run our keen eyes across current form to bring you three value bets ahead of the clash:

Adam Lallana to score at anytime @ 10/3

England seemed bereft of ideas prior to the Southampton sensation’s 59th-minute introduction in their last match against Denmark.

Lallana scared the life out of Morten Olsen’s men with his unpredictability of movement before delivering an inch-perfect cross for Daniel Sturridge to nod home the first goal.

That half-hour cameo should have convinced Roy Hodgson to give the 26-year-old another chance from the off, and considering Lallana’s fine striking form for the Saints in 2013/14 – when he notched 10 times in 42 all-competition fixtures – a first for England in his fourth appearance rates cracking value.

Peru to be leading at half-time and not win @ 12/1

Hodgson’s side have been shockingly slow off the mark in recent matches and can boast of just one first-half goal – against Poland in October – in their last six fixtures, of which five have been at home.

Another pre-pie England blank can be backed at 6/4 at Wembley, but a more profitable course of action could be wagering on the visitors – who have bagged first-half strikes in each of their last three fixtures, including away to Argentina – to go into the break ahead before being pegged back.

Paolo Hurtado to score the first goal @ 16/1

The logic that follows from the previous punt states that Peru will open the scoring, but with Bayern Munich’s former Chelsea flop Claudio Pizarro rested after his 2013/14 Bundesliga excursions, the South American’s forward ranks are severely shorn of quality.

Likely replacements Raul Ruidiaz and Andre Carrillo have managed just one goal between them in 17 appearances, but winger Hurtado has struck twice in 11 matches for his country, including the opener against Venezuela last September.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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