The domestic football season has hit another one of its pre-arranged road blocks in the form of an international break.
That leaves us waiting almost two weeks for the resumption of Premier League action at a time when the it felt like the campaign was just hitting its stride.
This time away from the club game is a good opportunity to take a look at the outright Premier League betting markets.
Title Winner
Manchester City’s derby day victory has them in to 7/25 to go back-to-back.
Injury to Kevin De Bruyne has not halted their progress and, if anything, Pep Guardiola’s team look even more dominant than before. They have conceded just five goals this season and are averaging three per match of their own.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool are the only clubs to have avoided defeat against the reigning champions this season.
A 100-points-plus total looks likely, with very few teams even coming close to taking anything from them. Avoiding a humiliation (which is not all that easy) is all most teams can aim for.
Liverpool are 4/1 to finally lift a Premier League trophy. Performances have dipped slightly of late, but Jurgen Klopp’s side are only two points off City and are picking up points at a title-winning pace.
That’s in most normal seasons, though, not when they are competing with what might be the best club side this country has ever seen.
The midfield conundrum is the biggest threat to Liverpool’s title push. Naby Keita and Fabinho are yet to impact the season significantly, which has seen a lot of minutes for James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum.
The upside is that Liverpool have only dropped points to top six sides and they remain unbeaten.
Chelsea are the third team supposedly in the ‘race’. The Blues have overachieved so far this season, and a top four finish would be a solid first season for Maurizio Sarri.
Their 20/1 price says it all about their chances. Their consistency of result and performance is not there to build a title challenge with this City side around.
Manchester City are just too good. Guardiola has depth to cope with even a significant injury crisis. Liverpool will keep the pressure on, but City are a level above.
Top Four Race
The market suggests the top four is pretty much settled. Chelsea are 1/6, Liverpool 1/40 and Tottenham 1/2.
Those three currently occupy the spots behind Manchester City, though Arsenal are just three points behind their north London rivals.
Chelsea, led by individual genius Eden Hazard, and Liverpool have attracted all the attention of title contenders. Spurs are just a point behind the Blues, despite injury troubles and some underwhelming performances.
Arsenal’s long winning run came to an end, and they have drawn three in a row in the league since. Their 6/4 price is on the short side. Unai Emery has been fortunate that results have been this good so far.
The defence has been up and down, while the attack has relied on some prolific finishing from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Chelsea are probably the most vulnerable of the current top four. Their reliance on Eden Hazard is unsurprising and obvious, but it’s not just that.
Maurizio Sarri had problems with burnout at Napoli and his rotation in the Europa League has seen a lot of his first teamers clock up unnecessary miles.
A drop off in performances and results for the Blues – especially over Christmas – seems probable. Arsenal, for now at least, are the team in the best position to take advantage of that.
Given expectation and spending, Manchester United deserve at least a token mention. Jose Mourinho’s team are 7/2 to finish in the top four.
It’s worth a bet if you fancy a couple of club meltdowns from the other five. Other than that, there is very little to suggest United can win enough matches to keep it close with the rest of the ‘big six’.
Relegation Battle
The relegation battle is set to be tight. Four points separate the bottom eight teams in the league. Victories for Huddersfield, Cardiff and Newcastle of late have changed the dynamic at the bottom of the table once again.
Fulham are the team at risk of being cut adrift. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side started okay, but things have quickly declined.
The west London club are 11/20 to get relegated this term and are on course for by far the worst defensive record in Premier League history. That price is a little short given the quality in the squad, however.
After their heroics last season, it’s a slight surprise to see Burnley in the bottom seven. The back line has leaked goals, and their ability to score off a bizarrely low number of chances has waned.
They are four points ahead of Fulham, but the Clarets are decent value at 6/5 to be playing in the Championship next season.
Southampton have failed to build on their survival last season. Mark Hughes is living on borrowed time and the team is dysfunctional.
Goals are a rare treat for the St. Mary’s faithful and the defence is hardly reliable. Their 4/1 price is a very good one, though a change in manager could mean a change in fortune.
Huddersfield and Cardiff were preseason favourites and they are both odds on to go down. They have had positive moments in recent weeks, but they are short on quality compared to their rivals and that could make all the difference.
This season could require one of the lowest points tallies ever to stay up. The matches the bottom seven play against each other will go a long way to deciding who is safe.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
