Arsenal have taken themselves out of the European race where Chelsea still lead the way, while it looks like two from three in the fight against relegation.
The first Premier League weekend of the restart may have thrown up a few more questions than answers, but there was intrigue at both ends of the table as the contenders for relegation and European qualification enjoyed differing fortunes.
Liverpool were frustrated by Everton at Goodison, but it’s another point ticked off and while the market is still open on this year’s Premier League winner the Reds are 1/1000 and Man City 100/1 to somehow claw it back over the last eight games.
Next up for Liverpool is Crystal Palace at home on Wednesday while City face Burnley on Monday and then a trip to Chelsea on Thursday.
Race for Europe – Gunners out of the running
Stick a fork in Arsenal as they look well and truly done after suffering two defeats already – we expected the one at City but not the one at Brighton. That home advantage paid off for the Seagulls!
Mikel Arteta has a real problem that goes beyond just David Luiz and Mesut Ozil, and with Wolves, Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool still to come that six-point gap to sixth might as well be 50.
They face Southampton next and there’ll be plenty of money for the Saints at 8/5 to inflict yet another damaging defeat.
Premier League top four finish odds
- 1/6 - Leicester
- 4/9 - Chelsea
- 11/8 - Man Utd
- 5/1 - Wolves
That’s why they’re 8/1 to finish in the top six yet only 11/4 to finish in the bottom half. They’re tenth now but only three points above 14th-placed Southampton. With Palace above them and Burnley and Everton just one and two points behind respectively, the Gunners need to be looking down more than up.
Manchester United were the sexy pick to finish fourth and Paul Pogba’s cameo at Spurs had seen them shorten up a touch to 11/8 for a top four finish before Chelsea then extended their lead over them to five points.
Bruno Fernandes remains their star man, and with a final-day trip to Leicester their only remaining fixture of any real note after they meet Sheffield United this week, Man United could run Chelsea close. But five points is still a sizeable gap to make up.
Chelsea look decent under Frank Lampard and they’re 4/9 for a top four finish. Those odds will change one way or another after they face Man City on Thursday, and they still have Liverpool and Wolves to play in their last two games.
Wolves were impressive at West Ham, that’s not saying much I suppose, but the rest will have done wonders for them and as 5/1 outsiders for the top four they might be tempting for some – especially as if they can get into striking distance they face Chelsea in that final game.
There was a lot to like about Spurs on Friday and they could finish strong, but earning four more points than Wolves and Man Utd over eight games is a step too far – seventh is their best hope and finishing above Sheffield United.
Verdict: The Blades, sadly, look like they might have run out of steam in their epic European challenge – and that’s even before they face Man Utd, Spurs, Wolves, Chelsea and Leicester.
Too much traffic for Spurs to get over and while Chelsea's five-point gap looks secure now with eight games left, that could very easily be down to two points come Friday morning - with then Liverpool and Wolves to play in their last two games.
may just be worth a punt then.
Given how they've started the re-start though,
Relegation – Two out of three
It’s going to be awfully tight at the bottom but I think we can at least rule Newcastle and Southampton out of the equation after they enjoyed wins upon their return.
Things are so strange these days that not only did Newcastle score three, but Joelinton got one himself – his second goal in 30 Premier League games and 301 days after his last one. It was against ten-man Sheff Utd though…
Norwich (1/33) look doomed I’m afraid but there’s still hope for Aston Villa (2/7) despite their defeat against Chelsea. They’re just one point behind West Ham and Bournemouth and two behind Watford.
Premier League relegation odds
- 1/33 - Norwich
- 2/7 - Aston Villa
- 1/2 - Bournemouth
- 13/8 - West Ham
- 5/2 - Watford
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