Manchester United has now been confirmed to be leading the outright market after their controversial victory against league leaders Chelsea at home in Stamford Bridge as Southampton got the worst rating of the season being main relegation candidates.
A most dramatic weekend so to say since the new season began, with wins for Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, the prices in the outright market changed significantly. Meanwhile, with Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Southampton, Aston Villa and Norwich all failing to win, Wigan Athletic is the only team to see their relegation odds lengthened.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were pitched as new favourites ahead of Chelsea to win the EPL title for the season after an eventful 3-2 win over nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Javier Hernandez’s late winner cut the Blues’ lead at the top of the table to just one point and as a result, bwin now make Sir Alex Ferguson’s men 8/5 (from 2/1) to win the league. The defeat leaves Chelsea as a 5/2 chance, out from 9/4.
Manchester City are also just one point behind Chelsea after a Carlos Tevez strike gave them a 1-0 win over Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium and Roberto Mancini’s men are now 7/4 to retain their crown.
A late win for Arsenal doesn’t seem to have impressed punters or odds compilers alike, with the Gunners longer for the title than they were before the weekend began. A 1-0 win over ten-man Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates saw Arsene Wenger’s side move into the top six, but they are now 20/1, out from 18/1, to win the Premier League.
Tottenham have been cut to 50/1 (from 66/1) after winning 2-1 against Southampton at St. Mary’s. Spurs now occupy the fourth Champions League place ahead of this weekend’s clash with Wigan at White Hart Lane.
At the other end, that defeat for QPR leaves Mark Hughes’ side at the foot of the table and the Hoops are now 2/1 to be relegated, cut slightly from 11/5.
However, Southampton is the favourite for the drop at 13/20 after that loss at home to Spurs. Saints were 17/20 before the weekend’s action and have now overtaken Reading, who is 3/4 (from 7/10) for the drop after a pulsating 3-3 draw with Fulham at the Madejski Stadium.
Aston Villa and Norwich City played out a 1-1 draw at Villa Park as Paul Lambert’s old club faced his new one, a result which leaves the Canaries 9/10 (from 3/4) for relegation, while the Villans have gone from 12/5 to 2/1.
The only team in the bottom six who won were Wigan, who beat West Ham United 2-1 at the DW Stadium. It means that Wigan’s odds to be playing Championship football next season have gone out from 8/5 to 7/4.
