Premier League Relegation: All the latest odds ahead of this week's action
Dec 13, 2012 5:30:00 PM
Jim Knight takes a look at the contenders for the bottom three places in the Premier League plus there's a great money back special on accumulators this weekend
Money Back SpecialPlace a 5-fold or bigger accumulator bet on our Both Teams to Score markets for Saturdays Premier League or Npower Championship matches and if just one leg lets you down, Paddy Power will refund your losing bet.
Reading are now the 6/5 (2.20) favourites to finish bottom of the Premier League after Monday night’s 3-0 defeat at Sunderland.
The Royals are six points off perennial relegation candidates Wigan with nine points, just two ahead of Harry Redknapp’s QPR who are 9/4 (3.20) to finish last and have yet to win a league game this season.
The feeling is that Redknapp will get Tony Fernandes’ chequebook out come the January transfer window and although that didn’t do previous manager Mark Hughes much good, it might at least lift the R’s off the foot of the table come judgement day.
Brian McDermott is unlikely to be afforded the same luxury by his boss Anton Zingarevich and the rumours persist that Dick Advocaat might be prised from PSV to attempt a Houdini act with the Premier League new boys should results continue to disappoint. This weekend is unlikely to offer either side much respite although QPR – on paper at least - are in with a better chance of picking up some points against London rivals Fulham.
Reading – the first side in the division to lose five successive games - host an Arsenal side in desperate need of three points themselves.
With a six-point gap to 18th-placed Wigan, who are 12/1 (13.0) to finish bottom but just 2/1 (3.0) to be relegated, all known form points to the bottom two clubs staying that way – although the order may change as the season progresses.
Roberto Martinez’s side travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich on Saturday and are level on points with Aston Villa and Southampton – who are 11/4 (2.80) and 11/10 (2.10) respectively to go down.The Canaries were many people’s idea of relegation candidates after their 5-0 hammering by Fulham on the opening day of the season but are now perched on 22 points and boasting some pretty impressive form – particularly at home where they've taken maximum points from games against Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks.
Paul Lambert wasn’t given the warmest of welcomes when Villa hammered his old club 4-1 in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night, but he would no doubt like to have the extra seven league points in the bag that Chris Hughton’s side have ahead of the frantic fixture list over Christmas.
The games will come thick and fast over the next three weeks and it could either make or break the sides who are trying to claw their way out of the danger zone.Sunderland fans will hope that their second league win of the season against Reading will have given them some momentum but their next five games involve an away trip to Old Trafford on Saturday, Southampton away, Man City at home, Spurs at home and Liverpool away to start the New Year.
The 18/1 (19.0) on them finishing bottom looks a long shot but with fixtures like this to contend with the 11/4 (2.80) about Martin O’Neill’s side going down might be a lot shorter in a month’s time.
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Jim Knight is Betting Editor at Goal.com and has been tipping football games since he was old enough to place a bet. He is a Leicester City fan, writer and member of the We Are Going Up Podcast
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Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
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