United now joint favourites for Premier League after win at Anfield
A dramatic weekend in the top flight has seen Sir Alex Ferguson's side move to the top of the betting alongside their noisy neighbours, while Reading are now long odds-on for relegation.
The Premier League was as explosive as ever this weekend and with Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton all winning to stay near the top of the division as well as the outright market, at the other end Norwich City, Reading and Southampton remain favourites for relegation, while Liverpool have also seen their odds for the drop cut.
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After weeks of slowly edging towards favouritism, Manchester United have now joined Manchester City at the top of the title betting picture, with both clubs a 33/20 shot after a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the bitter rivals.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were fortunate winners at Anfield, where they defeated ten-man Liverpool 2-1 with a late Robin van Persie penalty in an emotionally-charged match, and the Red Devils have come in from 7/4.
That result, coupled with the Citizens’ 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium which was notable for a below-par performance by Roberto Mancini’s side (who were 3/2 pre-match), means there is now nothing to split last season’s top two after five games of the new season.
| Champions League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortmund | 1-2 | Bayern Munich | £155.00 | (27/4) |
| Dortmund | 0-1 | Bayern Munich | £160.00 | (7/1) |
| Dortmund | 0-2 | Bayern Munich | £175.00 | (31/4) |
| Dortmund win | £86.60 | (333/100) | ||
| Draw | £84.00 | (16/5) | ||
| Bayern Munich win | £33.40 | (67/100) | ||
That point away at City was the least that Arsenal deserved and the late Laurent Koscielny strike that gave Arsene Wenger’s side a share of the spoils has impressed the bookmakers, who now make the Gunners the shortest price they have been this term to land a first title since 2004. The Londoners are now in to single figures at 8/1, having been 10/1 before kick-off.
Chelsea remain sandwiched between Arsenal and the Manchester clubs in the betting after a late 1-0 win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge. But despite Ashley Cole’s 85th-minute winner, Roberto Di Matteo’s side are now out to 15/4 from 7/2 for the league.
Tottenham won their second consecutive league match under Andre Villas-Boas, a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at White Hart Lane, to remain a 66/1 chance to win the Premier League, while Everton’s fine start to the season continued with an excellent 3-0 triumph over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium and the Toffees are now 11/2 for a top-four finish.
At the other end of the table, Southampton’s first win of the season has seen the Saints go from odds-on to odds-against for an immediate return to the Championship. Nigel Adkins’ side beat Aston Villa 4-1 at St. Mary’s to move from 4/5 to 6/5 for the drop, while Villa are now an 11/4 chance to slip through the dreaded top-flight trap door.
Reading are now the firm favourites for relegation at 13/20 (from 4/5) after a 1-0 loss to West Brom at the Hawthorns that leaves the Royals winless. Norwich are also without a win following their 1-0 reverse at Newcastle and the Canaries are 19/20 from even money for the drop.
Another side who are also yet to taste victory are Liverpool, who are now as short as 40/1 for relegation after that painful defeat to United.
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