2009 PREMIER LEAGUE TOP SCORER BETTING FOR RONALDO AND ANELKA

With only one fixture left in the calendar of the 2008/9 Premier League season, we've got Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and Man Utd's Cristiano Ronaldo deadlocked at 18 goals apiece. While Ronaldo certainly hasn't reached the heights he hit last year during the Premier League campaign, he has really come alive in the 2nd half of the season and has rediscovered his goalscoring touch. Currently, Paddy Power has Anelka as the odds-on favourite to score more goals this year than Ronaldo. Anelka's price is listed at 4/7 while Ronaldo carries an 11/8 price. Steven Gerrard is also in the running at 18/1, but he'll need to notch a hat-trick while Ronaldo and Anelka must remain off the scoresheet. What this one really comes down to, for me, is team selection. Many aren't confident that Ronaldo will even be named in the line-up for the Hull City match this weekend. Observers seem confident that Fergie will pick the kids in an effort to get some of his star players fit for the Champions League Final a few days later. I think that we'll see a decent cadre of youth talent (Wellbeck, Macheda, the Da Silvas and Possebon) but I think he'll insert a few top names just to deflect some criticism. Personally, I think Ronaldo will get either an hour or 25 minutes of football. If he doesn't start, I'm confident he'll be on the bench and will get a cameo appearance. I could see him starting as well, but I am confident that he won't play the full game. Hull City are the type of team that Ronaldo can score against with relative ease and it only takes one free kick in the right spot. Chelsea face Sunderland away and since both the Black Cats and the Tigers are still in the relegation fight, I think Chelsea may have a harder time scoring against Sunderland than United will against Hull. I can actually see a 0-0 result at the Stadium of Light. I don't consider Nicolas Anelka easy money on this. If he was a goal up, I would definitely back him at 4/7, but with both players deadlocked, my money is on Cristiano Ronaldo as Premier League top scorer.