Weekend Review: Pleasure for punters as Premier League goes to plan

It was a weekend for the punters in the Premier League as the bookies took a beating as the season edges closer to its conclusion despite some unexpected results.

Everton (4/1) boosted their survival chances with a 1-0 win over Chelsea (7/10) at a boisterous Goodison Park thanks to a calm Richarlison finish following a mistake from Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Toffees remain in the relegation zone but closed the gap to Leeds and Burnley as Frank Lampard’s side hope to keep their top-flight status intact.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s (13/25) title challenge continued but was threatened by a resolute and revitalised Newcastle (5/1) side on Tyneside.

Naby Keita’s well-taken goal meant Liverpool took all three points in a low-scoring game which was one of the only highlights of the weekend for the layers.

However, wins for Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City gave the punters plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

Today's atmosphere was on another level! 💙👏

Onwards, Evertonians…🔵 pic.twitter.com/6lUzb14UPJ

— Everton (@Everton) May 1, 2022

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “A punters’ weekend just about in the Premier League with few shocks.

“Everton’s surprise, and much needed, win over Chelsea was a nice result for the book, and the low scoring affair at St James’ Park as Liverpool managed a 1-0 win against Newcastle also left us ahead, but outside of that results largely went the way of the players,” he added.

There was also joy to be found in the Football League for the punters as bet365’s Steve Freeth told EGR.

He said: “It was a super Saturday for bet365 customers in both the Premier League and EFL with losses running well into eight figures. We lost in 25 of the 32 football league games played on Saturday with Huddersfield, Bristol Rovers and Wigan being the chief culprits.”

However, there was reason for operators to smile in Scotland and on the continent as a series of draws and shock results boosted the bookies.

Celtic (17/20) and Rangers (3/1) played out a 1-1 draw in the Old Firm derby, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma (1/2) were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Bologna (5/1).

Mainz (4/1) secured a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich (11/20), possibly on the beach already having won a 10th successive Bundesliga, as six of the 10 fixtures in La Liga ended in a draw and Athletic Bilbao (7/4) secured a 2-0 against Atletico Madrid (7/4).

How we all felt when we woke up this morning 😄#Mainz05 pic.twitter.com/IWmLatKmLy

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) May 1, 2022

Freeth continued: “We did have a really good weekend in Spain with Athletic Bilbao’s 2-0 defeat of Simeone’s Atletico being the best in a fixture list with six draws which was more like it.

“The 1-1 draw between Celtic and Rangers was one of the best results of the weekend, while Roma’s stalemate with Bologna and Mainz’s 3-1 defeat of Bayern Munich helped to claw a few quid back, but on the whole, it felt like a great weekend for football punters.”

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Coroebus gave trainer Charlie Appleby his first 2,000 Guineas win at Newmarket as the winner held off stablemate and favourite Native Trail in a positive result for the bookies.

On Sunday, jockey James Doyle rode his second winner in as many days leading Cachet to victory in the 1,000 Guineas as favourite Tenebrism failed to impress after finishing in eighth.

Gil said: “It was Guineas weekend at Newmarket, and both races went our way. In the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, Coroebus held off the very well-backed favourite Native Trail to come out ahead in a result which left us very nicely in the black.

COROEBUS after winning the 2000 Guineas. pic.twitter.com/ilg2NKFabr

— Michael Harris (@mjyharris) April 30, 2022

“On Sunday in the 1,000 Guineas, the first four home were priced at 16/1, 33/1, 4/1 and 12/1, with favourite Tenebrism back in eighth. No surprise that was also a decent result for the book,” he added.

Finally, Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed his seventh World Snooker Championship title after beating Judd Trump 18-13 at the Crucible.

O’Sullivan became the oldest world champion in Crucible history at the age of 46 in securing his record-equalling title.

Trump had threatened O’Sullivan by bring the scores back to 14-11 after an impressive Monday afternoon session, but O’Sullivan held strong to further cement his status as a legend of the sport.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “All eyes here at HQ though were on the Betfred World Snooker Championship final, as Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan secured a record-equalling seventh Crucible World title in Sheffield, beating Judd Trump 18-13.

“Ronnie is now 4/1 to be the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and 4/1 joint-fav to win a record-breaking eighth world crown in 2023,” he added.

2001. 2004. 2008. 2012. 2013. 2020. 2022. Ronnie O'Sullivan is a seven-time champion of the world!

📺💻📱 @BBCSport, @Eurosport & @DiscoveryPlus#ilovesnooker | @Betfred pic.twitter.com/enDYbVSFcY

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 2, 2022