Latest Premier League Odds: Controversial Derby Delight

(Controversial) Derby Day Delight

Last week, it was the London Derby which took the headlines, but this week, we headed to Manchester for - you'll never guess it - the Manchester Derby. In recent years, it's lost its charm a little bit with the Red Devils dropping away from the title race.

However, there was hope that this could be a better showing and an early red card showed a bit of spice. Yet, this killed the game a little.

Despite being sent down to 10 men, the Citizens grabbed the only goal of the game and the fallout from it is still ongoing. A controversial offside decision was made and talk has been continuing for almost 48 hours.

It's a big goal in the title race, as it keeps Manchester City level with Arsenal. It could also be a big goal for the officiating in England moving forward, too. We shall have to see. Perhaps that'll be a goal that decides the title...

As a result of their win, the Blues have shortened again for the title and they can be backed at 9/4 with the best football bookmakers.

Arsenal Get the Job Done

A late game against Sunderland was waiting for Arsenal this week and it seemed like it could be a tripping hazard when Dan Ballard was fouled in the box. However, David Raya was equal to Enzo Le Fee's spot kick.

From there, the Gunners didn't let their opportunities slip and they took the lead through former Newcastle United boy Bruno Guimaraes. Of course, that went down well at the Stadium of Light.

The visitors would get their own spot kick in the final minutes of the game, which Bukayo Saka duly converted and it was another three points confirmed for the Reds. It certainly wasn't pretty, but they got the job done. A very Arsenal win - I wonder how often we'll say that this season.

Another three points means their odds have dropped again to be back-to-back champions, with the Flutter brands offering 8/11 at the time of writing. It feels like the value opportunity with them has almost gone.

Draw Shifts Chelsea Down

So far, we've focused on Chelsea as a potential title-winning team, but I've moved them into this week's Top Four battle section. A draw with Hull is proving to be a pretty decent result - who thought we'd be saying that - but I can't keep them in the title section as a result.

An even affair, the Blues have now dropped five points in their last two games, putting them down to sixth. Now, context counts for something, but you'd still be concerned that the title fighters already have a lot of ground in hand.

For what it's worth, they're now 18/1 to win the league. However, the support for them in the Top Four is still strong at 8/13.

Liverpool's Bore Draw

Fulham have been awful so far this season and have looked like a proper contender for the drop. So, most thought it'd be a walk in the park for the Reds at Anfield - including me, who tipped them to win... - and well, they didn't.

Despite having four big chances, they failed to score and it can only be seen as a poor result for the Anfield outfit. It was a chance to make up a bit of ground at the top. However, they're already six points behind. Like Chelsea, they have time to catch up, but it seems unlikely that they'll be on their heels soon.

Liverpool, as this week showed, are still very much a team in progress.

Five Star Brighton

Brighton are now the sixth favourites (behind Manchester United) for a place in the Top Four this season after they dismantled Coventry City. It was a proper battering and Coventry were shown up again in the Premier League.

An easy three points for the Seagulls; goals came from across the pitch and it's one that has certainly brought a bit of confidence to the south coast. It's not as if they're really in the race, in the eyes of the bookmakers, as they're still around the 5/1 mark.

However, if that result can propel them forward a little bit, maybe they could put up a fight... If not, they look strong for a Top Six place.

Coventry Struggle (Is that a compliment?)

Where do we start with Coventry? As we go further into the season, my fears about them continue to grow and it's actually difficult to assess where they'll end up this season. A 5-0 defeat at home isn't great, but they weren't playing a top, top team and that's what's confusing.

Against Manchester City, they lost, but at least they left the Etihad with some dignity. Here, they were just terrible and it's becoming a trend. They remain without a goal and that's not exactly positive either.

It could get into record-breaking relegation territory for the Sky Blues this season if nothing changes... They're already 1/3 to go down; is it a surprise?

Are Hull in the Wrong Place?

Hull have been in this relegation area all season, but I'm starting to re-think that. The bookmakers have them at 4/5 to go down, but results aren't stopping. This weekend it was Chelsea and they were great value for their point.

It's not as if they've had easy games, either. Yet, they continue to pick up big results and actually sit fourth as it stands. FOURTH!

Questions about the Tigers aren't wrong; they have just come up from the Championship, so there'll be this 'when will the bubble burst' feeling for a while longer. For now, though, they're flying and it feels dismissive to suggest that the bubble will burst. Good on them.

Ipsymmetrical record?

Ipswich's odds went in the other direction this week, thanks to their win against Crystal Palace. It was messy, but they got the job done, scoring three goals and earning another three points - which has propelled them up the table a little bit.

A win followed by two losses and now a win again; it's form that'll be alright if continued through the season, especially with how many teams are in danger of the drop this season. It also gives me the chance to coin 'Ipsymmetrical' as a term - which is the real important thing, of course.

Last week, they were Evens to go down, but they've been pushed out to 13/8 now. With other results, they'd perhaps even be around the 2/1 mark, but it wasn't to be.

General Picture

It's probably best to look at the picture as a complete thing after this weekend, rather than focusing on another team. In fairness, we could focus on more than one, so here we are.

Fulham and Crystal Palace are the next 'favourites' to go down, with both priced at 5/2 for the drop after their weekends.

The Cottagers grabbed a point against Liverpool at Anfield, which isn't a bad result, of course. However, they're yet to win a game this season, so you can forgive the market for getting worried about them.

For Palace, a 3-2 defeat against Ipswich just isn't a good result; that's unavoidable. Their win against Fulham wasn't majorly convincing either last week. So, you can discount that a little bit. It seems they could well be in trouble, too.

I'm including Tottenham Hotspur here, as well. They're one of two teams in the English 92 to have not scored a goal so far this season (alongside Coventry). That's woeful, however you want to try to package it. Yet, they're still around 16/1 to go down. I'd not be confident of them doing much of a positive thing this season, given how they've started.

Then, Aston Villa deserve a mention; they've scored once and still haven't got a win this season. Spurs, Brentford and Newcastle United follow next, and if they were to go pointless from those, that 14/1 for them to go down will drop substantially.

Haaland Scores in Controversial Fashion

Haaland's goal at the weekend will be discussed for a while yet, not because of its quality, but because of how it came. For the Norwegian, it's another on the tally for the season and he remains the clear favourite for the Golden Boot this season. Are we surprised?

He's already 4/7 for the award and we're not even in October; it's a joke, but he's just that good!

Chelsea Boys Score Again

It was another week of scoring for Chelsea, as their top scorers added another goal each to their tallies. Joao Pedro has returned to being the second favourite for the top scorer award this season at 7/1. However, Morgan Rogers' price could also be of interest, with him also on three.

Despite sharing the same tally, he's actually at 40/1, which could propose a decent Each-Way opportunity...