Premier League
Before the weekend spread buyers of Manchester United's outright Championship Index (60pts to the winner, 40pts to runner-up, 30pts to third-place, 20pts for fourth etc.) were sitting pretty with a six point lead with four games to play. United's defeat at the Emirates and the fact they face Chelsea this Sunday has seen that Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now available at 55-56.5 points, while Chelsea are at 40-43 points.
The 1-0 loss in North London means that United's domestic season rests on Chelsea's visit to Old Trafford and buyers of the home side's win index will be delighted the game is in Manchester. United's record at Old Trafford has been formidable this year and they remain unbeaten with just two further home contests. A 2-2 draw with West Brom was the last time that United failed to win a home league game, which will delight those selling Chelsea's win index.
Spread buyers of United's win index may have also noted that the side last lost at home on 3rd April 2010. Those spread punters looking to sell the home side's win index will argue that the defeat came against Chelsea in a 2-1 result.
This will be the fifth time that Manchester United and Chelsea have met this year and buyers of the match supremacy will be happy to find that the Red Devils have won three times thus far. Spread sellers of the match supremacy will point out that the Blues have not lost in ten league games, winning eight and drawing two.
Carlo Ancelotti will be concerned that his side have not kept a clean sheet away from home for three league matches. That will be of interest to total goal buyers, especially as there has been an average of 2.75 goals in the four meetings between Chelsea and United this campaign. Any spread enthusiast contemplating selling total match goals would argue that United have kept a clean sheet in their previous three home league fixtures. In that period Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit have managed only four goals. Chelsea's last trip to the Theatre of Dreams accumulated 197 points in the total goal minutes make-up. Spread sellers of total goal minutes will be hoping for a repeat of the Stamford Bridge Champions League quarter-final, where the final goal minutes sum reached just 24 points.
Bookings index buyers will be encouraged that there have been two red cards shown in the past three clashes. Spread buyers of the bookings index will also be pleased to see that the average bookings total in the three competitive games between United and Chelsea this year is 70 points.
Spread bettors looking at the first match goal market in Sunday's game might be interested to learn that the past two league encounters have featured goals in the 29th and 20th minute respectively. Wayne Rooney's player performance spread will have sparked plenty of debate among spread bettors considering he has scored twice against the visitors already this term.
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