Liverpool have still got ten league matches to play before the season ends, but their 13-point gap over Arsenal is, in the eyes of at least two UK bookmakers, unassailable. Betfred and Paddy Power have both decided to pay out to punters who have bet on the Merseyside outfit taking the title back to Anfield this year. Both bookies have previous form for paying out early, and both have been left to pick up the financial pieces following bad calls.
Liverpool do hold a commanding position in the league. They have played 28 games and picked up 67 points from 20 wins, 7 draws, and 1 loss. Although punters can no longer place bets on them winning the title with the above bookies, there are several other popular options still accepting bets, including non-Gamstop betting sites with easier and quicker registration processes. Bettors can only get odds of around 1/100 on a title win for The Reds. In contrast, Arsenal are 13 points behind on 54 points, albeit with a game in hand. They are available at odds of up to 30/1.
According to some bookmakers, though, there is no point in punters betting on the outcome of the league. Paddy Power and Betfred both paid out on Liverpool winning the league more than a week ago after Arsenal lost to West Ham and effectively gave up the title. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that he will never give up the league, but it has left them with a virtually insurmountable challenge.
Of course, the bookmakers don’t always get these calls right. After two games of this season, Paddy Power paid out on Everton being relegated. At the time, Everton were bottom of the table having just lost 4-0 to Tottenham.
However, following the sacking of Sean Dyche and the rehiring of David Moyes, Everton have lifted themselves out of the relegation zone. They are now 16th in the table, with 32 points, and 15 points above the drop zone. Although they are not mathematically safe yet, they are now around 60/1 to be playing Championship football next season. In fact, bookmakers think they are only slightly more likely to be relegated than Manchester United, who are 100/1.
Manchester United were the team that left Betfred red-faced in 1998. Owner Fred Done agreed to pay out early on United winning the title, only for The Red Devils to be pipped to the post by Arsenal. Considering the number and size of bets placed on United to win the league, that was likely a much more costly mistake, with estimates at the time suggesting it cost the firm more than £500,000.
Liverpool are next in action against Southampton, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, on Saturday. The Reds are 1/10 for the victory with Mo Salah, who is, according to a lot of critics fans enjoying his most productive season in a Liverpool shirt, the 3/1 favourite to open the scoring.
On Sunday, Arsenal take on Manchester United, who went out of the FA Cup on penalties to Fulham after just managing to scrape a first win in five, in the league, when they beat Ipswich Town 3-2, although The Red Devils did manage the victory after going down to 10 men. The bookies clearly don’t expect a turnaround in fortunes for United, with Arsenal, who are the away team, being priced at 4/5 for the victory and United being offered at 4/1.