United Betting Favourites to Close Gap at Top

With both Chelsea and Arsenal off until Sunday Manchester United can close the gap at the top of the Premier League to just two points with a win against Wolves this Saturday afternoon.

Having beaten Manchester City last weekend and consequently derailing their Premier League title challenge Wolves are aiming to complete the Manchester double this week. However, a trip to Old Trafford presents an entirely different proposition to beating a disjointed City in front of your home fans.

And the bookmakers certainly appreciate that because despite their heroics against City Wolves are a generally available 14/1 to make it back-to-back victories here. A win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would put them on 23 points, just two behind pace setters Chelsea, and the bookmakers are quoting odds as short as 1/5 on that scenario.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, West Ham go to Birmingham looking to avoid being cast adrift at the foot of the table. A win may not even be enough to move them off the bottom but taking something from a game against a side also struggling at the wrong end of the league could be crucial to their survival aspirations this season.

At Ewood Park another relegation six pointer between Blackburn and Wigan carries great consequences for both sides. Blackburn’s home form was the cornerstone to their relative success last season and that is why they are the odds-on favourites across the board of bookmakers, but The Latics have lost just one in their last seven and will prove a tough nut to crack.

Further up the table Premier League new boys Blackpool are enjoying their first stint in the division and are, so far, defying the critics who predicted and immediate return to The Championship. They are locked on 13 points with today’s opponents Everton who seem to have found their feet this season after their now customary early blip. The experienced Toffees are expected to take all three points by the bookmakers but in front of their partisan crowd Blackpool could prove to be a match for anyone in this league.

And finally, Sunderland look to put last week’s derby day humiliation behind them with a home victory over Stoke. The Black Cats have been a very different side on home soil over the past two years and if they have dealt with the embarrassment of defeat to Newcastle then they can get back to winning ways here.