Premier League Preview
The race for the Premier League title has the potential to be one of the most fascinating for years and spread bettors will have plenty of opportunities to make a profit in the process. The two main contenders are likely to be Chelsea and Manchester United, which is reflected in Sporting Index's Premier League points spread market. Chelsea lead the way with a spread of 82 - 83.5 and those spread punters tempted to buy will remember the 86 points that the side scored last year. Spread buyers of Man United's points spread, at 82, will hope the team can claim their 19th domestic league title.
Supporters of either club's outright spreads will have been disappointed with the injury news from both camps. Petr Cech will miss the opening four weeks of league action, while United's spread will have been rocked by the injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves. Wayne Rooney was poor in South Africa and spread buyers of United's outright index will need him to find club form from the off. Chelsea are going for their second successive league title and buyers of their outright index spread might be worried the side have only added the talents of Yossi Benayoun, although Michael Essien's return will be a concern to sellers of the side's outright spread.
A lot of the transfer action has revolved around Manchester City and they are third in the total points spread market at 73.5 - 75. Having already signed David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng, City's spread followers would argue they have a squad good enough to challenge the leaders. Spread punters willing to sell their Premier League index will count on Roberto Mancini failing to keep a healthy team spirit with so many new arrivals.
Arsene Wenger has also been fairly busy in the transfer window having secured the services of Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny. Those that have bought the Gunners' spread at 74.5 will be desperate for both to make an immediate impact, especially as they travel to Anfield for their opening fixture.
Liverpool's spread supporters know that Roy Hodgson still has a number of issues to conclude; mainly Fernando Torres' future. Punters looking to sell Liverpool's spread at 68.5 will hope Joe Cole's arrival at Anfield won't be enough to persuade the Spanish forward to remain on Merseyside. The Reds' Spanish number nine still managed to score 18 league goals from just 22 matches last year.
Other clubs' spread punters will be following with interest will be Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa. Any spread bettor that bought Spurs' outright index last campaign will have made a healthy profit from their fourth-place finish and make-up of 70. From August, Harry Redknapp will lead his team into the Champions League and sellers of their total points spread at 66 will expect the side to have trouble balancing both Europe and the League.
David Moyes' Everton side have added Jermaine Beckford, who along with fit again Mikel Arteta will offer plenty of encouragement to their outright point buyers at 62. Spread bettors that have sold Aston Villa's points at 61 maybe foresee Martin O'Neill's side again succumbing to fatigue towards the end of the season.
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