Spain v England: Best bets for Sunday's World Cup Final and Premier League games

Our betting expert with tips for Lionesses, West Ham against Chelsea and Everton at Aston Villa PLUS a La Liga angle

England are surprisingly outsiders in the Women’s World Cup Final (BBC, 11am). Nothing we’ve seen really justifies Spain being favs, and where are the patriotic liabilities that should be bending this book – did no one pile in for these gritty Lionesses at 5/1?

Happily, there’s still time to get onboard – if you haven’t had a lie-in – punt Alessia Russo ‘anytime’ at 10/3 (Bet365) and ‘scores a header’ at 9/1 (Betway, both 90mins only).

In the Premier League, back oven-ready West Ham newcomer James Ward-Prowse to prove he was cheap as chips.

The last time I looked, Chelsea had spent about £500million MORE on players than anyone else in the Prem over the past 12 months or so.

Southampton’s £58m Belgian superteen Romeo Lavia is the latest in. He’s described it all as an “exciting project”, making it sound like redecorating the kitchen, which was miserable and took me forever.

But if anyone can apply the gloss of success, two coats, to the Blues’ expensively acquired framework of potential, it’s probably Mauricio Pochettino.

The bookies seem to believe that will all start promptly at West Ham today (4.30pm), with a Blues WIN odds-on, but there’s always some more sanding-down to do.

The Hammers are busy spending the Declan Rice millions. Buying Ward-Prowse for £30m looks very solid business.

His free-kick quality is a bolt-on threat needing no bedding in. It’s also a fit for Blues keeper Robert Sanchez’s fragile-looking stats against long shots.

If he starts, split a stake on JWP ‘anytime scorer’ at 11/2 and ‘scores from outside box’ at 11/1 (both Bet365) – and bet ‘two or more shots’ at 11/10 (BetVic).

Aston Villa are having a grim start and could be vulnerable to the air power of visitors Everton (2pm), who bossed their opening 1-0 defeat by Fulham. Set-piece pest Michael Keane even had the ball in the net but the Stockley Park fruit machine blew a raspberry.

Keane is too big at 16/1 (Unibet) ‘anytime scorer’, and so is 9/1 (Unibet) Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has had a big scoring uptick under Sean Dyche. Split a stake.

In Spain, Atletico Madrid’s set-piece threat Mario Hermoso is worth a spin at 13/1 (Paddy) ‘anytime scorer’ away to Real Betis (8.30pm, La Liga)

Last week: Winners at 14/5, 13/10 & 10/11