Premier League Predictions & News
Premier League Outrights After Matchday 20: Arsenal Go Six Points Clear
Matchweek 20 in the Premier League was far from a quiet one, with crucial points gained and dropped at both ends of the table.
The gap at the top has widened, the relegation scrap is heating up, and the fight for European places is getting interesting. We take a closer look here.
Title Race
It was another good week for Arsenal, as their victory over Bournemouth extended their lead at the top of the table. With Manchester City playing the following day, the Gunners took the opportunity to go seven points clear at the top with both hands with a 3-2 away win and with other results going in their favour, they’ve shortened again to 2/7.
As previously mentioned, City had it all to do on Sunday after their title rivals picked up another three points. They hosted managerless Chelsea, who were also without Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez. Pep Guardiola’s side looked to have the win secured, before Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage time equaliser snatched a point for the visitors. City now find themselves six points behind Arsenal and out to 11/4 for the title.
Aston Villa were 33/1 after last week’s loss to Arsenal, but their routine victory over Nottingham Forest has seen them clipped back into 25/1, placing them third in the table and the betting.
Top 4
Liverpool’s top four hopes were dealt a late blow, courtesy of a 97th-minute screamer from Fulham’s Harrison Reed, which saw their game on Sunday end in a draw. Arne Slot’s men are unchanged at 4/7 to finish in the top four.
The lack of a shake-up in the top four odds is due to the fact that Chelsea and Manchester United also drew. Chelsea’s draw away at City was by far the better result, though, and they’ve shortened into 13/8. United’s lacklustre point at Elland Road has seen them pushed out to 9/2.
Newcastle are starting to find their feet after a poor start to the season. Their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace put them five points behind Liverpool and saw their odds for a top four finish trimmed to 9/1.
Relegation
There was another twist in the tale of the relegation battle this week, and an unexpected one at that. It only took over half the season, but Wolves finally gained their first win of the campaign! They thrashed fellow relegation zone dwellers West Ham 3-0. They remain 12 points from safety, but their odds to go down have been slashed from 1/500 to 1/50.
The same can’t be said for Burnley, whose chances of survival are going in the wrong direction after a 2-0 loss to Brighton extended their winless run to 11. At 1/33, their odds to face the drop are going in the wrong direction.
It was, as already mentioned, a disastrous weekend for West Ham. They are still just four points from safety, but with their last win coming over Burnley in early November they aren’t showing any signs of turning things around. They’re 1/4 to be in the Championship next season and will need to turn things around sooner rather than later.
Nottingham Forest and Leeds United remain single-figure odds to be relegated. At 4/1, Forest are the likelier of the two having suffered another defeat at the weekend, while Leeds are trending upward as they extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a draw at home to Manchester United and saw their odds bumped up to 8/1.
