Chelsea 8-1 for title after Lamps turns on style
IT’S been a turbulent 2012 for Chelsea – they’ve had three managers and won two trophies including the Champions League – and their year ended on a high when they recorded a vital 2-1 victory at Everton.
Veteran midfielder Frank Lampard scored twice as Chelsea became the first side to win at Goodison Park this season and in the process moved to within 11 points of leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.
Rafael Benitez’s side, who could add Demba Ba to their squad after the Newcastle striker reportedly met with the London club, are 8-1 to win the Premier League following the hard-fought triumph on Merseyside.
It was far from a stroll for the Blues who fell behind early to a Steven Pienaar strike before Lampard turned the match on its head with a trademark double.
Lampard, out of contract this summer, has been told he won’t be getting a new deal and Hills make the 34-year-old goalscoring machine 2-1 to still be at Stamford Bridge for the start of next season, while Ladbrokes rate the England international 9-2 to depart Chelsea in the January transfer window.
LA Galaxy are 6-4 favourites to sign Lampard when he does leave according to Ladbrokes, but for now it’s all about those looking to freshen up Benitez’s options and Ba looks a likely new forward threat.
Ba is 10-1 to claim the Golden Boot and Newcastle are 11-1 to be relegated as the Magpies could be set to lose their 13-goal top goalscorer and Hills go 6-1 about David Villa swapping life in Barcelona for a move to Chelsea in the January window.
Everton’s target’s will be more modest but they were unfortunate to come away with nothing and remain three points outside the top four. The Toffees are 11-2 to force their way into the Champions League places and Liverpool are 12-1 after the Merseyside outfit strolled to a comfortable 3-0 win at bottom-club QPR.
The game was over as a contest at the interval as the Reds raced into a three-goal advantage with Luis Suarez scoring twice and Daniel Agger also on target as Liverpool showed no sign of suffering from the absence of ill boss Brendan Rodgers.
It was a shambolic effort from Rangers and Harry Redknapp’s team are 3-10 to finish the season in the relegation places. They clearly need reinforcements and Hills make them 9-2 to bring Nicolas Anelka to Loftus Road.