I ALMOST expected to see Cilla run on the pitch last Saturday at Old Trafford. Surprise, surprise doesn’t even come close to the shock of it all.
To be fair to Man United, they have pulled off plenty of good results against the big sides amid all the carnage of recent years.
But not playing as well as they did in playing City off the park 2-0. And “where has that United been?,” asked pundit after pundit.
I guess they were just trying to make Ruben Amorim look bad. Still, that £10m payoff will take the edge off what other people think about you.
So this United, with Michael Carrick now at the helm, sitting fifth, and with only league games to play, are suddenly in the mix for the top four and a return to the Champions League.
Top four betting
Best price
- 1-100 Arsenal
- 1-20 Man City
- 1-2 Villa
- 4-6 Liverpool
- 9-4 Chelsea
- 5-2 Man United
- 7-1 Newcastle
Hold on, reality check, as big a one as you can get – at nearly runaway leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
The Gunners swept aside last season’s Champions League runners-up Inter 3-1 in Milan in midweek, as they extended their run to only one defeat in 31 games in all competitions.
And with that seven-point lead at the top of the table, they are now a best-priced 1-5 with Ladbrokes, Coral and Betway to win their first title since the Invincibles of 2003-04.
Home and hosed reckons BetGoodwin’s Joe Fagan (no, not the Anfield legend). He said: “Arsenal look like the real deal now. Look away Tottenham fans but it’s not unthinkable they could win the lot!
“And Arsenal will be a different proposition to City last week for United. While City have the look of a team rebuilding, the Gunners are the finished product and we’ve boosted them winning to nil to 15-8.”
Coral’s John Hill is also on the Emirates bandwagon. He said: “Arsenal are flying in all competitions. They’re now just 50-1 to win the Quadruple, and we are seeing increasing support for them to win all four trophies.
BET BALLS
- West Ham v Sunderland draw BTTS is 3-1 with BetGoodwin
- Bournemouth v Liverpool to be 2-2 is 10-1 with BetGoodwin
- Newcastle to win both halves v Villa is 4-1 with BetGoodwin
- Arsenal to win from behind v Man United is 7-1 with BetGoodwin
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“They’re 7-2 favourites in the Champions League betting. I do think they’re the best in Europe – and have the depth to prevail domestically as well.”
Mikel Arteta’s side have won their last four Premier League encounters against United in North London and are a best-priced 8-13 with Coral to make it five straight.
The draw is trading at just north of 3-1, with Betfred, MGM and Sporting Index longest on United at 5-1.
This, though, is a United side who’ve won just three times on the road this term in 11 attempts, while the Gunners (and Sunderland) still boast an unbeaten home record.
So home win it is. But not at 8-13. Arsenal and BTTS only gets you 9-4, so the correct score market is where I’m looking.
Arsenal 2-1 is a far more inviting 8-1 with bet365, and 3-1 is 12s with the same firm. Yes, the Gunners marching on will be no surprise, surprise.
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Dark Horse
18-1: Gabriel Jesus looked back to his best with two goals for Arsenal in Milan.
Tie him in with the other anytime scorer picks in the TV preview games – Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey, Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier, Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes – and get a 132-1 four-fold with Sky Bet.
TV Previews
West Ham v Sunderland
WEST HAM won in North London last weekend. But as the man said: “Lads, it’s only Spurs.”
That was their first win in 12 and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of Nuno Espirito Santo’s 17 league games.
While they fight relegation, lunchtime visitors Sunderland are still looking at Europe. They are tight away but not regular winners.
However, Brian Brobbey can score anytime at 11-4 with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 1-1
Bournemouth v Liverpool
WHEN they stop going down clutching their faces to burn the clock, Bournemouth aren’t a bad side.
But they’ve been on a bad run, one win in 14 games – though seven of them draws.
Given Liverpool have drawn all four of their league games so far in 2026, and played in Marseille on Wednesday, all-square tonight seems a sensible option at 3-1.
As is Marcus Tavernier to strike anytime at 19-5 with Coral.
FORECAST: 2-2
Newcastle v Aston Villa
ST JAMES’ Park’s no happy hunting ground for Villa, who haven’t won there in 17 league attempts.
The Geordies are also unbeaten at home in eight Prem games, while in the last three seasons, they’ve won this clash 3-0, 5-1 and 4-0.
With the third-place visitors coming off Europa League action in Turkey on Thursday night, home win on Sunday is the call.
And Harvey Barnes to score anytime at 2-1 with Star Sports.
FORECAST: 2-1
Top Tips
Pro bet
Brentford to beat Forest, Millwall to beat Charlton, Hull to beat Swansea, Walsall to beat Accrington, Salford to beat Bristol Rovers. Acca pays 27-1 with Unibet.
Retirement bet
Stoke to win at Birmingham, Wrexham to win at QPR, Stockport to win at Cardiff, Bradford to win at Huddersfield, Mansfield to win at Stevenage, Peterborough to win at Wycombe, Crewe to win at Notts Co, Swindon to win at Bromley.
Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds.
Acca pays 26,622-1 with Betfred.
Away day
Watford to win at Blackburn, Luton at Plymouth, Chesterfield at Newport, Gillingham at Harrogate.
Acca pays 22-1 with BetGoodwin
Top draw
Palace v Chelsea, Sheff United v Ipswich, Doncaster v Wigan, Cheltenham v Grimsby. Acca pays 153-1 with Coral.
TV special
West Ham v Sunderland draw, Bournemouth v Liverpool draw, Newcastle to beat Villa, Arsenal to beat Man United.
Acca pays 41-1 with MGM.
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