MANCHESTER CITY PRICE TO WIN PREMIER LEAGUE UNMOVED AFTER PATRICK VIEIRA SIGNING

It looks like one of the Premiership’s biggest stars is back for a swansong with big-spending Manchester City. Former Arsenal hardman Patrick Vieira is said to have completed a medical at Eastlands and is set to be unveiled within the next 24 hours. Sheikh Mansour’s side have posted a staggering year-end loss but continue to spend big in their quest for Premiership dominance.
The bookmakers don’t seem to view Vieira as some type of game-changer and, as it currently stands, City remain deadlocked at their lengthy 25/1 odds to win the 2009/10 English Premier League.
Top UK bookmaker Blue Square is only listing seven different teams as possible title contenders at this point in the season. Chelsea, unsurprisingly, are the favourites to win the league this year although their recent patchy form has seen other sides remain well-priced and definitely in the hunt. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, rumoured to be pursuing Sergio Aguero and Franck Ribery, are listed at 6/5 to win the Premiership.
Manchester United, despite a demoralizing loss to League 1 “rivals” Leeds United, are still very competitively-priced at 15/8. This is generally the make-or-break time for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men and if Wayne Rooney and Co. can get things humming like they did in their 5-0 demolition of Wigan, then I think this could be another Premier League campaign that goes down to the wire.
Arsenal are resurgent and have been the form side in recent weeks. Everything seems to be clicking at the Emirates, but their side remains thin and a few injuries could certainly set them back. I think they could certainly contest 2nd place, but it will really take something special for them to pull it off. Arsenal are 3/1 to win the Premiership at this point.
Liverpool have been a bit of a mess in the first half of the season as character-building victories are followed by the type of soft performances that see them dropping points to lesser sides. They don’t look like challenging for the title, despite what their fans might insist, and their 50/1 price tells no lies. Manchester City are twice as likely to win the Premiership as Liverpool.
The other two sides listed don’t really have a hope in hell of pulling it off, but hey will be there to sponge up money from hopeful fans. It really does say something about the managerial quality of Harry Redknapp and Martin O’Neill that their sides are finally competing where they should be. These two teams could very well challenge for 4th and even 3rd next year but they are unlikely to win it all this year. Spurs are priced at 80/1 while Aston Villa trade at 100/1.