Chelsea Are A Big Price For The Top 3 But It’s Win Only Betting – By Ian Hudson
We have a rare Premier League weekend programme because six of the fixtures kick-off at 3pm on Saturday. Personally that’s a good thing as a football fan from the Division One era used to matches beginning at the same time. The staggered match times are at the behest of television but the broadcaster’s money has paid for safer and more comfortable grounds and better pitches. As a supporter from a bygone age I will enjoy taking my seat at Old Trafford just before 3 o’clock on Saturday. The first live match which brings together Tottenham and Chelsea starts after the final whistle in the afternoon fixtures so we have the best of both worlds.
Chelsea are one of three unbeaten teams in the Premier League after 12 fixtures. Liverpool and Manchester City have also not lost a league fixture and that’s the first time in the history of top flight football in England that three teams have got to this stage without suffering a defeat. It could be how the fixtures have panned out and a one-off or an indication of how the best teams are so much better than the rest. Liverpool and Manchester City have drawn at Anfield and Liverpool picked up a point at Chelsea. If the other four meetings of the superpowers are drawn it’s not beyond the realms of possibility for three teams not to lose a league match this season.
The latest outright betting for the Premier League suggests Manchester City are home and hosed. The cunning bookmakers are now only allowing win only bets and the reasoning needs explaining. They offer place terms which are generally one fifth the odds for the first three places. Chelsea are 20/1 to win the Premier League but in reality less than 4/1 to finish in the top three. Shrewd traders could lay the win element of the bet and be left with a very generous place only bet that could be offset with a lay at a lower price on a betting exchange. In effect careful manipulation of the back and lay markets would create a win/no lose situation.
Tottenham are an enigma and it wouldn’t be a huge shock if they ended Chelsea’s unbeaten run at Wembley at tea-time on Saturday. Despite not making any significant signings in the summer and problems in moving into the new stadium they are just five points off the pace and have won four of their last five league fixtures. Real Madrid have appointed a new manager and Mauricio Pochettino is off their radar so he can continue the good work. Harry Kane will be buzzing after scoring the winner for England against Croatia and his Tottenham side can beat their London rivals.
Arsenal lost their first two Premier League fixtures and are now unbeaten in 10. Their last five matches have produced three draws and two wins but most of the crucial goals have been scored in the second half. They play at Bournemouth on Sunday and that side are riding high in sixth place. Arsenal’s class and ability should prevail but not before the break. The logical bet is Draw/Arsenal in the HT/FT double result market. Bournemouth have won three of their six home league fixtures this season to date but a second defeat at home is on the cards against Arsenal.
The other two live TV matches involve teams in the bottom half of the table. Wolves have had a dip in results after a great start but a home win against Huddersfield should get their season back on track. Burnley have not picked up three points in five matches and look vulnerable to a visiting Newcastle side unbeaten in three fixtures in the Monday Night Football match. Its one of just four matches not starting at 3pm on Saturday so it’s almost like the old days.
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