CHELSEA AND MANCHESTER UNITED CO-FAVOURITES TO WIN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Top UK bookmaker William Hill has released its odds for the 2009/10 Premier League season and the numbers seemingly confirm the theory that this year's edition of the world's best sports league will be a three-horse race, at best. Chelsea and Manchester United are the co-favourites to win the Premier League at a 2/1 price. Personally, I think Chelsea are still looking to make that marquee signing, and that could sway things a little bit depending on the largess of the name signing on the doted line. A Ribery or an Aguero would see Chelsea's odds dip slightly, while a Douglas Costa move to Manchester United likely wouldn't affect their price at all.

Liverpool are the 3rd place favourites, and rightfully so, at 11/4. Seemingly doing away with the concept of "The Big 4" Arsenal are listed at a lengthy 8/1 to win the Premier League for the first time in a number of years. Having just sold Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, you have to wonder which signings Arsene Wenger will make, if any. The injury to Samir Nasri could predicate a foray into the transfer market, even if Wenger hadn't planned on doing so this summer.

Manchester City are interesting picks for the fifth-placed favourite, commanding a price of 11/1. Are Arsenal and Manchester City closer than Arsenal and Manchester United? According to William Hill, that's how things look. City are considered the only other plausible candidate to win the English Premier League and without a first-rate center-half, they will definitely fail to do so. I would find it interesting if Mark Hughes actually deploys all 11 of his strikers in one game. While top teams boast about having international players in every position, Manchester City seem content with just having strikers in every position. Albeit International ones.

Tottenham Hotspur are 80/1 to win the Premier League while Aston Villa sit at 150/1. Everton boast a 200/1 pricetag while West Ham and Portsmouth are both listed at 500/1.

If you're looking for even more value, check out the straight forecast market where you can back Manchester United/Chelsea in that order at 7/2. It's 9/2 for Chelsea/Manchester United and that certainly tells you something that the outright odds don't. Man Utd/Liverpool is a decent 5/1 while Scousers will be drawn towards the Liverpool/Man Utd bet which pays out at 13/2. Liverpool/Chelsea is 8/1.

William Hill is also running another one of their famous Bet One Get One Free promo's on this market. If you make a £20 wager on the English Premier League Outright market, you will get a free £5 bet on the English Premier League Top Goalscorer Market.