After another brilliant round of Premier League matches, the dust is settling on a weekend of high drama and, in the most exciting season for years, nothing is settled in any of the big contests from top to bottom.
With four games to go, as many as five for some teams, and only two for Manchester United after their 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday night, the three main battles are raging and the top two are trading blow for blow.
The very latest Premier League 2022 betting odds continue to back Manchester City, currently at a price of 1.44 with the Reds at 2.80 to lift the title in three weeks time.
Liverpool’s love affair with head coach Jurgen Klopp grows stronger by the year and the Sky Blues just can’t seem to shake them off. But with a single point advantage, it is City’s title to lose.
And the two rivals are on course for a Champions League final too. Does it get any better?
The race for Europe
The scramble for the priceless Champions League places has some way to go and while Chelsea have been solidly in third place throughout the campaign they have yet to cement their top four place.
So mathematically speaking, four teams are chasing two available places. Chelsea and Arsenal occupy third and fourth, while Tottenham – who two points further back – are three ahead of Manchester United who have played two games more than their three rivals.
It seems unlikely that Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea will let a five-point lead over Tottenham disappear, so it’s increasingly looking like a North London shootout between Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.
The Gunners have that two-point advantage after an impressive win away to Europa League chasing West Ham at the weekend while Tottenham were excellent in their 3-1 home victory over Leicester City.
In their remaining fixtures, Arsenal are at home to relegation-threatened Leeds United and Everton, and away to mid-table Newcastle United so they will hope for nine points there, while Tottenham are away to title-chasers Liverpool and doomed Norwich City and at home to Burnley, who are also battling against relegation.
And the other fixture? Tottenham vs Arsenal on Thursday 12th May!
It’s not a winner-take-all clash and I’d go so far to say that a draw will probably be enough to see the Gunners home when you look at their other games.
Chelsea should get the points they need in matches against Wolves, Leeds, Leicester, and Watford and they are hoping to pick up some silverware when they meet Liverpool on the FA Cup final on 14th May.
Here at SBOTOP, we’re backing Liverpool to beat Chelsea in the final with odds of 2.10 on Klopp’s side to win within 90 minutes, while Tuchel’s men are at 3.15. But having lost the last two finals to Arsenal and Leicester City, the Blues are desperate to avoid an unwelcome hat-trick.
Manchester United are already planning for next season as even wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace won’t realistically be enough to overhaul both the North London clubs.
The battle for survival
Everton’s hopes of avoiding the dreaded drop to the Championship took an unexpected upturn on Sunday when they beat Chelsea 1-0 thanks to a Richarlison goal, put on a plate by a bizarre piece of defending from the normally reliable Cesar Azpilicueta who dithered over his clearance.
But keeper Jordan Pickford was the hero of the day for the Toffees and he pulled off a string of world-class saves, while the woodwork also came to Everton’s rescue when Mason Mount’s effort hit both posts before rolling to safety.
It’s that kind of luck which might just save the Toffees, who climbed to within two points of safety.
Meanwhile, Burnley’s Premier League 2022 results have made a dramatic improvement in recent weeks as caretaker manager Mike Jackson has guided the Clarets on a run of three wins and a draw.
The Clarets followed up home victories over Southampton and Wolves with a comeback win at Watford as midfielders Jack Cork and Josh Brownhill delighted the legion of travelling Burnley fans with two late goals to win the game 2-1.
That victory took the Clarets above Leeds United on goal difference and that could be a problem for Jesse Marsh’ team, who has a -34 goal difference compared to Everton’s -20 and Burnley’s -15.
The Whites have the toughest run-in with games against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Brighton to come and a final day trip to Brentford. There may well be twists and turns to come with few fingernails left in Burnley, Liverpool, and Leeds by the 22nd May climax.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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