Premier League: Late Liverpool Equaliser Extends Title Lead - Odds Watch

Liverpool are not letting up in their relentless pursuit of the Premier League title this season. Their most recent fixture saw them make light work of a shaky Spurs team, that can’t quite decide if they’re good or not. 

Their heap of goals, courtesy of the usual faces, saw the Reds extend their lead at the top of the table to four points whilst having a game in hand still to play over those around them. To lift the top-flight trophy come the end of this season, they are placed at 1/2. 

Chelsea Drop Points And Arsenal Back To Winning Ways

Currently their closest challengers are Chelsea, who are placed at 13/2. They faced a resolute Everton team at Goodison Park this weekend and couldn’t quite crack the Toffees defence. On another day, they may also have lost all three points, but this time settled for one, as they drew nil-nil.

Arsenal were back to winning ways this weekend after they’ll feel they dropped points against Chelsea’s most recent opponents. They managed to beat Crystal Palace 5-1, making it two wins against the Eagles in 3 days after their previous 3-2 victory in the EFL Cup. 

A terrific week for Gabriel Jesus so close to Christmas feels rather fitting. His brace in the league fixture helped Arsenal on their way to three points, landing them on 33 so far this season, six behind the leaders. They've got some catching up to do, as reflected by their odds to win the league being placed at 7/2. 

Pep Guardiola's Torrid Time Continues

The race for the top four and those coveted Champions League places threw up some interesting match-ups this weekend. The most notable probably being Aston Villa versus Manchester City. It’s no secret that Pep Guardiola is in the middle of his toughest spell in charge of The Cityzens, and this was another tough game to tackle. 

The Spaniard’s misery has been extended another week. He watched his team fall to defeat yet again when they lost 2-1 to an Unai Emery’s side that have been struggling of late. Former City Acadamy and now Villains star Morgan Rodgers’ sterling display claimed all three points. This leaves Manchester City placed at 8/13 to get a top-four finish, and Aston Villa at 13/2. 

Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United gaffer has been a mixed bag to say the least. Victories against Everton and rivals Manchester City have been evened out by losses against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. This weekend they faced another team on an unlikely charge for a spot in Europe’s elite competition when they hosted Bournemouth. 

Andoni Iraola gave The Cherries fans yet another reason to celebrate when his men rode out 3-0 winners, thanks to goals from Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and Dean Huijsen. Three goals and three points put their tally at 28 for the season, and just three behind in the race for the top four. They’re placed at 12/1 to finish in a CL spot. United are placed at 12/1 to do so too. 

It is Nottingham Forest that Bournemouth currently trail in said race. Forest are flying this season and look a new team under Nuno Espírito Santo. The former Spurs boss has transformed his team, and the good times continued as they beat a strong Brentford side 2-0—made particularly impressive by the hosts home record this season. Forest are placed at 10/1 to make the top four. 

Wolves Profit From Relegation Six-Pointer

There were also some huge results in the fight to avoid relegation this weekend. Two of the bottom four faced each other on Sunday, when Leicester hosted Wolves. For the latter, a new beginning, as Vitor Pereira took charge of his first Premier League game. 

In the opposing technical area was Ruud van Nistlerooy, who will have known the importance of this six-pointer at the bottom of the table. Unfortunately for him, he saw his team lose 3-0, as the Portuguese got the better of the Dutchman, courtesy of goals from Matheus Cunha, Gonçalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes. 

This result saw The Foxes odds drop even further to 4/9 to be one of the teams relegated from the top flight. On the other hand, Wolves saw their odds change to 6/4 for them to make the drop. Most believe Wolves to solidify under new management, and have the players to comfortably avoid the drop. 

Elsewhere, Everton picked up another brilliant point against a top 3 side, having faced two of them in the last week. First Arsenal, and now another point and clean sheet against high-flying Chelsea. That makes it 7 shut outs in their last 10 games, with a lot of credit owed to Jordan Pickford. Their odds to make the drop are at 5/1. 

Crystal Palace were also brought back down to earth after their derby day high last weekend. They lost 5-1 when Arsenal made the short trip to Selhurst park. They’re placed at 12/1 to make the plunge. Presumably doomed Southampton did manage to pick up a solitary point against Fulham, but most would assume such to make little difference. They’re placed at 1/12. 

Lopetegui Still Leads the Odds After Recent Changes

A few managerial changes in recent weeks have caused big change in the odds for the next PL manager to be sacked. In the last month or so, Southampton, Leicester and Wolves have all employed a new man at the helm.

Though, there is one man still looking the very clear favorite to be the next one relieved of his duties. West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is placed at 6/4 and you’d be challenged to find many people who don’t agree he’s the next to go.

His El Sackico win over Wolves granted him a few more weeks to change the Hammers’ fortunes, and since, they have gone on two draw both games they’ve played. They achieved 1-1 draws against both Bournemouth and Brighton, who are both considered decent sides, so it’s likely he’ll be given another couple of games at least.

Another good Everton performance, synonymous with a Sean Dyche team will certainly go a long way to ensure he’s given until the end of the season before new owner Dan Friedkin may choose to bring in his own man. Dyche is placed at 4/1 to be the next PL manager sacked.

Salah Takes Pole Position In Race For Golden Boot

Mohamed Salah chipped in with a few goals as Liverpool beat Spurs 6-3 in their latest trip to London. He is enjoying another fruitful season where goal scoring is concerned, and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. He’s placed at 8/11 to be the PL's top scorer. 

Erling Haaland went another game goalless, as City’s dreary run continued. Their loss to Villa left him 13 goals, and watching Salah take the lead in the scoring charts. The Egyptian is now on 15 goals. Haaland falling behind has left him placed at 2/1 to take home the award.