Big-time football continues to come at us thick and fast with last season’s domestic campaign making way for World Cup 2018 before we dive head-first back into the Premier League schedule. There’s barely time to draw breath as the game’s biggest names are made to earn their huge salaries. What’s not to love?
With sports traders kept busy by goings-on in Russia, they chose to act quickly and get the main betting markets for next term’s top-flight out but they had little to ponder, pricing Manchester City as red-hot favourites for two-in-a-row.
It may be the early stages of pre-season but there’s no lack of free bets and special offers sent flying out by bookmakers in an attempt to grab the attention of backers with an eye for value, especially those with fingers crossed that there’ll be an upset across the season. Below you’ll find a look at the current Premier League outright and relegation betting.
Pep Guardiola had a king’s ransom to spend in the transfer market last summer and he put it to good use, bringing some footballing stars to the Etihad Stadium, and they helped The Citizens waltz to the crown. A season record of 32 wins, four draws and two defeats saw them cross the line with plenty to spare, 100 points on the board, 19 more than nearest finishers and bitter rivals Manchester United.
The champions drew plaudits from followers of English football and odds-makers are in no doubt the team will strengthen during the transfer window and return stronger than ever before, ready to complete two-in-a-row. With City lifting the silver by a record number of points, it’s incredibly difficult to argue against that stance.
Punters happy to stick with Pep will find no more than Betfred’s 4/6 available about them retaining their crown next spring. That quote is plenty tight but it’s sure to attract a share of attention in the betting ring and, compared to some of the competition, it’s actually value. There are bits and pieces of 4/7 out there on the same bet.
Could you sit for the best part of a year cheering an odds-on shot? It’s not for everyone and there will be many who will prefer to take a chance on a contender carrying more attractive odds. Liverpool’s Champions League heroics stick in the mind and the confidence that comes from reaching the final and finishing second to Real Madrid, not to mention the prize money picked up along the way, will surely see them better the fourth of last time.
The Reds put together a run of 21 wins, a dozen draws and five defeats – two less than Man Utd and Spurs who both finished higher in the charts but ended with seven losses marked on their card. If Jurgen Klopp can help his crew turn a few of those shares into three points, then we’ll surely see them ask the right questions.
They’ve wasted no time getting involved in the transfer market either with a whopping 60m euros slapped on the table of French club Lyon for forward Nabil Fekir. There’s money to spend and Klopp knows exactly what he’s after. Bookies have Liverpool as second favourites with a top price of 11/2 available.
Moving away from the front two and, if the final league standings reflect bookies’ prices, Manchester United will drop a place from second to third and Tottenham will sink from third to fourth. Jose Mourinho faces a make-or-break year at The Red Devils with fans demanding another top-four finish and piece of silverware. Progress in the Champions League also sits near the head of his to-do list. 7/1 rates as the general feeling about a United league win.
We then get into double-figures with many major firms making Spurs also-rans. There’s a number of prices available on the London club with bookies so if you plan to back them for glory be sure to do your research to ensure you’re getting the best odds available. Some say 18/1, others are as tight as 11/1. Tread carefully.
Glancing towards the opposite end of the list and the relegation betting is dead against recently promoted Welsh side Cardiff. The Bluebirds boast top-level experience but are odds-on to be relegated at the first time of asking. Huddersfield are second-favourite at 5/4 with Fulham expected to make up the bottom three – there’s 6/4 trading about The Cottagers.