FOR the first time this season, we have joint-favourites at the head of our Premier League betting.
But it wasn’t Arsenal’s hard-earned point at the Etihad last Sunday that saw them join Manchester City as 11-8 market leaders for the title — but the news that followed.
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Spain midfielder Rodri is now set for a long spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury in the 2-2 draw — and his season could already be over.
Despite their off-the-pitch riches, Pep Guardiola doesn’t actually have a huge squad at his disposal, not that Rodri can be easily replaced.
And life without their key man starts with a tricky lunchtime trip to Newcastle. The champions are odds-on to pick up three points but that seems too short and I’m happy to take them on.
Eddie Howe’s men do need to put last week’s defeat to Fulham behind them but I expect them to at least share the spoils. I’ll take a Newcastle win or draw at 13-10.
The Gunners can take advantage by brushing aside Leicester at the Emirates.
They are priced accordingly, 2-11 for a home win says it all, but I’ll go for over 3.5 match goals at 6-5.
Another team odds-on to win at home is Chelsea. Despite their crazy summer of transfer activity, Enzo Maresca’s managed to take his side into the top five and I can see them beating Brighton in a Stamford Bridge thriller.
You can have Chelsea to win and both teams to score at 15-8 in this one.
The third favourites in the title betting are Liverpool, who’ve bounced back well from the defeat at Anfield to Nottingham Forest.
Arne Slot has said first choice-keeper Alisson is ready to return from injury for this afternoon’s trip to basement side Wolves — and it’s hard to see anything other than a win for the visitors.
Liverpool to win 2-0 (13-2) or 3-0 (8-1) is how I see this one going.
A LYON’S SHARE FOR GER
TODAY could be a very good day for Irish-trained runners at Newmarket.
The visitors send over the favourites for both Group Ones and the feature Cambridgeshire Handicap.
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The first top-level contest is the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at 2.25 for two-year-old fillies. And while Aidan O’Brien relies on unbeaten Moyglare Stakes winner Lake Victoria, for once the Ballydoyle maestro does not hold all the aces.
Ger Lyons is sending over Babouche from his Co Meath base and she heads the market after her own three-from-three career so far, including a beating of the boys in the Phoenix Stakes last month.
The colt that Babouche beat into second was Whistlejacket but he went one place better in the Prix Morny at Deauville.
He is odds-on favourite to give O’Brien a record-extending eighth win in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at 3.00.
For good measure, his stablemate Ides Of March is second favourite, so another big victory for the champion trainer-elect looks on the cards.
After the speedy youngsters have strutted their stuff, it is time for the Cambridgeshire, the first leg of the Autumn Double.
The maximum field of 35 lines up at 3.40 and with so many runners, you would think it was anyone’s race.
However, it could be a one-horse race, as This Songisforyou has been backed all the way from 20-1 down to 5-1.
This six-year-old gelding won at The Curragh two weeks ago and has Colin Keane in the saddle — but punters are backing the trainer here.
Emmet Mullins may not be as famous as his uncle Willie but the shrewd 34-year-old has proved he can ready one for a big race and this afternoon he could add to his victory in last year’s Cesarewitch, the second leg of the Autumn Double.
