Premier League Outright After Matchday 18: Liverpool back in Top 4 picture 

We’re almost at the halfway point in the Premier League season and things have really started to take shape over the festive period.

Everywhere you look in the table there are tightly contested battles, whether it be the title race, the fight for European places or a relegation scrap.

Let’s take a look at how Matchday 18 changed things.

Bet on the Premier League at William Hill 

Title Race

Arsenal ended yet another round of matches at the top of the Premier League table and remain the odds-on favourites for the title at 8/11. Their 2-1 victory at home to Brighton wasn’t necessarily the most convincing, but Mikel Arteta will be happy with the three points amid somewhat of a defensive injury crisis.

Manchester City were in top spot for a matter of hours as they were victorious in the early kick-off against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. It was another relatively unconvincing 2-1 win, but all they’ll care about is keeping within touching distance of the top. With the gap currently just two points between first and second, the Cityzens are 6/4 to pip Arsenal to the title once again.

Aston Villa’s victory at Stamford Bridge kept them right in the mix at the top of the table. They’re now third-favourites, with their odds cut from 28/1 to 16/1 over the weekend as they sit three points behind the Gunners.

Top 4

The Top 4 picture underwent a serious shakeup over the weekend, with Liverpool getting themselves back to fourth spot for the first time since October. They appear to be coming out the other side of a barren run and are the best of the rest for fourth at 4/9.

Chelsea looked set to put their name back in the title mix with victory over Aston Villa, but they threw away a 1-0 lead and ended up empty handed. That has seen them move down to fifth and pushed out to 6/4 to finish in the top four.

Manchester United join Chelsea on 29 points and seem to have really turned things around this season. They’re sixth in the table and sixth in the market to finish in the top four at 7/2.

Relegation

After a 16th defeat in 18 games, the writing is on the wall for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool away looked a tough fixture on paper but Wolves ran them closer than many would’ve thought, losing out 2-1 in the end. That hasn’t done their survival hopes any favours and at 1/500 for relegation, their fate is all but sealed.

The newly promoted teams have done much better this season than in recent campaigns, but Burnley haven’t quite managed to keep pace with Leeds United and Sunderland. The Clarets currently sit in 19th spot with six points between them and Nottingham Forest in 17th. They’re 1/33 to go down and have a mountain to climb in the new year.

The third of the odds-on shots to face the drop are West Ham. The Hammers had a tough start to the season which eventually saw the end of Graham Potter’s short time at the club, but things haven’t really turned around since Nuno Espirito Santo took over. They are five points from safety and 1/4 to be relegated.

Leeds gained a crucial point away at Sunderland over the weekend, extending their positive run. They’re out to 11/2 for relegation, alongside Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.