The 'pool to the rescue?
With a point lead and just two games to play, Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea are slight favourites on the outright championship index (60pts to the winner, 40pts to runner-up, 30pts to third-place, 20pts for fourth etc.) and can be bought at 52.5 points. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are available at 48.5 points and spread bettors will know that this weekend will play a major part in deciding where the Premier League trophy will end up. Chelsea responded to Manchester United's victory over Tottenham last Saturday by thrashing Stoke and spread punters that bought total goals in the match will have been delighted with the seven that Stoke conceded.
Those spread bettors looking to buy the Blues' win index for this weekend's crunch match against Liverpool will have noted that the team comfortably won the corresponding fixture in October by two goals to nil. However, sellers of Chelsea's win index spread will be quick to point out that Liverpool won the last league meeting at Anfield by the same scoreline. That afternoon the Reds left it late with Fernando Torres bagging a brace in the 89th and 90th minute which will have pleased spread buyers of either the time of the first match goal or goal minutes. Sellers of Chelsea's supremacy spread will take further confidence knowing that the Reds have only lost two home league games all season and that Rafa's men have won five of their previous six home league games.
Over the past few years this fixture has produced a mixed bag of make-ups in the bookings spread. Sellers will remember this season's league fixture only having two yellow cards but punters buying the spread will point out that the game last season at Anfield saw seven cautions and a red card for Frank Lampard.
Manchester United travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Sunday. Spread buyers of United's win index should note that the Red Devils have been victorious on their previous three visits to Wearside and since defeat at Goodison Park, they've won three and drawn one of their last four away league matches. Punters brave enough to sell United's supremacy spread will take refuge in that the Black Cats only failed to win at Old Trafford this season because of Anton Ferdinand's 90th minute own goal. Buyers of Sporting Index's last match goal market (a prediction of when the last goal will be scored in the match) will be pleased that the previous five league games between these sides have seen the last goal arrive in the 90th, 76th, 90th, 86th and 72nd minute - the 83rd minute on average.
The battle for fourth also looks to be going down to the wire and if Manchester City are to keep up with Tottenham they'll have to beat Aston Villa this weekend. Spread bettors buying City's supremacy will be hoping that home form will be enough against Martin O'Neill's side. Roberto Mancini's team have lost only twice at Eastlands this campaign, but Villa have lost only four on the road since August. Sellers of City's win index spread will be concerned that the home side have won the last two league meetings against Villa although they'll be encouraged that Villa took all three points in the 2007 league meeting.
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