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Champions League

Liverpool's Top-Four Spot Up for Grabs as Spurs and Villa Clash at Villa Park

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have been given a golden opportunity to secure a spot in the top four of the Premier League, with Liverpool's poor form creating a vacancy. Tottenham, after their 9-1 demolition of Wigan on Sunday, currently hold the fourth spot, while Aston Villa are only one place and three points behind. Bookmakers have favorited Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League, with Bet365 and Hills both offering 11-4. Aston Villa, however, are seen as a long shot, with Blue Square rating them 9-1 to jump into the top four.

Key Takeaways:

  • Tottenham Hotspur, fresh from their 9-1 demolition of Wigan, currently hold the fourth spot in the Premier League.
  • Aston Villa are only one place and three points behind Tottenham, providing a potential opportunity for them to secure a top-four spot.
  • Bookmakers have favorited Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League, with Bet365 and Hills offering 11-4.
  • Aston Villa, however, are seen as a long shot, with Blue Square rating them 9-1 to jump into the top four.
  • Jermain Defoe, the Premier League's leading marksman, is expected to feature prominently in the game against Aston Villa, with Hills making him 4-5 to fire blanks.
  • Manchester City are the most likely side to go goal-crazy when they face Hull, with Coral making them 10-3 to bag at least four goals.
  • City are on an unwanted run of six straight league draws, with Blue Square going 66-1 that they reach at least nine draws.
  • Avram Grant, the new manager of Portsmouth, is expected to begin with a winning margin of at least two goals against the champions, according to Coral.

Statistics:

  • Bet365 - top-four finish: Liverpool 10-11, Manchester City 11-10, Tottenham 11-4, Aston Villa 7
  • Blue Square - furthest progressing nonleague team in FA Cup: Oxford 11-8, Cambridge 8, Forest Green 9, Forest Green 10, Rushden 12, Wrexham 12, 16 bar
  • Boylesports - Jermain Defoe goals v Aston Villa: 4-9 none, 12-5 one, 8 two, 33 three, 100 four, 200 five or more
  • Coral - Aston Villa goals: 8-13 one or fewer, 5-4 two-three, 14 four or more
  • Hills - Jermain Defoe goals v Aston Villa: 4-5 none, 5-4 one, 9 two, 33 three or more
  • Ladbrokes - Avram Grant to be Pompey manager at start of next term: 5-6 yes, 5-6 no
  • Paddy Power - Jermain Defoe goals v Aston Villa: 4-9 none, 2 one, 12 two, 50 three, 100 four, 150 five or more

Sources:

  • Mark Langdon, "Liverpool's awful form means there is a vacancy in the Premier League's top four and Aston Villa and Tottenham get the opportunity to advertise their claims for the Champions League position at Villa Park today", date not specified
  • Bet365, Hills, Blue Square, Boylesports, Coral, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, various bookmaker odds, dates not specified

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