Weekend Review: Champions League chasers crumble as layers welcome Premier League return

The return of the Premier League has been a welcome one for the bookies after a solid set of results over the weekend put them ahead of their customers.

A trio of draws left the punters perplexed as Nottingham Forest, Everton and Leeds United held Champions League-chasing opposition.

Forest (9/2) held Chelsea (3/5) to a 1-1 draw, and could feel hard done by not to come away with all three points after battering the Blues following Serge Aurier’s equaliser.

Manchester City’s (3/20) title push hit a bump in road when Everton (14/1) grabbed a 1-1 draw at the Etihad after a stunning Demarai Gray strike cancelled out the inevitable Erling Haaland opener.

Elsewhere, Newcastle’s imperious run was halted by a stubborn Leeds side at St James’ Park as the Yorkshire side secured a 0-0 draw.

A well-earned point. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/FggjS4FIME

— Nottingham Forest 🌳 (@NFFC) January 1, 2023

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Struggling Forest managing a 1-1 draw with Chelsea was a fantastic result for the book, as was Everton holding City to the same score line. Dominant Newcastle being held to a 0-0 against Leeds went nicely our way too.”

In other shocks, Aston Villa (17/4) beat an out-of-sorts Spurs (13/20) 2-0 in North London thanks to goals from Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz, while Brentford (5/1) stunned Liverpool (1/2) to win 3-1 on Monday night.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said the weekend’s results were a welcome tonic to the hectic Christmas period which saw favourites duly oblige before the new year, resulting in “hefty seven-figure losses”.

Freeth said: “We were looking forward to the return of the Premier League having taken a bit of a hit in the World Cup final, but we’ve taken some whacks to be honest. In fact, we lost on every single game on the first round of fixtures.

“We’ve started the new year in better form with Forest’s spirited performance against Chelsea, Villa beating an out-of-sorts Spurs and Brentford doing the business for us against Liverpool,” he added.

Arsenal now sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as the Gunners trounced Brighton 4-2 at the Amex Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s men are continuing to show their title credentials and were heavily backed by the punters to win on the south coast.

Despite the distance between themselves and City, Pep Guardiola’s side are still odds-on favourites to retain the title.

Sliding into a new week 😎 pic.twitter.com/wplxyje639

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 2, 2023

Betfred’s Alan Firkins explained to EGR: “Arsenal remain the story of the Premier League so far, and are in to 5/4 to take City’s title.

“City are out to 8/11 – seven points adrift, and yet still favourites. The Gunners entertain Newcastle tonight, while City are at Chelsea on Thursday – could be another big week of drama. It’s 40/1 bar the two – perhaps a bit of an insult to the third-placed Geordies,” he added.

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Midnight River (6/1) secured a two-and-a-quarter length victory for the Skeleton brothers in the Paddy Power Handicap at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Trained by Dan Skeleton and ridden by brother Harry, Midnight River looked comfortable after the last fence to hold off the challenge of Stolen Silver.

It was a good remedy for Skeleton, who saw Vicki Vale bested by Hermes Allen 24 hours earlier at Newbury in a solid win for the punters.

Thanks Matt! Some will love it some will hate it, I love winning, I love racing and I love Midnight River. Happy and a healthy New Year to you all. 🙏 https://t.co/roaFnm09Sw

— Harry skelton (@harryskelton89) January 1, 2023

Gill said: “At Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, the New Year’s Day Handicap went the way of 6/1 shot Midnight River, with favourite Shakem Up’Arry back in fifth in a result which went to the traders.

“However, 24 hours earlier at Newbury, the Challow Hurdle went the way of the hugely impressive Hermes Allen at 11/10. Barely off the bridle, Paul Nicholls’ runner cruised home without breaking a sweat and filled punters pockets along the way,” he added.