The Premier League season is already a month in (give or take a few days). Every team has played four matches, we’ve seen shocks, thrillers and bore draws. It’s been everything you expect from England’s top flight so far.
With the always-bemoaned international break underway, it seems a good time to take a look back on what has happened so far and how the Premier League betting markets look…
City Still Lead The Way
Manchester City haven’t quite looked themselves so far. Pep Guardiola’s side still have 10 points from a possible 12, but their last two performances have been underwhelming compared to the majestic displays we saw for the majority of last season.
Few will be panicking about the reigning champions just yet, mind. City remain the 13/20 favourites to win the title and it will take several more disappointing results before anyone realistically doubts their ability to retain the crown.
Pep Guardiola: "We are the best Premier League club ever? I'm not sure of that. We won one Premier League title."
— 888sport (@888sport) June 8, 2018
Well, that ends that debate then... pic.twitter.com/HENQblSro0
Liverpool, just as it was at the start of the campaign, are second favourites at 11/4. Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a 100% record, and have conceded just one goal so far, courtesy of an Alisson howler.
After tearing West Ham apart on opening day, Liverpool have been less than their usual thrilling selves too. The fact they won those matches against stubborn defences perhaps tells us more about this team than a 5-0 victory would have, though.
Signs Of Life At Stamford Bridge
Chelsea, like Liverpool, have four wins from four. A period of adaptation was expected under Maurizio Sarri, but the Blues have found a way to get victories so far, even if a couple of their performances weren’t been great.
The five-time Premier League champions were a bit of an unknown quantity coming into the season. However, having retained Eden Hazard and added Jorginho, they are already at 33/100 to finish in the top four.
The defence is still a concern – particularly if David Luiz keeps having David Luiz moments – but they look a threat whenever they have the ball.
Chelsea are out at 10/1 to win the title. Their early season form makes that look better value than it really is. There will be ups and downs in Sarri’s first season.
The 15/4 on Chelsea to be ‘the winner without Manchester City’ is their best price at the moment.
Hornets Are Buzzing
Javi Gracia’s Watford are the story of the season so far. The Hornets join Chelsea and Liverpool with a 100% record, including a stunning comeback victory against Tottenham last weekend.
Unsurprisingly, some are already suggesting Watford will ‘do a Leicester’. While that remains incredibly unlikely (250/1), their 12/1 price to break into the top six might be worth a look at. This is no fluke from Gracia’s side.
Watford are the real deal and four more things we learned from the Premier League this weekend https://t.co/5Cpbde59aA pic.twitter.com/vvqHovzFZo
— 888sport (@888sport) September 3, 2018
The Hornets have been resolute defensively and ruthless in attack. That, whatever league you’re in, tends to be a pretty good way to play football. Only Liverpool, per understat, have a lower non-penalty expected goals against, for instance.
Former Watford boss and now Everton manager, Marco Silva, sees his side at 5/1 to make the top six. Given what we have seen from both sides so far, the Hertfordshire club are definitely the better value.
Fading Hope For The Hammers
Everything looked so bright for West Ham this summer. Manuel Pellegrini arrived to play the West Ham WayTM, and the owners invested heavily, bringing in exciting talents like Felipe Anderson and Issa Diop.
After four defeats from four, including two at home, things suddenly look bleak at the London Stadium again. The Hammers are in to 5/2 to go down this season. Pellegrini is joint-favourite at 3/1 to be the first manager to be handed his P45.
West Ham were one of the favourites to be ‘best of the rest’ when the season started. They are now 15/4 to make the top 10.
Even after this dreadful start, that’s still a decent price given the sheer quality Pellegrini has at his disposal in the final third. He will need to find a way to fix the midfield before anything else, though.
Newcastle sit just above West Ham in the bottom three, but their horrible fixture list to start the campaign is the cause of that rather than poor performances. Burnley also have just one point, however, and are 8/5 to go down.
Sean Dyche’s side look to have regressed to the mean after riding their luck last season and could be in for a really tough season.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
