Premiership Football Has New Favorite After One Game
Chelsea made new title favorites after Manchester United are held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Newcastle.
Tuesday 19th August 2008
With just one game of the season completed, bookmakers have installed Chelsea as the new favorites for the English Premiership. The Blues romped to a 4-0 win over last season’s surprise package Portsmouth, while Obafemi Martins’ goal for Newcastle was enough to hold defending champions Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford.
The point earned by Newcastle scuppered those who traditionally back the Big Four – Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal – in accumulator bets, as United were the only team to drop points on the opening day. A win for the defending champions would have cost Britain's bookies over £2million ($4 million) according to Coral.
'Euro 2008 was a nightmare for all bookmakers and we were desperate for a good start to the domestic football season. Thankfully Kevin Keegan has saved our bacon on the opening weekend,' said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.
Before a ball had been kicked, Chelsea were 15/8 clear second favorites but have now been brought in to even money by Hills, Stan James, VC Bet and Betfred.
United, the 5/4 ante-post favorites, moved out to 9/4 at Sky Bet, Boylesports and Betfred.
'It may seem an overreaction but it is rare for United to drop points at home and with Ronaldo and Tevez both missing they seemed more adversely affected than Chelsea without Drogba,' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Arsenal and Liverpool, who both notched up useful 1-0 wins on Saturday at home against West Bromwich and away to Sunderland respectively, are 6/1 (VC Bet) and 15/2 (Boylesports, Sportingbet) to win the Premiership title.
