ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WINNER BETTING ODDS FROM BLUE SQUARE

Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United squad, shorn of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, remain the outright favourites to win the 2009/10 English Premier League. Currently listed at a 15/8 price, you can back the Red Devils each-way at 1/3 of the odds if you aren't feeling 100% confident. You would think that having lost arguably the world's best player and replaced him with the best player at Wigan, the odds would take a dip, but I think this speaks volumes about just how much faith the bookies have in Sir Alex's ability to get the job done. I expect Wayne Rooney to step up and have a massive year. Ditto Darren Fletcher. Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea side have also had an underwhelming summer, with the only really remarkable transfer innuendo surrounding the possible departure of John Terry to the Middle Eastlands to play for the City Sheiks. An 11/5 price is the current listing for the Blues and I think they'll put up a hell of a fight, but I'm concerned about the age of the squad as well as the fitness of Joe Cole. Rafa Benitez' Liverpool must retain Mascherano and Alonso to be taken seriously next year, either that or sell them both and sign Yaya Toure. 11/4 is incredibly slim for a team that hasn't won the Premier League in, well, ever. Torres will be a terror but he needs to stay healthy while Stevie G will need to keep out of the pubs if they are going to be serious contenders this year, which I don't think they will be in a 38 game season. Arsenal are 15/2 and that's far too slim for a team that's? Far too slim. While the departure of Adebayor will help the Gunners keep their offside calls at bay, they need to be reinforced in nearly all places. Talk of Kolo Toure going to city compounds their problem, but I expect Arshavin to be a contender for player of the year. Manchester City at 14/1 eh? Well, for a team that seemingly expects to field 11 strikers every game, I really can't express a significant amount of confidence in them. Stranger things have happened, but I do think it's possible for them to get off to a good start. Admittedly, Adebayor, Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz will be a solid starting 3, I just don't think the strikers will be able to express themselves properly with a meagre central midfield (watch for Gareth Barry to be completely exposed this year) and a very underwhelming defence. Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur side are 80/1 and that's about right. Aston Villa are 200/1 alongside Everton. Fulham sit at 500/1 with Portsmouth, West Ham and Wigan at 750/1. Blackburn and Bolton both slot in at a 1000/1 price while Stoke City, Hull City and Sunderland all sit at 1500/1. Wolves are at 2500/1 while Birmingham sit at 3000/1 and Burnley weigh in at 4000/1.