With a break in the Premier League calendar because of FA Cup fixtures this weekend. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side might be top of the table by five points, but Pellegrini’s Manchester City are still not too far behind, even with recent slip ups. Both sides have experience in challenging for the title at the business end of the season, and it stands to be a really exciting title run in.
There are some important questions to ask going forward for your Premier League betting. Who is in better form, how difficult do upcoming fixtures look, and what opportunities can be found at online betting exchange WBX?
Current Standings & Form
Chelsea have been top of the table since word go. The Blues held a nine points advantage over City at one point, and it looked like they would run away with the title. Mourinho’s men were heavily odds on across the betting exchanges, and one bookmaker even paid out on Chelsea winning the league in November! Whilst their form stalled over the Christmas period with away defeats to Newcastle and Spurs bringing the teams level, they looked back to their best with an easy win away at Swansea last time out.
Mourinho’s men have been immense at home, with the side picking up maximum points at Stamford Bridge so far this season. It’s their away form that needs improving; of the 14 points they have dropped this season, every one of them has been away from home. When teams sit deep against this Chelsea side their lack of width is exposed and they struggle to break them down; this is surely something that Mourinho is working to overcome.
Manchester City strung together a run of seven consecutive wins, and that, coupled with Chelsea’s poor form saw them draw level at the top. However the home draw with Burnley when 2-0 up was inexcusable, and more recently points have been dropped both away at Everton and at home to Arsenal. Manchester City have been conceding too many goals against the lower teams, and were completely outplayed by Arsenal at home last weekend. They have bigger challenges to come, including a meeting with Chelsea soon.
Who Has The Better Squad?
Something that could be discussed for hours with your mates down the pub, and there is barely anything to choose between them. Chelsea drastically improved their frontline this season with the acquisition of Costa, Drogba and Remy. However Manchester City have one of the best strikers in the world at the moment with Aguero, and have improved their already impressive forward line with the acquisition of Wilfried Bony.
Looking at the back lines Chelsea’s picks itself and Mourinho rarely changes his starting eleven, whereas Manchester City have had a few more hiccups. Even with Chelsea conceding 5 against Spurs, they’ve still let in fewer goals than City have done this season. Vincent Kompany struggled on his return from injury against Arsenal, and Pellegrini will be concerned about the goals they are conceding.
If we look at midfield both teams are very strong. However Yaya Toure has missed 4 games this season and Manchester City have not won any of them, and with him now away at the Africa Cup of Nations, is City’s downward turn in form down to his departure? Chelsea fans will definitely be ruing Lampard’s move to City, especially as without Lampard’s goals City would currently have seven fewer points!
Upcoming Fixtures & Crucial Games
This is where it starts to get really interesting, and we can definitely start to find some betting picks for the betting exchange. It seems obvious to point out, but the game between both sides at Stamford Bridge on the 31st of January is absolutely massive. If Chelsea win they will go eight points clear. They have not dropped a point at home this season and also beat City in the corresponding fixture last year; expect this trend to continue. Manchester City is an option to consider for lay betting in this match.
Looking ahead, Manchester City definitely have the harder run in. They still have to play Chelsea, Stoke, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs away. Chelsea have already played all of these teams away from home, and currently sit five points ahead. Chelsea still visit Arsenal and West Ham away, but all of their other away games are against the bottom half of the table. If they can continue their amazing home form and win the away games they would expect to, they have a great chance of winning the league this season.
Currently you can back Chelsea on WBX for 1.24, and back Manchester City for 6.2. There is a real lack of value to be found with those odds on Chelsea, whereas the Manchester City odds seem very fair. The run in is still going to be a tight affair with more changes to come so a good position to take could be to back Manchester City, with a view to laying bets later on to lock in a profit.
Premier League Outright Winner Dark Horses
But what if an upset happens and both Chelsea and City slip? There are only really two other teams that have a chance of catching Chelsea or Manchester City, but it would still be a really big ask. Current odds in the Premier League outright winner market at WBX for Manchester United are 48.0 and the odds for Arsenal 50.0.
Manchester United should get one of the coveted top four spaces, but they just don’t have the consistency at the moment to match the top two. The loss at home to Southampton was a real setback for them after a good run of form, and a game that echoed the form of the David Moyes era eliminated the slim chances they had of making a late push.
Whilst their win away to Manchester City was impressive, Arsenal seem to be playing out another season that solidifies their top four status. Alexis Sanchez has been a great signing for them, but it doesn’t look like he can take them to the next level they need to make a bigger challenge for the title.
Premier League Winner Recommended Bets
As there are two front runners for the title, it’s quite hard to find much value at the top of the table. The recommended position at WBX would be Manchester City to win with a view to greening up when the odds change in your favour.
